Romans 14:4 - A legitimate reason for professing Christians to avoid moral accountability among the church...?

Question

Does this verse mean that Christians cannot confront or rebuke those in the church who may be engaged in the continuous, unrepentant practice of sin?

Is there any biblical support for confronting and disciplining those who are in sin in the church?

Your comments, please?

Thanks in advance for all sincere, polite answers.

May God bless you.

Answer 1

Jesus laid out the normal procedure for us in Mt 18:
“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.
--call it the 3 step plan if you like but we are to hold one another accountable out of love for each other lest one fall away and we did nothing to stop them. Who can say they love someone and not warn them like Paul does:
1 Corinthians 6:9
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,...
Judging the things dealing with liberty is not the same as sin. If I chose not to drink alcohol because of my beliefs and am doing it out of service to my Master, no one should judge me on that but if I live as a drunk, then someone should warn me that I'm living in sin. I may want to give up certain foods at certain times and someone else may have a drink or eat what ever they want but each does it to the Lord and we can live in peace over these matters.

Answer 2

After reading those verses in context with the other before and after them, I would have to say it is a legitimate reason to avoid judgment of others within any given group. It clearly states that each man will be convinced that his way is the right way but that not all will follow the same master. However there is instruction in the Bible that tells us if someone has offended us to go to that person and let them know what has been done so that if they are of a mind to do anything about it, they will clearly know what they have done. I feel that it is not intended for us to try and convict others who we feel have done wrong and seem to live in unrepentant sin. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. Too many Christians who may mean well are driving people away from the love of God and from going to church by breaking that rule that is written in Romans 14. Christians need to read their Bibles more and stop playing as if they are God. I feel He will surely hold them accountable for not following His instructions.

Answer 3

We are supposed to approach people who are in our assembly and are in continuous, unrepentant sin. It isn't a matter of being nosy, it is a matter of helping them out. It is to be done in a spirit of gentleness, humility, and love, NOT reproachfully or in a holier-than-thou way. Take them aside alone the first time if they don't listen take 2 or 3 other people with you. If they still don't repent they will need to leave the church and have no fellowship with the church members until they get it right. It isn't because they are suddenly "less worthy" than everyone else, it's because they would be a bad influence on the rest of the church and could potentially cause someone else to stumble. And as soon as they repent, they are to be welcomed back with open arms and forgiveness, and they shouldn't have their mistake cast back in their face.

Answer 4

I have a testimony I'll share with you. We attended a church for 5 years and the pastor was engaged in all sorts of wrong things. Initiallly we did not believe the rumours we heard amongst the brethren, but later on it became so apparent as church members started leaving.

We were serving God with all genuinity, but the pastor had his own plans. He was sleeping aound with the choir girls, I know that for sure because he tried it with me and other married women in the church.

In a dream. God had shown me that the pastor was looking under every womans skirt, that was a clear warning from God.

Anyway, the pastor collected money from the church members, and all he would say everytime was that it was for a building fund, which has not clearly manifested until today.

The pastor had registered the church in other members' names securing his name in case anything went wrong, his name would not be anywhere on the documents to hold him accountable and the list goes on.

We left the church almost 2 years ago and we wrote a very lengthy letter to him pointing out the truths in the bible and how he is not walking in the ways of God, several people also had dreams of warning but he would not listen to anyone because he said that God speaks to him too and that he cannot listen to what the church members try to tell him.

We pointed out the scriptures in the NT (can't remember exactly where it is) Paul was writing to the believers and telling them that if a brother sins, he should be corrected and if he does not listen, he should be confronted in an assembly of witnesses, and still if he does not listen then the matter should be washed out of our hands and left with God. And it also says somewhere else that we should have nothing to do with those who clearly do not follow God's commands.

The bible also says in Proverbs that if we do not heed rebuke, we will be broken without remedy, so which means that we can correct one another in love.

I hope you find this useful, God bless you too.

Answer 5

"... Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?" -- 1 Corinthians 5:6

We are to help other brothers and sisters in the body of Christ to get back on the Narrow Path, if any inkling of backsliding is sense in the Body of Christ. Many saints have been gifted with discernment and are led with much burden to pray for and assist those on the wayside, hurt by their self-inflicted sin, for Christ commanded us to do so (Parable of the Good Sumaritan). Ultimately, it is the Pastor's responsibility to handle unconfessed sin, knowing about it through his annointing and gift of discernment, because the sins of a few hinder the blessings of the entire congregation. A sin, however small it is perceived, spreads like wildfire in a church that is trying to commune with a Holy God. And we must follow the conviction of others and in our hearts to take the correction of others and of the Pastor with great seriousness, taking it in repentance to the Lord, applying the unconfessed sin to the Cross and allowing God to clean our heart, replacing it with holiness.

Answer 6

Despite that Revelation 7 clearly teaches that the 144,000 are 12,000 each from 12 tribes of Israel...JW's insist that the 144,000 will come out of their cult. What's even more dumbfounding is taht they believe that only 144,000 ppl will be saved from out of all of mankinds history. Considering that God tells us that he is not willing that ANY should perish, but that ALL should come to repentance...that number is so ridiculous that it doesn't even make sense. Furthermore, these 144,000 are virgins(Rev 14:4). God has appointed these Jews to preach and witness to their own people, because they ignored the first coming of their Messiah. These will witness before Christ's second coming which will happen after the 7 years tribulation, at the beginning of Christ's millenial reign.

Answer 7

We are not to confront a sinner in church & try to force him to become a Christian, but if he claims to be a Christian & is sinning, you need to talk to the pastor & let the pastor talk to him, in the presence of 2 or 3, & if he does not listern then they are to take him before the church. Now can you talk to him, Yes you can, But make sure your life is untouchable with any kind of faults that the other person can bring forth.

Answer 8

Yes I know of a verse that does speak of holding members accountable in the church- speaking of "fellow brothers"
1 Timothy 5:20
As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

Answer 9

Romans 14: 4 Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

I think this verse was written to stop people from being 'holier than thou' refer to Matthew 7:3 Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Said by Jesus.

As humans its all too easy for us to see the wrong another does; if you were in the position of Jesus would you have been able to hang with drunkards and prostitutes?
He accepted them unconditionally and restored them into devine creatures worthy to worship the Almighty.

Likewise I think sometimes as Christians we should be tolerant of our sisters and brothers who are transitioning from the world and into the kingdom.
The devil has a hold and he does not want to relinquish control over those people. However, God is in ultimate control; He has washed them clean and as these people learn the Word they will stop all their sinful activities.

If they are older Christians, I suggest you intercede for them with prayer and fasting over their situation; God may use the Holy Spirit to guide you as to the right action in that situation; then again He may restore them without your opening your mouth. He will do what is best in that situation.

Bear in mind that some people are open to rebuke wheras others are not. Do not lose your faith no matter what these people do; keep praying for them and God will do the rest. He has said His Word will not return to him void and it will come to pass in the lives of these people.

It took a while but after years of straddling the fence I finally took sides - the side of God; if I had been kicked out of church perhaps I would have been lost for good.

Please rest assured that there is no reason for you to worry about the actions of those people, God is in control - of everything. Surrender this situation to Him in prayer.

God bless you.

Answer 10

Passing judgment and confronting/rebuking are two different things. Call a spade a spade. If someone is obviously, continuously unrepentant of their sin we are supposed to come along side of them and show them the way.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Proverbs 27:17

Correct, Rebuke, Exhort:

"Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency (stand by, be at hand and ready, whether the opportunity seems to be favourable or unfavourable, whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong) and convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching." - 2 Timothy 4:2 (Amplified Bible).

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.