Legalities in the Church

The Old Law was known for its legal procedures. Part of that legalism was getting at the truth of a matter. Since God is a God of truth and justice one must precede the other in convicting or acquitting a person. There is no justice where there is no truth. We speak about "getting to the bottom" of something. We want to know things like "what did he know and when did he know it." The current hearings and discussions on Washington scandals is about truth. Once truth can be established, then justice can be administered. In every conflict there are at least two sides. There is usually an accuser and an accused, a plaintiff and a defendant. Charges are made, sometimes one way and sometimes two ways. Attorneys, prosecutors, judges, juries and witnesses are brought together to settle a matter to see that justice is done, either acquittal or conviction. Let me be plain. It is my belief that we have been pretty sloppy on this in the church in spite of the teachings in Matthew 18 and 1 Cor.6. It seems abundantly clear that in the kingdom of God there will be disputes among believers, both personal and impersonal (matters of belief), and that we must be about truth and justice. Too many times there has been a rush to "judgement" before truth has been established.

In our present text there are three key words in Matt.18:16: witnesses, fact, and confirmed. Jesus appeals to the Old Law to talk of fact finding in the New. He appeals to Deut.19:14-21.In this text it is assumed that some witnesses will be malicious or false, and if they are found to be so, they are to be punished for perjury. False witnessing is a scourge in any institution including the church. Charges should be slow to be brought forth, quick to be investigated and established, and carefully adjudicated to maintain the integrity of the Body of Christ. Witnesses are not mere supporters for one side or the other. Witnesses are witnesses. They have independent knowledge of the facts, what was said, done, or some fact related to that. Hearsay is inadmissible. Opinion is inadmissible. What one knows for sure is all that matters. There were "witnesses" against Jesus and Stephen (Matt.26:65' Acts 6:13). This Old Law passage is appealed to twice more in the New (2 Cor.13:1; Heb.10:28). Every matter is established on the testimony (implied is "truthful") of two or three witnesses.

The word "fact" or "matter" is rhema, an utterance or charge. In Matt.27:14 Jesus did not answer the rhema or charge. Here every charge has to be established or proven by witnesses. The idea of confirmation or hestimi, meaning to stand, abide, appoint, covenant, hold up, etc., is essential to the outcome of the matter. We talk of the preponderance of the evidence or meeting the standard of something. The world in its courts goes to great links to try to make sure things are spelled out and not left to one's own interpretation. Even then our justice is imperfect and we too often send the wrong person to prison. I am not suggesting that churches become carbon copies of the legal system, but I am suggesting that we should not be sloppy and biased in our disputes. Christians should care more for truth and justice than those in the world, because we serve a Lord who is Truth and Justice. The seriousness of this is seen in 1 Timothy 5:19 regarding elders. Timothy as an evangelist was not even supposed to receive a charge against an elder unless there were two or three witnesses to back up the charge. We need to teach people not to bring frivolous charges against others, and if they do to be prepared to back it up with witnesses if the one charged does not admit guilt, and be ready to take it to the church if step two fails.