reconciliation happens

Thursday September 11^th, Matthew 18: 15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.'. On the practical side…. If someone sins against you go and try to work it out, if that works, reconciliation happens.  If reconciliation doesn’t work, according to Jewish law, take some others along so they can listen to both sides.  Often times in the case of disputes, the truth resides not on one side or the other, but somewhere in the middle, an impartial group can help sort that out and reconciliation happens.  An impartial group can hold not only the other person accountable, but can also help hold you accountable.   If that doesn’t work, take it to the church and have the whole body of Christ work on getting things worked out.  The goal is not vigilante justice, but reconciliatory justice, to restore the relationship between you, the other and the community. The goal is not for one to win and the other to lose, it is for harmony and the community to be restored.