23A23.   Ezekiel 33:7-9.    “Thus says the Lord: You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel.”  Not only did the Hebrew cities live in danger of being attacked militarily but also morally, by adopting the idol worship of the peoples around them. The Lord appointed watchmen to keep his people on the straight and narrow of the Lord’s way.  In being responsible to God, God requires that we be responsible for one another.

Mathew 18:15-20.  Jesus had not only given authority to Peter over the church in his physical absence but also to small groups.  Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Jesus gave them authority to keep order in his church.  There were a series of procedural steps that they needed to go through but nonetheless Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  God calls us to love one another which includes invoking discipline over one another.

Romans 13:8-10.  Paul wrote, “Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.”  God acts only with love.  When we act as God acts, we act rightfully.