There is no law but that of love.1 Love is joy in others. To preserve this love, Christ teaches us to speak directly to our brother or sister whenever there is anything between us. We are to make peace with our brother or sister before the sun goes down; Christ even warns us to stay away from common prayer until we have done so: “If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

It is therefore out of the question for someone in our community to hold something against a brother or sister or to talk behind his or her back. Relationships within and to the church community are spiritual bonds based on trust and on the readiness to forgive again and again.

Like the early Christians and those faithful to their example through the ages, we insist on the need for mutual fraternal admonition. Misunderstandings, conflicts, and honest differences of opinion are bound to arise, and this does not surprise or disturb us. But whenever there is tension between brothers and sisters, we must use the way of direct address taught by Christ. We owe this service to anyone in the church community whose real or imagined weaknesses cause a negative reaction in us. A frank word spoken and received in love and humility serves only to deepen friendship and renew trust. If our concern turns out to be unjustified, so much the better.

If two people are unable to come to peace on their own, it is necessary to take the additional steps that Jesus sets forth in Matthew 18: first to draw in one or two others to help; and then, as a last resort, to lay the situation before the church to be resolved by its authority. According to Christ’s teaching, anyone who refuses at that point to listen even to the assembled church should leave and go his or her own way.

Likewise, if there is division in the church community or abuse of authority by its leadership, the matter will if necessary be brought before the worldwide body of members for final resolution, in the prayer that the Spirit may lead to clarity, repentance, and renewed love. All conflicts within the church community can and must be settled in this way. In accordance with Scripture, they may never be taken to any adjudicator outside the church community, certainly not to a court of law.2

* This online version of Foundations is for reference only. For the authoritative version, see the print edition.