When you seek advice, do you go into the conversation understanding you will possibly have to face hard truths and be ready at any moment to accept fault you may not have known was there? Or maybe you realize those/that fault(s) and your unable to admit it/them? 

You would assume focusing on oursleves in “Social Media” world, it would easily be relayed to real life. On social media we focus on selfies and highlight reels, while we take a few criticism shots here and there. Something about physically being in front of someone pointing out a fault hurts more.

Actually, it’s intended to be the opposite of hurtful. We add shame into the equation. We allow our faults to be viewed in our thoughts as a place of shame or remorse, instead of a moment of learning and growth. Is it possible to have a conversation with another over faults and it ending with resolution? 

Yes! Jesus tells us how to accomplish this very thing in Matthew 18:15-20. Five short verses can allow moments of shame to be turned into moments of growth. See it explains to us, we (as Christ followers) are supposed to hold eachother up. We should be able to go to one another expressing our concerns for faults/sins. It also explains we are to try first between the two. If a resolution was not made, take it a step further and try adding a third or fourth person. If there are still issues of not listening, take the issue at hand to your trusted Church member. 

So how could this end with resolution? Because you as the listener are approaching the situation fully understanding when being shown the fault(s) spoken of above, it’s not done out of anger or dislike. It’s done out of love. When the speaker approaches the situation in this manner, the speaker knows the last step…. 

“Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be  loosed in heaven.  Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 18:18-19

Prayer: 

Please allow us to approach sensitive situations with knowledge that our Christ family has our best intrest at heart. Sheild us from those who don’t. Allow us to listen to our faults/sins without getting so angry we get caught up in emotions. In Jesus name. -AMEN.