I think a false dichotomy is evolving here. The passage reads:
Matthew 18:15-20 English Standard Version (ESV)
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, 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. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
The passage is most definitely mentioning how the church should deal with a member who is sinning against the body. Of course, most of us know the procedure. Approach the individual privately to address the issue. If that doesn't work, take a witness or two with you and try to address the issue. If that doesn't work, bring the issue before the body. If the body itself cannot bring the individual to repentance or understanding, he is to be shunned. Then Jesus speaks of the principle of binding and loosing, which is connected to spiritual authority. The church has authority to make decrees, set standards, issue directives, establish guidelines, and even bind sin upon a rebellious individual (
John 20:23). Christ then
EXPANDS upon this principle of spiritual authority by repeating His point, "
Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them." Here Christ speaks of the authority of corporate prayer. When two or more pray concerning "anything" on earth, Christ assures them that the Father will answer. And this is because Christ is with them, for whosesoever two or more are gathered in His name, there He is in the midst of them.
While the immediate context is in reference to dealing with an offense in the church, the principle of the spiritual authority necessary to bind and loose; the spiritual authority and power to pray corporately and seek healing, solutions, or provision for the body, or any part of the body, is being highlighted.
Christ's points simplified are:
- Progressive inquiry before disciplining a sinner.
- Shunning (or excommunication) is established as a form of church discipline.
- Spiritual authority to bind and loose is affirmed.
- Spiritual authority to pray corporately concerning any matter affirmed.
It's not an either/or paradigm. It's multifaceted.