My opinion is that "tell it to the church" must be defined in some fashion.
Does it mean "tell it to the group gathered at a particular time" or "tell
it to the business meeting" or "tell it to the registered membership" (which
thing, of course, did not exist in the First Century).

I think that a non-elder fulfills the "tell it to the church" element when
he brings the matter to the leadership, and the burden then falls upon the
leadership to deal with the matter in front of the body.

This view is consistent with the duties imposed on the elders to spiritually
guide the flock and with the duty imposed by Matthew 18, because informing
the leaders is the way one informs the body (since the body must act through
individuals and those are the ones appointed by God).

Further, this view permits the elders to perform their role in regard to the
individual raising the complaint, because he might be wrong.

In my view (and teaching), I have always urged people that the "two or more"
who go in step 2 should be elders of the church as well, so that their
testimony and input gets involved immediately, at the earliest stage.


I do not believe Matthew 18 directs or permits a non-elder to stand up in a
church meeting and publicly accuse a brother, without having first brought
the matter to those vested with the care of the church.

James W. Allen
jallen@...