What is fraternal correction?
This is when one Christian privately tries to bring another Christian to see his error or his sin and to bring him to a better place. It is distinguished from the steps of ecclesiastical censure.
What is ecclesiastical censure?
This is when a church proceeds to place a member under discipline.
Where does the Bible teach this?
This is taught us by Jesus in Matthew 18:
“And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED. “And 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-gatherer. “Truly I say to you, whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matt 18:15-18)
What other considerations should move us when we think about beginning a process of fraternal correction?
Before we begin such a process, we should consider the following:
First whether the offense we notice in our brother/sister is sufficient to warrant a confrontation. A good question here is whether the offense was against ourselves or against God? If it was a personal insult to ourselves, could we possibly overlook it and move on? Recall Paul's exhortation "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."
Second, was the sin committed a public one? In this case, one is not bound to the steps of fraternal correction since the sin can not be hid. This isn't to say, of course, that a Christian brother or sister shouldn't attempt to reach out to someone and to humbly seek to win them over in a way of fraternal correction.
is there any reason to believe that our brother/sister will come to a recognition of his/her fault without our intervention?
Third, is there any reason to believe that your attempt at correction will succeed? In one sense, this is impossible to know. We should err on hoping and praying that God will bless our efforts.
Fourth, is there anyone else who might be in a better position to carry forward this process of correction than ourselves? Assuming that others know about the sin, perhaps there is someone closer to this individual who might have a higher chance of success than we.
What principles should guide a Christian as he seeks to carry out this process?
Did Paul sin against Jesus' instruction in Matt 18 when he publicly rebuked Peter for his sudden change of behavior towards the Gentile-Christians?