Article January 16, 1965 Issue

"Between thee and him"

[Of Special Interest to Young Men and Women]

FREDERICK R. BELLMAR

A panel of high school boys and girls on a television program were asked what they would do if a friend were doing something wrong, and they knew about it. Would they tell on the friend? The boys and girls wrestled with the problem. They agreed that something should be done, but they did not agree on a solution. They halted somewhere between harshness and sentimentality.

It is hardly surprising that a group of high school students could not agree in fifteen minutes on the best way to treat an erring friend, for being a real friend to a wrongdoer is not easy. One viewer of the program regretted that some member of the panel had not mentioned the teachings of Jesus on the subject. The Master gave a simple directive which is still practical today.

In the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, we read: "If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church."

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