Authority in the Assembly

Jesus says something startling in Matthew 18:18 — *whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.* He's speaking to the gathered church, the *ecclesia*, the assembly of His people. And He's saying: when you act rightly in My name, I ratify your decisions.

That's a staggering claim. It means the church isn't just a social club or a volunteer organization. It's the body of Christ on earth, entrusted with real authority — not to lord it over people, but to shepherd them according to His will.

But notice the context. This authority isn't given to individuals acting alone. It's given to the congregation, the gathered saints. It's not 'whatever *you* (singular) bind,' but 'whatever *you* (plural) bind.' The church acts together, in unity, under the lordship of Christ.

And the authority is specific: it's the authority to discipline, to put someone out of fellowship when necessary, and to welcome them back when they repent. It's not a blank check. It's a scalpel, not a sledgehammer. It's meant to cut away sin so the body can heal.

This should humble us. If you're part of a local church, you share in this responsibility. You're not a spectator. You're part of the assembly that Jesus has entrusted with the care of His sheep. That means showing up, staying engaged, and being willing to have hard conversations when love requires it.

It also means trusting that when the church acts according to Scripture, God is at work. He doesn't stand at a distance, wringing His hands. He's present, active, binding and loosing in heaven what His people bind and loose on earth.