Forgiveness
Christ Gives Us Peace
Matthew 18:15-20
Rev. Tim Callow
Preached Sun. September 6th, 2020
These past two weeks we’ve talked about Jesus, his Lordship, and the character of his reign. Jesus is more than a mere teacher, or more than a mere revolutionary. Jesus is the revolution. He is King of all the earth. But he is no ordinary King. His Kingship doesn’t compete with Donald Trump or Justin Trudeau. His Kingship is exercised in service, self-sacrifice, and worship. This is the Kingdom of God that he came to proclaim, God’s reign in our lives and in our communities. A reign that brings peace.
That’s all well and good, but you don’t have to be in a church too long to see that churches aren’t always the most peaceful places around. Any group of people is going to lead to conflict. As much as we may try to be humble, we can feel slighted. As much as we try to do good, we can inadvertently hurt someone. As much as we try to be frank, we can end up talking behind someone’s back. And so the peace Christ gives can easily give way to conflict. And in a place like a church, where a lot of people have a say and a dear love for their community, that conflict can get all the more intense.
It’s like the old joke about the town with four churches across from each other downtown. When someone asked why there needed to be four community churches an older gentleman said there used to be one church. First they split over the question of whether there would be a rapture. Then they split over the question over whether they should wear seatbelts.
I’m sure we’ve all heard of the church that couldn’t agree over what color the carpet should be. I have heard of churches that are so overcome by their conflicts that they become paralyzed. Worship becomes a chore, and the mission of the church is sacrificed. People fight over all sorts of things. And we hurt each other in all sorts of ways. As idealistic as we might want to be, we have to admit conflict is inevitable. The peace that Jesus provides is not a life without conflict. But it is a peace that might overcome that conflict.
Jesus this morning gives very practical steps for how to deal with someone who has wronged you. While this covers most cases, it does not cover all cases. It’s easy to imagine a situation, like sexual harassment, where someone may not feel comfortable addressing their abuser in private. Grave things like that ought to go straight to church leaders, and there is certainly biblical precedent for that. But Jesus has in mind things like gossip, lying, rough speech, hurtful words, the things that usually ruffle a church or any community and lead to conflict.
The first step is that you need to want peace with the person who sinned against you. Too often we don’t really want peace with the person who has lied about us, or the person talking behind our back. We want to get even. We want to talk behind their back. Or we want to make them look silly down the line. But that is not the Spirit that has been put into our hearts. If we have the Spirit of love shed abroad our heart, if we have hearth of Christ, we need to want peace. Remember, Christ died for that person. Jesus knows them warts and all. But died for them regardless. So who are we to withhold that desire for reconciliation?
The second step is to talk to them one on one. There is tremendous wisdom in this. No one wants to be put on the spot, for one. But for another you’re more likely to make someone belligerent if you talk to them in public. If you talk to someone in private, they can set aside their shame. I remember hearing about two ladies in a church who had been at conflict for some time. They were just oil and water. Eventually it got to the point where one refused communion when the other was a communion steward. That’s when the one holding the cup realized that something needed to be done. The next day she visited with the other lady, and they had a frank heart to heart. And came to a place where they were at peace with one another.
That is what Jesus wants. If someone has sinned against you, take them aside and point out to them their fault. That way you might win them over. Don’t spread gossip or talk to their manager or whatever. But talk to them. Let them see what they did. Come to an understanding of why they did what they did. Seek peace. Christ died that we might have peace. And Christ loves you and them.
But Jesus understands that some might not listen. So he gives a second step. He says if they don’t listen then take one or two others along with you and talk to them again. So whatever is said can be confirmed by the word of two or three witnesses. Again, there is great wisdom in this. Deuteronomy says that any case before the court must have two or three witnesses. The witnesses confirm what is being said, and what was done. In a way it protects you, but the witnesses may also point out where you are at fault. Choose wise and judicious witnesses. This isn’t a time to gang up. It’s a time to seek the peace.
Finally, if that doesn’t resolve the issue, Jesus says you may bring them before the Church. If it is clear who is at fault, and they still don’t listen. Then the Church has the authority to treat them as a Gentile and tax collector. That is to say, to let them go. But always remember the ambiguity of this passage. Because Jesus eats with gentiles and tax collectors. While the Church lets one such as that go, it is only that we may receive them again.
Those are Jesus’ four steps to treat a breach in the peace. If someone has sinned against you, seek peace. Don’t seek revenge. Revenge does not make things better. It is hard, yes. But it is the way of the cross. Talk to the person who has wronged you. Seek to understand, seek to help them understand. If there is no resolution bring it to one or two witnesses. If there is no resolution bring it to the Church. If there is no resolution then they may leave. But that is the absolute last thing. Because Christ died for that person too.
Christ has given us peace. He won that peace by the blood of his cross. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That ministry looks like forgiveness. That ministry looks like frank conversation. And that ministry may be an example in a world where it’s easier to ignore someone or block them. Where we are losing that skill of mending relationships. Where we hurt each other in so many ways that we don’t put into words. And where we seem more divided than ever before. Christ gives us his example, he gives us his model. It’s up to us to practice it.