Tomorrow's sermon will not be recorded, but I wanted to share it with you. The Gospel text is Matthew 18:15-20.
Christ and Christians Too!
Good morning! Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Today’s gospel is highlighted with the title, “Dealing with sin in the church.” Sin in the church? Now let me start by saying that I was not sent by Luther Seminary—in far away St. Paul, Minnesota—to lecture you about any dysfunction that may or may not exist here at Epiphany Lutheran. I have only met a few of you—I have attended one Bible Study—and I have had lunch with Pastor John. I have, however, been a member of the Body of Christ for 24 years, and that is the “church” I want to talk about today. Author of Jesus for President, Shane Claiborne writes, ““By church we mean the body of people who make the God of Jesus visible in the world, for better or for worse.” We are the church. Christ and Christians too.
Like many college students, I studied abroad for a semester during my senior year in college. My parents were anxious that I study in a nice comfortable country like Sweden or Norway, but I chose India because of my passion for religion and politics. I wanted to see the land of the great Christian missionary and Nobel prize winner, Mother Teresa and the famous Hindu leader, Gandhi. Many of you know that Gandhi was a major political and spiritual leader of India. He was the pioneer of resistance to tyranny through mass civil disobedience.He is commonly known around the world as Mahatma Gandhi or "Great Soul".
Gandhi comes to mind when I read today’s gospel headline, “Dealing with Sin in the Church.” He once said, “I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ.” I think the reason Gandhi had trouble with Christians is that we often fail to live up to the expectations Jesus hopes for his people. We profess Jesus’ love, then we argue and bicker. We proclaim a peace that surpasses all human understanding, then we are judgmental, full of hatred, and yes, even violent. We declare our allegiance to loving others, then turn a blind eye to those in need. While we sometimes find ourselves acting like dumb sheep by arguing and fighting, today’s readings address the flaws which are part of our human sinfulness that are inevitable in the church.
So how are we doing as God’s people in community? Ezekiel shows us the boldness that we need to have as people of God….people of faith. This Old Testament passage is not about philosophy, it is about action. Ezekiel is called to sound the trumpet and warn the people. Are we listening to God’s call or are we complacent? It takes courage and commitment and energy to put our faith into action but we listen to God saying, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live.” How are we responding to God and to each other? Are we sounding the trumpet?
Pointing people to God takes courage. We must summon strength, commitment and energy. It takes boldness, and as Lutherans we are comfortable in seeking the company of like-minded believers. Our tradition is not knocking on doors and handing out leaflets on street corners. We love Jesus and we reach out to people in a different way. We bring food and clothing to the needy. We pray for others, we visit. We donate our time and resources. Pastor John reminded us in Bible Study this week that Lutherans are not about religion, but relationship.
Today’s New Testament passage from Romans is to our liking. We strive to, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus sums up the commandments, the law, this way, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.” This is a simple approach, isn’t it? Well, it sounds simple, but how do we really put this commandment into action?
As Christians, we already know that we are commanded to show others love. The gospel reading of Matthew might be mistaken as an outline, a plan really, on how to point out the sin of others. I look at it differently.
The passage is about love and seeking others out despite our individual and collective sin. Moment by moment, God’s grace is showered upon us as we pray, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.” The quintessential way to develop and maintain growing and healthy relationships in the church is by our understanding and application of love and forgiveness. When we resist or refuse to deal with others in love and forgiveness, is it a wonder that someone outside the Christian church would question our seriousness about Jesus and his teaching?
Keep in mind that when you find faults in others, Jesus has already taught us in Matthew 7 to take the plank out of our own eyes, before we try to remove the speck in the eye of someone else. When we foster conflict and gossip, we escalate the problem and fuel dysfunction in our families, communities, and yes, in the church. At the same time, we destroy our relationships and the opportunities for Jesus to use us. The end result? We are judged by non Christians as insincere and lacking the convictions of our faith.
But when we humble ourselves before the Lord, we facilitate the good character the Church is supposed to emulate; then, we become more harmonious to His call and to others. If Jesus were to visit this church today, would He see this congregation as an example of how to love and care for one another? What about at home and with your family and in our neighborhoods? Is it one that quarrels or one that loves? What glorifies Jesus and leads to a better life for us: conflict and violence or love and peace?
Mother Teresa, speaking of her life’s work with the poor and dying in Calcutta said, "Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus." There is nothing more powerful than that love and the recognition of that love in others.
The Indian people taught me about seeking that love with one word, “Namaste!” which means, “The divine in me meets the divine in you,” in Hindi….one of the languages of India. “Namaste…the great perfection within me honors the great perfection within you.” This greeting in India is offered by all people… people in temples, people on the streets, wealthy people, poor people, business owners, Tsunami survivors, orphans, street vendors, migrant workers, teachers, relatives, and friends. So this morning, let’s extend this greeting to each other. Namaste!
Jesus leaves us at the end of today’s gospel with a powerful invitation. “If two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Think about the incredible things Christians have done when they agree on things. We have moved mountains in feeding the hungry, finding shelter for the homeless, prayed to cure disease, visited the hospitalized and imprisoned, comforted the lonely and welcome the outcast. Think what more there is to be done. Think of what more we can accomplish when we allow Jesus that is inside of all of us to recognize and honor the Jesus in everyone. ----
So we wonder once again, sin in the church? We admit that we are all sinners. But that is why God sent his son to us. That is why Jesus died on the cross: to save us from our sins.
So let us reconcile our differences, especially those within the church, and concentrate on spreading the good news which is Jesus Christ.
Let us love and serve and affirm each other as Jesus commands.
Let us work together as he invites us to alleviate misery and hopelessness.
Let us love one another, friends.
Let us not give reason for anyone to ever question that we are followers of the Living God.
Let them know and admire Christ and yes, Christians too.
Amen.
It was a wonderful day spent with family and friends--old and new. It was a great reunion with our former pastors Tom Nyman and Tom Hansen and their families, and Pastor Hardy and his wife, along with Sondra (s
