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What Trivial Debts are Owed to Us (How Great Our Debt to You) Text:
Matthew 18:15-20 As we in the United States of America have slowly awakened to the true devastation and loss of life and displacement of fellow citizens and lawlessness in New Orleans and the surrounding communities of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Christians of many denominations gather today and hear the words of Ezekiel, St. Paul and the eighteenth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel, looking to our Lord and Savior for a saving Word that will help make sense of the suffering; some flicker of comfort in the darkness of disaster. In light of this past week's news some pastors may despair of these texts and choose other readings that appear to address the situation more directly. For our readings have to do with the Christian discipline of living the life of faith while contending at the same time with living in this world where sin is still rampant not only in other people but even as we continue to carry that Old Adam, the fallen, sinful nature in ourselves. Just as there are many who have not heard or believed the Gospel of Christ and remain as slaves in the darkness of sin, so do Christians continue to struggle in this life as saints and sinners at the same time.
Our Gospel is the oft-quoted citation for the Biblical way to deal with conflict and outbursts of sin in the Christian community. And it would seem such an “in house” concern would have little to say to our current national disaster. Yet the context of these words concerning Christian discipline is divine love and concern for the lost. It is the same love and concern we are to proclaim and to show also to those who are not yet members of the household of faith.
The last sentence of our Gospel is the wonderful promise of our Savior, “where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Our regular banners for the green seasons of the church year display these words before us Sunday after Sunday. It would seem that these words would provide some comfort for us when we wonder if God has abandoned us especially in the midst of disaster. And certainly we have the words of our Lord in Hebrews 13:4 (ESV), “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” This promise, however, is a specific one for situations when two or three are gathered in Jesus' name for the purpose and work of reconciliation, of confession and absolution, of repentance and forgiveness of sin, for the restoration of the peace of God where sin and evil have disrupted the unity and bonds of love of the church. For without the crucified and risen Jesus, the One who paid the price for all sin, the Lamb of God who takes away sin, there can be no real absolution, forgiveness, reconciliation or love.
Matthew 18:15-17 is the model we have used to address the most prevalent sin that confronts our congregation and the church-at-large today, the sin of despising God's Word. Now that seems, at first, to be an over-statement. For those who neglect attendance to the Divine Service and the fellowship usually make a distinction and say, “Oh, I don't despise God's Word, I just have other priorities” or activities or “things going on in my life.” This text speaks of the rarely-used church discipline called “excommunication.” At its root, whether it is plain neglect and habitual absence from Word and Sacrament or outright rebellion, to despise God's Word is not to hear it, not to believe it, to deny by our actions or lack of them our otherwise claimed faith, belief and membership in Christ's church.
I have guided our Board of Elders in reaching out to those we have traditionally and politely been called “inactive” members according to this outline of Christian discipline. Without going through all the steps here, let me point out just one important aspect. And that is that there is no limit to how many times step one is to be repeated: “go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.” It is not right, good or salutary that congregations should just lop off names from the membership list without first doing our part of caring and reaching out to encourage “inactives” to return to regular worship, frequent communion, continued Bible study, faithful stewardship and service. Only after keeping records of repeated contacts have we notified those “inactives” that their neglect, their despising of God's Word, would result in their removal at a specified time.
Most major Christian denominations have been losing members in the past couple of decades. I'm glad to say that congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have lost fewer in comparison to other denominations, and that very likely because of our tradition of thorough catechesis of our children and adult confirmands at the beginning. Yet we all find ourselves, these days, in a society of relative wealth and affluence when people are not so aware of their true spiritual needs of repentance and forgiveness and the life of faith. Oh, there are those moments when people realize their need, as when 50 people showed up here for an unannounced prayer service in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, or the giant black out in August of 2003, or the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami disaster of just one year ago, or, now, Hurricane Katrina and the disaster of New Orleans. But these disasters and disruptions pass and life returns to a sleepy equilibrium like the equalization of water levels between Lake Pontchartrain and the city of New Orleans.
The 18 th chapter of Matthew's Gospel is about caring for the needy, the weak, the injured, the most helpless and vulnerable, going after the lost sheep both within and without the walls of the church. At this time of what many have called the greatest “natural” disaster to have ever hit the United States the church reaches out to address the immediate physical needs of those affected. Two-thirds of the total number of Lutherans in the area affected are Missouri Synod and only one-third ELCA. Your special insert from LCMS World Relief and Human Care reports how that at least 70 of our 140 congregations have been affected. Synodical Director Rev. Matt Harrison says we are first addressing the needs of our Southern District leaders, “then we look to our pastors, church workers and congregations. As their needs are met, they become better able to turn toward their neighbors in love in word and deed.” Your support is invited and urged whether that be through LCMS World Relief/Human Care, the Red Cross or other agencies. (Note especially the opportunity generously provided for members of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.)
The issue is deliverance from sin and death, the underlying cause of all disaster. The only answer is in the forgiveness, life and salvation provided abundantly out of the divine love of God in sending his only Son. By his cross, when he had overcome the sharpness of death, and by his resurrection from the dead he has opened the kingdom to all believers. To those who have received such eternal love has been given the blessing of knowing that love so as to be able to share it for the deliverance of others.
It is not in the capacity of the government, the media, the military or anyone else, but it is up to the church alone, the body of Christ, to sound the warning constantly and consistently through the ages, and bring the powerful love of God to bear upon all, as St. Paul wrote to Timothy, saying: “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” [2 Tim. 4:1-5 (ESV)].
Hear also the words of St. Paul to the Galatians when he writes, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” [Galatians 6:1-2, 9-10 (ESV)]. May this Word and this time of need be received by you as a call to renewal of faith and commitment to be the caring community Christ has called us to be. ___________________
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