16th Sunday after Pentecost / September 4, 2005

Ezekiel 33:7–11; Romans 13:8–14; Matthew 18:15–20

Rev. Gayle M. Highness

The Truth about Love

Sometimes people just don’t get along. Have you noticed that? There are bad people who do bad things and good people who do bad things. Even good people tend to hurt each other – whether intentionally or unintentionally.

That is just a simple, plain truth of life and it is at the heart of all our Scripture readings today. It’s called sin. It is here and it is real, and denying it won’t make it go away. The only thing that can overcome it is love.

Not a mushy, weak, fearful imitation of love that says, “Oh, that’s OK” when it really isn’t or that says, “Go ahead and hurt me, I’ll let you do it because I want you to like me.” But real love that tells the truth, acknowledges the sin, invites repentance and seeks reconciliation. Love that comes from God.

If you’ve been watching the coverage of the Hurricane Katrina aftermath, you have seen many examples of both wickedness and love. The situations at the Superdome and Convention Center in New Orleans and at the Astrodome in Houston seem to epitomize the extremes.

As the media have portrayed it, in New Orleans there was chaos and lawlessness; in Houston, order and civility. In New Orleans, misery; in Houston, hope. In New Orleans, frustration; in Houston, patience. In New Orleans, lack, in Houston, abundance. In New Orleans, darkness; in Houston, light.

Where, you may ask, is God in all this? God is in BOTH places.

God is in the voices of the prophets saying, “This is unacceptable! What’s taking so long to get help? This looting and violence is wrong and needs to stop!” Even in the voices questioning whether racism has anything to do with the way things have unfolded in the storm and its aftermath – the voices asking how poverty and injustice may have contributed to the misery.

God is in the people who are entering the darkness and the stench and the lawlessness to bring order, to care for those in need, to rescue and heal and restore. Examples of selflessness and courage abound even amidst the desolation.

And God is clearly in Texas, in the voices of those who step on the buses and say, “Welcome to Houston.” In those who are contributing their skills and resources to help alleviate the suffering. God is in the patience and gratitude of the refugees who have lost everything but their faith.

It’s sometimes easier to see God in the light than it is in the dark, and it can be especially hard for us to do what’s necessary for God’s light to begin to shine in the dark. Because that involves telling the truth. It’s not only hard to hear the truth but it’s also hard to speak it.

In the reading from Ezekiel, God is telling Ezekiel that his job is to be a sentinel or watchman for Israel, which means warning the people that their wicked ways are leading to their death, and to call them to turn back to God.

It’s a message of judgment, but also of love. Because it doesn’t just say, “You’re going the wrong way,” it says, “Come back! Turn around! I love you and I don’t want you to die!”

People who name sin and call for repentance are often not too popular. They are accused of being judgmental and hypocritical and maybe sometimes they are. But sometimes they are being true to their call and just telling the truth.

In the reading from Romans, Paul speaks in the same prophetic voice, calling the hearers to lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. But here, in the New Testament, there is a difference. Christ has defeated sin and death in the cross and resurrection, and thereby opened the door for us to be reconciled to God – enabling us to be forgiven and restored and filled with God’s love.

Today’s readings contain both law and gospel. The law – the Ten Commandments – shows us what is right and accuses and convicts us of doing wrong. But the gospel – the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sin – saves us and declares us not guilty.

The gospel frees us from the just penalty for our sin and enables and empowers us to live in Christ – or to “put on Christ” as Paul says. The more we repent and turn to God and allow God’s love to fill us and renew us – the better able we are to “live honorably in the day.”

Is having faith and being a Christian a guarantee that we will all get along? No. The gospel reading today is proof of that. For here, Jesus is talking about brothers and sisters in Christ sinning against each other. And again, the focus is on TRUTH and reconciliation. And that may be the most difficult truth-telling of all!

The gospel prescribes an approach to reconciliation within the church that is actually part of our church constitution. In Chapter 15 of the constitution, entitled, “DISCIPLINE OF MEMBERS AND ADJUDICATION,” Section 1 says, “Denial of the Christian faith as described in this constitution, conduct grossly unbecoming a member of the Church of Christ, or persistent trouble-making in this congregation are sufficient cause for discipline of a member. Prior to disciplinary action, reconciliation will be attempted following Matthew 18:15-17.” And then it goes on to describe the process in detail.

Rarely, however, do church conflicts get to this point. Because usually people accept it or ignore it or just leave. What makes it so hard to tell a brother or sister that what they have done is wrong, and has hurt you or someone else, is that you know it can back fire.

You know there’s a potential for creating a worse situation. You know they might come back and accuse you and they might even be right. That’s why it’s important for anyone who feels called to name a sin in someone else to examine themselves first and repent of any wrongdoing on their own part.

Involving witnesses – not just your friends and relatives, but objective, wise and respected leaders in the church, as the process describes – should help both sides see the truth.

This is hard, hard work – making amends – telling the truth – hearing the truth – accepting the truth. But it is what God calls us to do.

The bad news in all of this is that sin abounds. Life is messy and ugly. Bad people do bad things and even good people do bad things.

The good news is that grace abounds even more – that Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death and brings reconciliation and salvation– not only in heaven but here on earth.

This forgiveness is offered to us as a free gift that comes to us through faith and repentance – turning around to receive it. And with that gift comes the ability to turn around and offer it to the world.

And there’s more good news in this gospel reading for today. Even though the process may be difficult, Jesus promises that he will be with us. “Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven,” Jesus says. “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."

Usually we think of that promise during times when we are in agreement, but we can also claim it in the midst of disagreement when we are seeking reconciliation. If we ask God for healing and resolution in Jesus’ name, God will bring it about one way or another – hopefully between the parties but, if one will not listen, the rest will be able to go on in peace, knowing they have told the truth and holding to the hope that the lost one will return.

And as you seek that reconciliation, may the peace of Christ, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.