September 4, 2011
The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost Year A
Grace mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. The sermon text for today is Ezekiel 33:7-9.
This encounter between God and Ezekiel takes place in the neo- Babylonian Empire during the captivity of Israel by Nebuchadnezzar after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. The first temple was destroyed 587 years before the birth of Jesus.
This was a time in the history of God’s people when their future was not clear. Held in captivity in a foreign land, a long way from home, unable to worship in their temple -- they focused on some of the reasons for their captivity and came to the conclusion that this occurred because of their ongoing failure to honor the covenant that God made with their ancestors -- and by way of Jewish thinking ---them -- at Sinai --859 years previously in 1446 BC. (we were slaves in Egypt) Ezekiel received his call to be a prophet -- that is one who conveys God’s words and will to the people --after his captivity and exile to Babylon.
In our text God tells Ezekiel that he is to be a watchman. A few verses earlier describes the duty of a watchman. If he saw the sword coming upon the land he was to blow the trumpet and warn the people. At that point the people could seek safety behind the thick city walls or they could perish. The watchman was accountable only for giving the warning. He was accountable for the process not the results.
Ezekiel was a watchman for the spiritual lives of the people. He was called to warn the people to turn from their wicked ways or die in their iniquity. If he warned them, he did his part. He was not held accountable for their response. If he failed to warn them, he too would be accountable. Once again he was only responsible for the process not the results.
Today’s bulletin theme states that the modern equivalent to the watchman would be our Pastors who serve us by warning us against sin and calling us to repentance. Additionally governing authorities serve us by restraining evil and awarding good.
Where do we, as members of the body of Christ, fit into this picture? Do we sit on the sidelines and expect our Pastors to carry the whole load? Are we afraid of spiritual issues?
Are we afraid of the words and criticisms of men when our sole audience should be God? Do we confuse, or let the enemy -- that is Satan -- confuse, brotherly admonition and judgment. Do we know the difference between admonition and judgment? Do we wither when some critic, otherwise Biblically illiterate, chirps “ Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
According to Webster’s admonition is defined as a mild rebuke, a warning, advice, counsel, and censure done in a mild way. It is done to help a person in a gentle way.
Judgment on the other hand has an element of criticism or censure given with an attitude of superiority and legalism.
Admonition is given by a person who knows his own sinfulness and Christ‘s great sacrifice for that sin.
Look at God’s word in Galatians 6:1 written by Paul
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness." The goal of all admonition is to restore a person in his relationship with Christ.
Paul addresses “you who are spiritual.” All Christians have the spirit, not just a select few or an elite few, we often manage to hide it but we do have it. We can follow the spirit’s leading by gently and humbly caring for the one who lapses into some sin.
Early in His earthly ministry Jesus -- the final interpreter of all scripture -- cautions us about Judging others. In Matthew 7:
"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ’Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
These verses tell us to be careful. Examine yourself first. Do not be condemning but be humble and gentle. Do not do this from your personal soap box or bully pulpit but approach this from the foot of the cross as one beggar telling another where the bread is found. (John 6:35) According to St. Augustine, when we do not know the intentions behind a person’s actions, “We are to put the better construction on them” (Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers of The Christian Church Series 1 6:54 )
This does not always happen.
Jesus sets forth a basic condition that needs to be observed. Before admonishing someone, practice self examination. If we do not see our own faults and sins we can not offer admonition to a fellow Christian. Without self examination our admonition can only deteriorate into judgment and legalism.
Jesus warns in Matthew 7:6 that hypocritical condemnation of fellow believers is tantamount to throwing these precious persons out of the fellowship to the dogs and pigs.
The attitude of the one admonishing is everything. As Paul said in today’s epistle reading “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev 19:18)
Matthew 18:15-18, part of today’s Gospel reading, can be viewed as a suggested procedure for implementing the policy establish in Ezekiel.
Verse 15 is key to understanding this biblical procedure. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.” Between you and him alone -- always with the goal of restoring a brother in his relationship with Christ.
If you see one of your married friends in a place he shouldn’t be with his secretary, neighbor, baby sitter etc, go to him. Do not go to his wife, your breakfast club, his Pastor, or members of his church. Go to him not as judge and jury but as a brother in Christ. Be gentle, do not condemn him and do not give the whole thing a wink. He needs to know that he must sin no more. He must know that this intentional sin will eventually separate him from Christ and result in his spiritual death. This step is the initial attempt. There are no limits to the number of initial attempts that can be made. No where does it say step 2 must be implemented within ten days - one month etc. Verse 16 says to take one or two others if he does not listen. And I add this caution -- only take people known to handle information like this in a confidential manner. This process must be carried out in humility with the goal of gaining your brother. If he listens he can be restored. We can all be restored for we have all sinned. (Rom 3:23)
Sin cause collateral damage in families, churches and the community -- the sooner it is stopped the better. Remember we are responsible for the process only -- the Holy Spirit takes care of the results.
I recently read an internet article sponsored by sermon central.com entitled:
7 Things Pastors Don’t Need to Know?
By Ron Edmondson #
This list reinforces verse 15:
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.”
Quoting Ron Edmondson the seven things Pastors don’t need to know are:
Gossip about another person…
Prayer requests given with a motive of gossip…
Rumors spread without substantiation…
Extremely intimate details about a person’s private life…
Problems happening in another church…
Secrets one doesn’t have permission to tell…
Details your spouse isn’t ready for me to hear…
He continues:
“You might be surprised to hear what people try to tell me…because I’m a pastor. Now there are extreme times when abuse or neglect is suspected or occurring to an individual and I may need to hear, but most of the time those are not the intent with the list above. Chances are that if it’s wrong to share with others, it’s wrong to share it with me.
Please understand, I’m not suggesting I don’t care about the struggles of people’s lives, but there is never an excuse to spread gossip or rumors that cause more harm than good to a person or situation. Even though I’m the pastor, there are some things I simply have no need to know.”
He concludes with: What else would you add to my list?
To sum this up: confession is good only when we are confessing our own sins and not our neighbor’s sins. On page 310 of our hymnal there is a rite of individual confession and absolution. It starts out “Dear Pastor, hear my confession -- it doesn’t say Dear Pastor hear my neighbor’s confession.
Once again Matthew 18:15
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.
Only after steps one and two are taken, with the right attitude, are we to take it to the Church. again with the goal of restoring a brother in his relationship with Christ. If all of these efforts fail to convince the sinner to repent, he is to be regarded as outside the Christian fellowship.
Sadly at this point many are reluctant to surrender to Christ and His Church by repenting.
They stop going to church or join a congregation that tolerates intentional sin. Instead of repenting of the sin they embrace the sin. Sometimes a whole congregation will embrace the sin. This is why you can find vestments and altar paraments in the gay pride colors.
An egregious example of a church tolerating intentional sin can be found in the case of George Tiller the abortion provider who was killed by an assassin in his church building. While I do not condone the violence I have to ask how a notorious late term abortion provider could be an official or a member in good standing in a church.
Slaughter the innocents Monday through Friday and Sunday usher at the church.
Prior to this he was excommunicated from a L.C.M.S congregation that loved him enough to admonish him for his refusal to repent and find a God pleasing source of income. http://www.getreligion.org/2009/06/tillers-missing-excommunication/
Christ died for George Tiller just like he died for you and me but Jesus clearly said “go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11 NIV ) Paul tells us not to be slaves to sin. (Romans 6:6)
In today’s Gospel reading we read in Matthew 18:6
“but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
By not admonishing known intentional sin are we not enabling the sin? By not admonishing sin do we deserve the great millstone?
By not admonishing sin are we not becoming like some of the churches described in the book of Revelation that tolerated pagan practices and intentional sin? Check out Revelation 2:20-23. Jesus admonishes and warns the church at Thyatira for tolerating that woman Jezebel.
Scripture tells us that our heavenly Father wants everyone to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4,) All people are not saved, however, because many reject the Word and resist the Holy Spirit.
Remember always John 3:16
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
God’s law causes despair in sinful hearts leading them to repent . Then God’s word reaches out with the life giving power of the Gospel -- Christ crucified for our sins --to absolve the sinner and create a new life in Christ.
This is the message that we are to carry into the world.
Amen
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)
