“If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. … 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. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:15-20
Friends in Christ, The ancient Greek storyteller Aesop told of a fierce lion and strong hyena met in the middle of a blazing hot summer’s day at a spring to get a refreshing drink of water. “Step aside!” the lion roared, “I was here first.” “No,” thundered the hyena, “I found the water first and you have tried to push me away. You step back until I am finished.” Quickly the disagreement escalated from words into action. They began to attack each other ferociously. Being highly involved in their fight, neither noticed the vultures who had landed on a rock high above them, waiting to see who would survive and who would not. When the lion spotted the vultures, he immediately stopped fighting and implored the hyena, “Quit, now! If we keep fighting, the only winner will be the vultures.” And, the fighting stopped.
How good if all fighting – disagreements, squabbles, arguments, conflicts and worse – ended because we understood the cost and consequences!
(1) The painful point that Jesus made is one who have almost certainly all endured: “If your brother or sister sins against you …” // Let me tell you with an encounter early in my ministry. Thankfully – hopefully – both parties are now in heaven far from each other! The senior adult members of our church had an annual Swiss steak dinner as a fundraiser. It generated a lot of profit and it also allowed for strong, interactive fellowship among the workers. The challenge was this: one had been a cook in the Army and was very proud of his food. And, he was very good in the kitchen! The other, though, had worked as a cook in a restaurant and was also very accomplished. They were good friends in and outside of church … until the year they could not agree on whose recipe to use. And, this is a true, painful story! While working in my office, the door swung open and there stood the two of them, red faced, veins bulging, anger written in their expressions and hurt in their voices. They stood together and demanded, “Pastor, pick one of us to be in charge! Tell the other one to stand down!” If you will allow me to say it, my Mother didn’t raise a fool!” I did the honorable thing and said, “I’d love to stay and help you but I have to leave for an appointment.” And, I walked out, never to decide.
(2) Instead of fighting and not forgiving, we want to see the best in each other and get along because there is so much to be gained. Jesus promised, “If two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”
Can you imagine how different – how much better - our homes, church, communities, country and world would be if we made an honest effort to agree? Can you imagine the blessings that would be multiplied in our lives? Peace, trust, patience, love, kindness, generosity and more!
It is what our Heavenly Father wants for us. It is what He has made possible for us through sinless life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection of His Son Easter morning! Sin has been defeated. It no longer needs to defeat and divide us. It does not!
(3) But, when it does – and because we are frail human beings – it almost certainly will divide us, our Heavenly Father has given us a way to help heal our divisions. Jesus continued by telling the disciples, ““If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one.”
Please allow me to give you a powerful Biblical example of this principle at work. King David with too little to do and too much time in which to do it, one day saw the beautiful Bathsheba bathing and seduced her. The fact that she was married and that David was married mattered not at all. Because Bathsheba became pregnant, David directed that Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, be sent to the front line of the fighting. On David’s orders the other soldiers drew back, leaving Uriah alone as the target for the enemy. King David then took Bathsheba into his own house as his additional wife to cover his sin. Everything would have worked out if God had not sent His prophet Nathan to confront David. Then, when Nathan was alone with David, he told David the story about a wealthy farmer who stole and slaughtered a poor farmer’s only animal, instead of using one of own, many animals to feed his guests. Listening, but not understanding, David grew furious and demanded, “He ought to be killed and his wealth given to the poor man!” No doubt silent for a time to allow the words to settle in, Nathan continued with an intent look into David’s face, “David, you are the man. Why have you, the King of Israel, with the world at your feet, done what is evil in god’s sight?” Cut to the heart, David shamefully confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord.” Nathan concluded, “The Lord has put away your sin.”
It reminds us of precisely the point Jesus made. Go to the person who has sinned, but do it quietly, privately, personally to win him/ her back. Be patient, be understanding. Be Christ-like. Then, when sin is confessed, be forgiving just as Jesus forgave even those who crucified Him. There is much to be gained and nothing to be lost.
Let’s end with this. Pastor Brown returned home after a day at church to hear a tremendous commotion in the backyard. Yelling. Shouting. Threats. Angry words. It was awful! Deeply concerned he raced into the backyard to find his three children gathered around an orange crate that stood like a pulpit in the middle of the yard. Strange, to be sure. He demanded, “What is going on here? What is all of the commotion about?” He daughter said matter-of-factly, “Don’t worry about it, Dad. We’re playing church and having a voters’ meeting!”
I hope not. Not here. Not with good people like you. See the best in each other. Care for each other and look for the blessings of God to honor your unity. Amen.
