Genesis 50:15-21 Joseph forgives his brothers (NRSV)
Romans 14:1-12 The strong and the weak in faith (NRSV)
Matthew 18:21-35 Parable of the unforgiving servant (NRSV)
The Grace and Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Paul writes to us this morning, ‘Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.”’ So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.’
As we join together, united in fellowship this morning, let’s also join in a word of prayer: Loving Lord Jesus, as we share this time of worship, joined together in your presence, strengthen our resolve to withhold judgement and actively accept each other for who we are, children of God. Help us gain a new perspective of peace, confidence, and joyful fellowship as you fill us with your Spirit, and feed us with your word. Gracious Lord Jesus, hear our prayer for your name’s sake, Amen.
Most Christians agree on everything. Right?
When we do disagree, isn’t it true that sometimes we, as Christians, are quick to judge others. Even in judging other Christians. The way they live or the way they express their relationship with God.
We know there’s a lot of false teaching around, and a lot of casual Christianity in this broken world. And we certainly don’t want to get taken in by it. So we learn to judge as wisely as we can, and test everything against the precious Word of God.
At the same time, the basis for our judgment isn’t always the best it could be. It’s sometimes easy for us to filter what the Bible teaches with our personal bias.
A story is told about a Catholic priest who was walking down a lane behind his church when a thief jumped out from behind some bushes and pressed the muzzle of his gun into the priest’s ribs.
The thief said, “Give me your wallet!” Without hesitation, the priest reached gently for his wallet in the breast pocket of his coat. It was then the thief caught a glimpse of his collar. “Are you a priest,” the thief asked? “Yes I am, my son” said the priest. “Well, put your wallet back,” the thief said. “I don’t rob priests. I may not be Catholic, but I am a Christian.” At that point, the relieved priest put his wallet away and pulled out two cigars with shaky fingers. He offered one to the thief.
The thief responded with indignation, “Oh no, I couldn’t do that. Smoking is so wrong. I can’t believe you would do such an evil thing!”
Sometimes people have convictions about certain things, but fail to deal with other things that really matter in their lives and their relationship with our Saviour Christ Jesus. (Observation by Scott Kircher 6/19/2012)
So, Paul seems to echo the words of Christ, recorded in Matthew Chapter 7: “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you receive.” (Matthew 7:1–2 NRSV)
When we stand before our God in heaven, Scripture reveals that we will need to give an account of ourselves. I have a sense that we will not be standing in judgement, because Jesus took all our wrong actions, attitudes, and words to the cross. But instead, this will be a recognition for us of all that was wrong, and all that we are turning over to God to leave behind, to be part of a perfect eternity.
When Paul asks the question ‘Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister?’ I suspect he says this to encourage us to respect each other in the Christian Community, whether we agree with each other or not. And not just to avoid judgment ourselves.
With this epiphany rising up in our spirit every time we are tempted to condemn someone, we can take hold of the words of Jesus to us today. When Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy times seven.” A response that was intended to indicate we shouldn’t limit our forgiveness. In just the same way we want God’s forgiveness never to be limited.
We will certainly encounter situations where our intuitions and our passions drive us in different directions, even as Christian brothers and sisters. Keeping in mind that we are not to condemn others as we all try to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. We should rather try to understand others with compassion, over the attitudes we perceive, the words we often misunderstand, and the ideas that are at times difficult for us to accept.
Rome in the days of Paul’s letter, was a very different place than we experience today in Australia. A place where Gentile and Jewish converts to Christianity mixed together, sharing in both their faith in the Lord Jesus, and their persecution as followers of Jesus. A place where Christians needed to let go of both pagan and ritualized Jewish practices. A place where Christians needed to hear a voice speaking the Good News of Jesus Christ. Paul became the voice speaking the clear message of the Gospel.
Paul wrote in Romans to the Church of his day, and to all Christians, throughout time. The early Christians were in dispute over eating food that could be purchased in the market place, especially meat. As Christians, they were not required to observe kosher. Even so, they would be purchasing meat and other foods in the markets that most likely would have been presented first at the altar of some false god or goddess. So to eat it would remind them of their previous life and practice of pagan worship. And this would burden their conscience.
Many of these early Christians preferred to eat only vegetables, rather than take a chance of eating sacrificed meat. Others celebrated their freedom in Christ Jesus to accept the purchased food to be eaten with joy. When Paul writes about weak faith, I am sure it was not their faith in Christ Jesus that was weak, but weak faith in themselves.
In the same way, the Jewish Christians disputed with the Gentile Christians about days of worship. The Jewish Christians worshipped on the Sabbath, and again on the Lord’s Day, while the Gentile Christians saw no obligation to worship on the Sabbath. And they saw no obligation to observe the Jewish holy days throughout the year.
I suspect that the Church at Rome must have been the fertile ground where the idea of ‘adiaphora’ took root. The Greek word ‘adiaphora’ is translated literally as ‘things indifferent’. It is used to label those things which are not necessarily agreed upon, but which can be tolerated in the unity of Christians. Those practices and attitudes which have no consequence for our salvation. Areas of theology and tradition that can be compromised to promote unity, without sacrificing the core of our belief.
Paul encouraged the freedom of the choices that the early Christians made, and warned against condemning each other, which would have fractured their Christian unity. Paul was most passionate about proclaiming Christ Jesus and the Kingdom of God with the Good News of Salvation. Salvation found in the cross and empty grave that confronts every Christian.
It is said that in Lutheran circles there are not 52 different messages a year. There is one message that is shared in 52 different ways each year. A message of God’s grace, of his love for us, of his presence in our lives by his Holy Spirit. A message of living in the fullness of our wonderful Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Unity in the fullness of our faith is the prevailing virtue of people of Christ Jesus. The sustaining love between Christians has held us together in unity through the generations. With an uncanny ability to discuss the things that would condemn, and to bring forgiveness and understanding where misunderstanding would have brought division. Through every cross word and angry thought, the light of the Gospel has been shining with the love of Christ Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
As Paul encourages us, “We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”
It reminds me of a poem by Annie Johnson Flint:
“God has not promised Skies ever blue, flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God has not promised days without rain, joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
“But God has promised strength for the day, rest for the weary, light for the way, grace for the trials, help from above, unfailing sympathy, undying love.”
As we share in God’s blessings today, may the grace and peace of God keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. AMEN.
Rev David Thompson
St Peters Lutheran Church Port Macquarie 