"Maintaining a Climate of Peace"

A sermon preached by the Rev. Christopher E. Yopp at Edgemont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) based on Matthew 18:15-20.

Pastor and author, King Duncan tells a rather amusing story of a pastor and a minister of music who were not getting along. As time went on, their feelings toward each other began to spill over into the worship service. The first week the pastor preached on commitment and how we should all dedicate ourselves to the service of God. Following the sermon, the minister of music led the hymn, “I Shall Not Be Moved.” The second week the pastor preached on tithing and how we should all gladly give to the Lord. Following the sermon, the minister of music led the hymn, “Jesus Paid it All.” The third week the pastor preached on gossiping and how we should all watch our tongues. The minister of music, after the sermon, got up and led the hymn, “I Love to Tell the Story.” Finally, the pastor became very disgusted over the situation and the following Sunday inform the congregation that he was considering resigning. The minister of music led the hymn, “Oh Why Not Tonight?” As it came to pass, the pastor did indeed resign. The next week he informed the church that it was Jesus who led him there and it was Jesus who was taking him away. The minister of music led the hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.”
The Anglican priest and poet, John Donne reminded us that “no man is an island, entire unto himself.” And how true that is! Society calls people who live secluded lives “hermits,” which is a social disorder. Psychiatrists will tell you that even in densely populated cities loneliness is a chronic, debilitating and common condition. People who suffer from such a disorder can be in a crowded room and still feel isolated and all alone. But such feelings are contrary to human nature because we are social creatures. For all of human history, life has been lived in the context of community. But community has its pros and cons. And I think as Christians we understand both the positive and negative sides to community life. And certainly Jesus understood this, as we see in our Gospel Lesson this morning. Jesus reminded us in verse 20 of one of the positives aspect to our faith community, and that is his presence among us. He says; “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
The Episcopal priest, Ken Kesselus reminds us that “if [we, the church] will gather, and work and act with the Holy Spirit guiding us, with God’s Spirit intentionally a part of what we do, we [will] become much more than simply the collective number of people we are… The sum of our individual ideas and resources and abilities become much more because of the synergy that God’s presence provides.” And how true that is! Ours is a faith community. And I think when we fully realize that, it is then that we begin to see the importance for peace and unity among us. As a faith community we are to become a model for peace and unity throughout the world. Now, obviously, this doesn’t mean that we do not have disagreements or quarrels or fights. Even Jesus understood this aspect of community life and he addressed this in our Gospel Lesson this morning.
You may recall last Sunday, in our Scripture Lesson from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he gave us the recipe, if you will, for real Christianity - loving God and others sincerely, blessing others, and creating a climate of peace. But it seems that Jesus picks up right where Paul left off. I mean, all of this is well and good but what happens when there’s a broken window. It is kind of hard to heat or cool a house when you have a broken window, and so the same is true for the church and for our relationships. It’s kind of hard for a climate of peace to exist when there is a broken window. But Jesus offers us a solution for repairing such broken windows and restoring a climate of peace.
The poet, William Blake wrote in his poem “A Poison Tree,” these words:

“I was angry with my friend,
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe,
I told it not, my wrath did grow.”

Blake’s words certainly mirror those of Christ in our Gospel Lesson this morning. Jesus begins by saying; “When your brother sins against you,” YOU, not him, but YOU “go and show him his fault.” Our initial response is, “Yeah right!” I mean, is there anything harder than confronting someone who has hurt us? Especially when it’s someone you know well? It’s so much more tempting for us to take our hurts to someone else or perhaps it is easier for us to just simply hold a grudge with such a person. But that isn’t what Jesus challenges us to do here.
These words are straightforward - to the point! It reminds me of what Mark Twain once said; “Most people are bothered by those passages of Scripture they do not understand, but the passages that bother me are those I do understand.” And this is an example of one such passage. There are no secrets here. We don't have to look too far beyond the images Jesus uses in order to understand what he’s saying. But that doesn’t make these words any easier to digest. No doubt, these are challenging words - difficult instructions!
Jesus shows us the measure we should take to reconcile and restore a broken relationship. First, Jesus instructs us to go to the one who has wronged us. And if that doesn't work, he instructs us to go to the community. With each step, Jesus shows us the level or degree we should take in order to restore peace and unity.
And, in the end, after exhausting all efforts to reconcile, and to restore peace and unity - if all else fails - Jesus tells us that we are to treat such a person as we would a Gentile or a tax collector. His disciples would have understand that image immediately. Needless to say, we are to treat them as an outsider. But I think there’s more to these words than simply justifying excommunication. You see, keep in mind, these same disciples had seen how Jesus treated the Gentiles and tax collectors. One commentator writes; “Maybe Jesus’ words, ‘let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector’ might be read as saying, ‘with some folks you have to start over.’ They are expelled from the community, but perhaps for the purpose of reentering it.” What a refreshing thought! A thought right inline with the gospel - with the teaching of God’s grace.
A couple weeks ago, we heard the story of Jesus and the Canaanite woman. Remember how Jesus was forced to go beyond the cultural boundary and extend his care and healing to that Canaanite - that despised Gentile? You may also recall that Jesus called a tax collector - Matthew, to be one of his disciples. As Jesus reminds us over and over again in the gospels, we can’t put limits on our forgiveness. We can't say, “Okay, fine, that didn't work. I don't have to do anything more.” It is so easy to respond this way. This is the way the world responds. But reconciliation means the door to forgiveness has to stay open. And that’s a tough thing to do, but isn’t that the level and degree of God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with us?
The root here is love! This teaching of Jesus falls between two powerful passages that serve to provide a helpful context, in reading this whole chapter that we might gain a better understanding of what Christ is asking of us here in these verses. You see, in the verses prior to our Gospel Lesson this morning, in verses 12 through 14, Jesus paints the beautiful picture of the compassionate shepherd, ever seeking those sheep that wander from the fold, rejoicing when they are recovered. And the verses following our lesson for today, verses 22 through 35 highlight the great debt that God has forgiven and our responsibility to likewise be compassionate to others even as God has been compassionate to us.
Bob Tasler tells the powerful and moving story of two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in their 40 years of working together. It began with a small misunderstanding, and grew into a major difference, and finally exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence. One morning, there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days' work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there that I could help with? Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my younger brother! Last week, there was a meadow between us, but he took his bulldozer and dug a small river between us. Well I'm going to do him one better. See that pile of old lumber? I want you to build an 8 foot high fence between us. Then I won't need to see his place or his face anymore." The carpenter said, "Show me the nails and the tools, and I'll do a good job for you." The older brother had to go to town, so he left for the day. At sunset, when he returned, this eyes opened wide, and his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all. The carpenter had built a bridge that stretched from one side of the river to the other, with handrails and all! And his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched. "You're quite the guy," he said, "after all I've said and done." The two brothers met in the middle, and shook each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter leaving. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother. "I'd love to," the carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build."
Peace is possible through Christ. It is Christ, the one who through God reconciled the world unto God’s self, who brings reconciliation and builds bridges instead of walls between us. And it is this Christ who has promised that where we gather - where true community is, he is there. Amen.