The 13th Sunday after Pentecost --- 7 September 2014

Matthew 18:15-20

15 "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. 16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 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. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.

“...if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. "

• This morning's Gospel reading appears to many to be a blueprint and a formula for how to deal with opposition problems and troubles in a congregation. Please understand; having trouble in a congregation is not all that unusual. No congregation is perfect; Every congregation has troubles, whether they are monetary, social, organizational, or pastoral. And, yes, pastors can cause trouble in congregations, trouble beyond the trouble pastors are supposed to cause by preaching the Gospel.
• For any number of people, this passage outlines a way to deal with troublesome issues and troublesome people within the church. In many cases, such people are removed by some formal ceremony after some deliberation and discussion.
• There are Christian groups that practice “shunning”, which is to remove a member and have nothing to do with them even while they remain in the community. If one spouse is shunned, the other may not speak to them nor may any children speak to the shunned partner. This might be seen as a rather radical way of dealing with sin and opposition.
• To get the best understanding of what is going on, we need to look closely at what Jesus said to his disciples. Right off, Jesus acknowledges that there will be conflict within the church. He said that if the offender does not heed the words of the offended party and later, of the congregation in general, “let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
• It seems pretty straight-forward, doesn't it? But there is a catch. How does Jesus treat Gentiles and tax collectors?
• The Pharisees and synagogues in general at the time excluded Gentiles who had not undergone conversion and those who were known as public sinners. The converted Gentiles – called Proselytes – were welcome in the Jewish community and had in fact taken on the observance of the Mosaic Law. The Gentiles who had not done this were not welcome. Even those who admired the Jewish code of morality and attempted to live by it without becoming a member of the people of Israel might be admired and praised but would never be fully accepted.
• Those who were public sinners like the tax collectors who were seen as collaborators with the Roman occupation were rejected and removed from the community. The tax collectors were not alone in being judged as public sinners; they were simply one of the most visible. Others were prostitutes, some types of animal herders, and often all of the poor, those who could not afford to do all that the Law required.
• Think now; how did Jesus treat Gentiles and tax collectors? How did he treat Zachaeus, the little tax man who climbed a tree to see Jesus pass by? With whom did Jesus eat and spend his time? Remember that he was called a glutton and a drunkard since he ate with sinners. How did he treat the woman caught in adultery? How did he treat Peter who denied him more than once as Jesus was being tried before his crucifixion?
• To treat people as a Gentile and a tax collector would be to treat them as Jesus did – reaching out lovingly with an invitation to reconciliation. Jesus did not belittle or deny the reality of sin; he just made sure that all who met him knew that such obstacles could be overcome by grace. In our dealings with people within and beyond the church, we can't deny the reality of sin either. What we are called to do is to proclaim the reality and the strength of God's grace, even to people who might antagonize us.
• In working with people in the community of the church, it would be good to remember that Jesus' words about where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them also apples to any situation where Christians are gathered and not only in worship. In deliberations of a church council, in the meetings of committees and groups with in a congregation, in gatherings of pastors, whether formal or informal, Jesus is there. When Christians gather for whatever reason in the name of Jesus, he is present. So it would be in meetings where there might be disagreement and dissension. If Christians have gathered to be the church and do the work of the church, Jesus is present.
• Have you come to think the Jesus is here among us today? In Word and Sacrament, in song and story, in the presence of baptized people, he is with us. He will remain with us when we go out from here to do whatever we do any day.
• And that realization will make a difference in how we do what we do.
• When you come to think about it, Jesus could proclaim the Good News of salvation without us, but he has chosen not to. He has chosen to work through us. What is done in his name carries with it his presence. And where he is found there is the grace of salvation.