|
Relating outside
relationship
December 16, 2007
Last night at home group we discussed the idea of excluding people from the
church fellowship. At least we discussed treating certain people as though they
were not truly members of the fellowship. There is a difference of course.
What sparked off the discussion was Jesus’ instructions to his disciples about
what to do when one of them sinned against another. First talk to the person one
to one, he said. Aim to regain your brother or sister. If that failed, take a
couple of witnesses. If the person still would not listen to them, then take the
matter to the church. If the person still will not listen, then let them be to
you as a Gentile or a tax-collector.
Which is not exactly excluding them. Rather it is treating them as someone who
doesn’t really belong. Like someone who is not acting in a way that fits the
character of the church. And it appears to be describing what the person who has
been sinned against does. It may not be describing what the church does as a
group.
It is possible to think that treating the person as a “Gentile and
tax-collector” puts them in a favoured class. Because this was the group that
Jesus was accused of befriending. So there is a tension, or a paradox in this.
The stubborn sinner, who has done something that the church is aware of and
won’t listen to the entreaties of brothers and sister or even of the whole
church, is to be treated as a known sinner or as an outsider by those who have
tried to bring them back.
But the fact that they are in the group of recognised sinners or outsiders means
that the aims Jesus had in associating with this group become our aims too. That
is, to see them repent and return to the fellowship of Jesus’ disciples.
The first two steps in Jesus’ program were not related to punishment but to
restoring fellowship. The third step is also not about punishment. It is first
about treating the person according to the reality of their actions and
attitude. It is easy for Christians who think they have to be nice to everyone
to ignore sin. But Jesus’ teaching allows us to treat people according to their
own choices – as real, wilful sinners.
The third step is also about restoring fellowship. Restoring fellowship which
has actually been broken on the basis of what is true and real. Not pretending
that there is no break in the fellowship, but seeking real fellowship to be
restored. Like the nativity I suppose.
Dale
Comments
Post a comment
Comments are submitted on the understanding that they may be edited.
Comments that are off topic, offensive or contain errors of fact will be
rejected. All posts are moderated. The
*necessary fields are for verification -
not for publication. Include your screen name in your Comment.
|
