"Keeping Track of How Many Times I Forgive"

 

Dave Schneider

Central Presbyterian Church, Russellville, Arkansas

Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008

 

Matthew 18.15-22

Peter’s question comes at the end of Jesus’ discussion, at a point when everyone is about to leave: "‘But what if I forgive my brother 7 times, Lord?’"

Is he trying to be witty or funny? genuinely compassionate? trying to prolong the discussion?

After all, Peter’s "7 times" is the number of Biblical completeness.

John Calvin suggests Peter’s number is an absurdity to draw Jesus totally away from the true message.

What is the role of discipline, of "binding or loosing," in the local church?

John Knox and 4 minister friends in 1560 felt that it was so crucial in the life of the church, that they added church discipline to their Scots Confession as a third true mark of the true church.

Discipline in our Book of Order includes guidance, control, nurture...

The aim of forgiveness is the same: to restore the whole church as well as the individual to full life in grace in Christ.

It is a matter of radical, inclusive caring for the whole congregation.

For Matthew who addresses the young church, this is of vital importance. It may be a matter of whether the church survives or dies. the same may be said For John Knox’s Scottish Church.

In Matthew 18 these are not general rules for personal relations, how to get along, but for the

rule of faith in all of Christian congregational life.

Dr M Eugene Boring, Professor of New Testament at the Disciples of Christ Brite Divinity School at TCU in Ft. Worth, Texas, says the early verses of chapter 18 are for marginal members in danger of basic stumbling or wandering away.

Do not allow Peter’s question to side-track you. Verses 15-20, says Dr. Boring, is instruction for the church in dealing with (and I quote) "members who are guilty of serious sin who remain unrepentant and disruptive participants in the congregational life."

Everyone of us sins every single day of our lives.To not recognize that is to be a liar, says John Calvin.

Therefore, sin in the church is serious, of penultimate significance. It must be confronted by the whole community. And forgiveness is not undertaken lightly, or the refusal to forgive.

Matthew’s community orientation and our individualistic, private view come into sharp conflict. Matthew tells the church to deal with it in one of two ways– First, one on one.

Who takes the initiative?

Jesus’ instruction follows the pattern set in Leviticus 19:17. There the command is for you as the offended to go to your sinning neighbor and to forgive. This is followed by the command to love your neighbor–your sinful neighbor- as you love yourself.

3. In his book, Life Sentence, Charles Colson tells of his visit to the Atlanta Penitentiary. It was constructed for 1200 inmates but now housed 2000. It was notorious for its brutal murders and savageness. Terror had reigned in the 1960’s. Colson was met at the gate and in no uncertain terms told, You will not talk about Jesus. There are people here who want to kill you. Colson began to be afraid in a maximum security penitentiary for the first time in years. His friends said, Talk about prison reform. When Colson arrived in the sweltering hot locked room, 8-900 prisoners were there. When Colson got up, he said, "I came here to tell you men what Jesus Christ can do for you." He tossed down his hastily written notes on prison reform. After his talk, Joe the Butcher introduced himself. (His title had nothing to do with working in a meat market.) He was short and stocky with curly black hair falling down where his shirt hung open. Joe the Butcher said, "Mr Colson, I thought you were phony. I told these guys that….I’m gonna do something I ain’t never done before. I’m gonna apologize. But wait, I want my friends to be in on this."

a When you agree with your enemy, when you forgive him, you take away any argument he may have.

b, Romans 12;20, "‘If your enemy (not your friend, but your enemy) is hungry, feed them; if...thirsty, give ...a drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Giving priority to life as lived in the full congregation does not exclude sensitivity to the feelings and needs of each member.

Again John Calvin: In love you and I should receive into our favor someone who has offended us in such a way as to convince him that the memory of his fault is wiped our before God. (page 2)