[Mcgregorpage] McGregorPage #625, Pentecost 17, 9/7/08

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Pentecost 17 – September 7, 2008

 

Exodus 12:1‑14

Psalm 149 or Psalm 148

Romans 13:8‑14

Matthew 18:15‑20

 

A Brotherhood And Protective Order

 

The Pharaoh discovered he was dealing with yet another animal, a "new breed of cat", a people who were protected from the Death Angel by God.  The Passover meal was the chartering ceremony of this new o rder -- brotherhood around a common meal in small groups and protective not in the sense that they were banded together to protect themselves but because they were banded together to received the protection of God.  God is at the center of this new order and is the center of their protection.  When the charter was expanded to include Gentiles, it remained that of a brotherhood and protective order, still constituted around a fellowship meal; this time with more openness to sisterhood, but still with God protecting the community from the Death Angel, now referred to as the hell at hand or the hell to come.

 

Jesus gives the brotherhood/sisterhood some simple rules for protecting itself with God at the center of its protection.  Jesus assures the church of God's presence and protection with these words:  "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. For where two or th
ree are gathered in my name, I am there among them."  (Matthew 18:19-20)  The word "anything" in this context refers to the church's actions in ordering its internal life.  This is Jesus' promise that God will support the church in this vital function.  If the church doesn't order its life, who will?  If the church doesn't deal with people in its midst that threaten its existence and mission, who will?  I have erred on the side of inclusiveness when it included people that broke down fellowship and confused the mission. I have confused the priorities of our order thinking we were first a service organization rather than being first a protective organization.  First we embrace the protection of Christ and the body of Christ.  Then we imitate Christ in sacrificial service.  This is the order of our historical development, and it is the order of priority for our perseverance into the future.

 

Who is it that is accountable to God not just for his or her own behavior but for the behavior that weakens the church?  "So you, mortal, I have made a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.  If I say to the wicked, "O wicked ones, you shall surely die," and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand."  (Ezekiel 33:7-8)  Is it only Ezekiel w
ho is accountable?  Is it only the pastor?  Or, is it anyone who sees and understands the behavior that is breaking down the protection of fellowship in Christ?  What Jesus describes is a church that confronts sin among its members, but with an eye to reconciliation not division.  "As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked..."  (Ezekiel 33:11)

 

God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but if the death of the wicked is the price of the life of the covenant community, then what?  "Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches.  Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two‑edged swords in their hands..."  (Psalm 149:5-6)  The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross changes our concept of the role of violence in God's protection of us.  That is, violence is not a tool of our protection but rather our protection absorbs and transcends violence. Paul found all the protection he needed in Christ and him crucified. In Christ risen, he found himself in communion with the brother- and sister-hood.

 

 

May these thoughts strengthen you. 

 

An Open Letter to Fellow Pastors 

>From Roland McGregor, United Methodist Pastor 

(an e-mail service) 

 

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