September 7 “Put on the Lord Jesus”

Last Sunday Sean was our preacher and he spoke to us about our Christian identity. Following Christ’s way should make us different.

This week our second lesson speaks about an important aspect of our Christian identity and Paul urges his readers to go into debt. Hasn’t he taken the Dave Ramsy course and learned the dangers of debt? The debt he is talking about is the debt of love.

“Owe no one anything except to love one another.” Romans 13:8

That’s what we owe God - a debt of love of others in thanksgiving for His love. It is our obligation and the mark of our Christian identity.

Paul is not talking about a superficial love for human kind in general. I love all of humankind - it’s people I don’t like. Rather it is love of neighbor - those we encounter everyday - a love that finds it’s way into the nitty-gritty of daily life. A love that begins with the knowledge that we are each a beloved child of God - valued and accepted by the Lord. It is part of our Christian identity - sharing the love we receive from Christ - passing it on.

Maybe that sounds easy. But what happens when someone has wronged you - done something that hurts - makes you mad?

How does that debt of love apply?

If your brother or sister sins against you, go to them and tell them their fault, between you and him or her alone. Matthew 18:15

When we have been wronged, we usually don’t confront the person. Instead we go and tell two or three of our friends “Do you know what so-and-so did to me?”

Jesus did not say “Go and tell everyone what that stupid jerk did to you.”

Rather Jesus did say “Go and talk to that stupid jerk about his hurtful actions.” We are to be so concerned about the breach in the relationship, that we are willing to do whatever to restore it.

Seeking reconciliation is fulfilling the obligation to love. But rather than trying to heal the relationship by confronting the person, the natural tenancy is to want to believe that if a conflict is ignored, it will go away. We ignore that person - we put it out of our mind and do nothing about it. Does ignoring it make it better?

A young pastor had just been installed at his first congregation. A couple, long term members of the congregation, invited him to dinner. While the wife finished preparing the meal, her husband, a deacon in the church, got acquainted in the living room.

The new pastor had heard about a big fight in the congregation years earlier that had split the congregation. He felt he could be a better pastor if he knew more about what led to the split.

“Well, as I remember it,’ the deacon began, “the arguments began when we were planning the remodeling of the sanctuary. The big disagreement came over where to locate the new organ and the choir.” As he related the details of the events leading to the split, the deacon became visibly agitated, turned beet red - emotionally reliving that conflict..

Finally the pastor asked the logical question: “Which side were you and your wife on?”

The talkative, agitated deacon was strangely quite - even looked embarrassed. Then he called to his wife in the kitchen. “Ma, remember that big church fight years back - the one that split the congregation - where in the sanctuary did we want the organ and the choir?”

The emotional scares of unresolved conflicts can remain - unhealed wounds on our psyche - long after the issues that caused the conflict have become irrelevant or even forgotten.

We may be unaware of the damage to our hearts of unresolved conflict, but it is a source of decay in our psyche

We’re unaware until we are in a difficult situation,

and our bitterness reveals itself in harsh words - the bottled up anger suddenly bursts out.

So Jesus said: “If your brother or sister sins against you, go to them and tell them their fault, between you and him or her alone.”

But, I was hurt, and I’m supposed to go to them? My friend took advantage of me - they sinned against me - wait a minute Lord, shouldn’t they come to me?”

Sometimes pride is our greatest enemy in resolving conflicts. Sooner or later, we have to ask:

Which is more important - being right, or preserving the relationship?

This is particularly important in family relationships.

Are we committed to being right, or are we committed to improving the relationship?

Look beyond your own pride. Even look beyond the immediate problem.

So Jesus says, even if you’re convinced you’re right - they wronged you - “Go to them” Take the initiative.

Jesus advises: “If you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift, go, and be reconciled - then you can offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23,24

First make peace, then God will accept your offering.

God forgives, and we evidence our reception of that forgiveness by forgiving others. That’s what we pray “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive” - to the degree that we also forgive others. God forgives and doesn’t keep a scorecard of our rights and wrongs - and neither should we.

We have no right to nurse our grudges, whine about our wounds, and resist efforts at healing. We are to take the first step, to risk the engagement that can lead to a restored relationship. .

If they listen to you, you have regained a brother or sister. 18;15

When someone does us wrong, we simply place a love-lien on them. When a debt goes unpaid, the creditor places a lien on the property. So the debt of love may call for a love lien.

“She didn’t really deal with me fair and square, but I’m going to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and lean a little love on her.” For “love” is the mark of my Christian identity.

There’s a tribe who have an interesting way of dealing with those who have committed an act of injustice - an offense against some other members of the tribe.

They take the accused and put him in the middle of a circle. All work ceases as adults and children gather around the accused. One by one they begin to talk out loud to the offender telling him about all of the good things he’s done in his life. (Not criticizing him for his offense against them, but reminding him of the good he has done.) Not one detail is left out. The ceremony goes on until everyone has had a chance to build him up.

After all have had a chance to speak, the circle breaks up, and they throw a party to welcome the offender back into the fellowship.

They remind the offender of the person he really is - letting him see for himself that his offense is out of character with all the good he had done.

They call him to turn back to being that good person that he really is - what the bible calls “repentance” - turning around in our mind and attitude.

Doesn’t that method remind you of the picture we get of Jesus.

In those times when we fail, He surrounds us with His love, and reminds us of how much He values us.

He forgives us and calls us to turn around and be the better person we really could be.

And then He sets us back on the right path with new strength and a share of His power.

So when a relationship is strained, Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, as Paul says, have the attitude of Christ.

If you are tempted to speak unkindly of others, or to judge others - put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and think of the love of Christ before you speak.

When you want it “my way”, or think of acting in anger, put on the Lord Jesus Christ who came in humility, to serve and not be served.

Jesus says that to experience His peace in our lives, we have to take the initiative in seeking reconciliation - in healing a broken relationship. And He promises that when strive to do that, His Spirit is present among us.

It is when he spoke about getting together with someone who wronged you that Jesus said:

When two or three come together in my name, there I am with them. Matthew 18:20

In sharing His love and forgiveness you may experience His presence, for then His Spirit is at work within you.

As Paul wrote in our 2nd lesson, “Let us conduct ourselves honorably, as in the day, not in quarreling or jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ...” and “Owe no one anything, except to love one another.”