10 Sep SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2023
The five gospel verses I just read are cross-referenced elsewhere in the Bible over thirty times and I want you to know that I looked up every single one in an attempt to understand their meaning and purpose of this gospel passage. I mean, what point is God/Jesus trying to make?
Let’s start with this: Members of a household/community/church are not to be apathetic, complacent, or disinterested when a person they know or love falls into a pattern of behavior that isn’t good. Actually, there are a lot of parallels between today’s gospel passage and being on a dartball team. When I first started throwing, I tried going underhand in the same way I used to pitch softball.
But my arc was too high. The dart went up and over the scoreboard. It landed upright, stuck in the linoleum floor behind it. Seasoned members of the team did not hesitate to offer advice, what the Bible would call rebuking the offender, or admonishing the brother or sister. “Try throwing overhand,” some would say. “Stand farther over to the right,” others chimed in. You see, in biblical fashion, everyone directly witnessed what I was doing wrong so each had a part to play in altering my behavior.
I was not regarded as playing for the opposing team or an enemy as the Bible would put it; I was admonished or corrected after each throw to help me improve. Direction was offered in the spirit of camaraderie and hope for consistency. The goal of other players was the same as my own: to get on base. Well, at first my goal was simply to get the dart to stick somewhere on the board, period.
Imagine the celebration when one who wanders from the way was brought back through the guidance and encouragement of the entire team. The first time I got on base felt fantastic. Everyone had a share in giving instructions on how to best hold the dart, the stance that works for them, where to stand, where to aim, how and when to release. The efforts of the entire team covered a multitude of mistakes and outs…what the Bible calls sin.
Leviticus 19:17 says, “You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin/ you shall reprove your neighbor or incur guilt yourself.” If all of the other players just sat there, watched me throw the dart each week, and never succeed, they’d share an equal portion of guilt regarding any losses the team might suffer because of me. Actually, I proved the fact that our dartball team is so good, that at least one player can make an out everytime they’re up at bat and the team can still win. So if concern about making outs keeps you from playing, don’t you worry. These fellas are the best at living out Leviticus 19:18 “You shall not take vengeance or hold a grudge against any of your people, but shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The goals of the captain and entire team are unity, inclusion, and restoration. Winning is great, but the other goals make the game worthwhile. Working toward those goals builds relationships. Paul uses the same strategy to gain people for Christ. He learns how to relate to anybody so he can become all things to all people, that he might by all means save some. No one was happier any less than I the first and only time I scored a homerun. Now I know that’s what “gaining your brother” feels like.
If I never listened to any of the other players as they tried over and over again to help improve my weekly batting average, I’m sure that as a last resort, the team captain, Kyle Hoffman, would have pulled me aside and offered to work with me 1:1. His dad, Ronnie, was always invested in my efforts. He hoped for me to get a hit every bit as strongly as I hoped to get one. He used humor to diffuse disappointment and to keep us all laughing during those nights when getting home runs seemed more and more unlikely.
A Gentile and tax collector represent anyone who rejects helpful advice or correction and refuses to act differently or listen to members of the team who witness the fault taking place right before their eyes. The Bible is full of verses specifying the importance of evidence. No one shall render unjust judgment, be partial to the poor or defer to the great (Deut 19:15).
Any charge must be sustained by the evidence of two or three witnesses (2 Cor 13:1). There is no place in the law of God or the law of the land for accusation based on hearsay. Justice requires both valid testimony and sufficient evidence. Two to three witnesses speaking truth were sufficient for centuries to sentence a person to death.
All Jews were raised in an extreme climate of guilt and shame. Conformity to religious laws that demanded respect for God and each other were absolute necessities in order for the Jews to survive. Their territory was limited and they were surrounded by dominant hostile neighbors. Division spelled disaster.
Paul is rather adamant when writing to Romans and Corinthians about inside affairs of the church. The church is to be competent enough to handle its own business internally by choosing elders and following the wisdom of the saints. The church is given jurisdiction over matters of grievance, unrighteousness, and persons who go against the law or each other. Paul recommends avoiding “those who create dissension and hindrances in opposition to the teaching you have learned.” I know, it sounds a little cultish, like the kind of internal governance that has tended to corrupt religion and destroy people’s lives.
There’s horrible stuff written about driving brothers and sisters away, having nothing to do with them, so that they may be ashamed (2 Thess 3:14). What good does that do other than create a false sense of wholeness or purity among the body when in fact there is hidden discord and brokenness?
“If you see something, say something,” is not a new mantra. God said the same thing to Ezekial, “If you hear something, say something.” Jesus said the same thing to his disciples. If you witness transgression-an act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct, an act that offends another person, an institution, the virtual or literal environment that surrounds us, don’t just shrug your shoulders, shake your head, curse under your breath or out loud. Do something.
Confrontation is risky business, especially 1:1, especially when fear causes people to carry handguns, and when getting in other people’s business can be life threatening. But that’s the whole point. Unchecked behavior is life threatening for everyone. Scary as it may seem, it is our responsibility to be a sentinel in our surroundings. At home, in our workplace, at school, in church and as members of our communities so that people are warned of behavior that holds potential to destroy their very lives.
We can avoid bigger conflicts by dealing with small ones as they arise. We can avoid holes in the ceiling and floor tiles caused by wayward darts by going to that person and showing them another way to participate in the game. Dartball holds some pretty good metaphors for life.
- It is not at all easy to get on base, but throwing the dart itself isn’t hard.
- Any age, fitness level, or body type can play.
- What you aim for is surrounded by things you don’t want to land on.
- Missing your mark costs you, involves penalties, and may cut your turn short.
- Home Runs don’t count for much unless you’re part of a team and they occur during actual game time.
- It’s way more fun if you laugh together, tease each other with affection, encourage, offer consolation, congratulate, eat snacks, share what works for you, and show up regularly.
I like Trevor’s philosophy for playing dartball. When it’s your turn, take more than three darts with you when you’re collecting them from the box and about to go up to the line to throw.
- Because you never know how many tries it may take to either get your out or make it on base.
- And don’t worry. There are lots of innings, multiple games, and weeks on end to play during the season.
- And last but not least, choose darts whose feathers look nice.
Why must anyone die, perish, or lose for lack of being spoken to or helped in some way? How then can we live? “As I live, says the LORD GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live” (Ezekial 33:11).
Luke 17:3 says, “Be on your guard! If a brother or sister sins, you must rebuke the offender, and if there is repentance, you must forgive.” We must, get it? We must disapprove of behavior by acting to change it. I’m one to observe alright, but do I act to change anything that people do that I know is downright, without a doubt, offensive?
Prayer does count as doing something. I prayed when it was my turn to throw darts each week. But do I pray for the person I see behaving badly? Or do I just pray for the person being treated poorly? Do I care enough to desire their repentance? Do I know them well enough to forgive? Prayer can help resolve conflict, restore individuals, and heal brokenness.
Acts 40: 30,31 talks about Jesus’ disciples, those sent out as apostles, stretching out their hand to heal, performing signs and wonders through the name of God’s holy servant Jesus. When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we experienced more of what Jesus offers to disciples who gather in his name: his guarantee of presence, his power to heal and perform wonders so that whoever is held captive to sin on earth, may be loosed from it according to prayers that line up with God’s will: that none of the wicked should perish, that no repentant sinner go unforgiven, that people will hear warnings, listen to the testimony of direct eyewitnesses, consider good counsel and improve their aim.
Let us pray. Lord, thanks for giving us so many ways to learn and benefit from a willingness to listen and be present in other people’s lives. That’s what you did and do so beautifully, be present to us and for us, teaching us when we could do better, using any number of means to correct and guide us. Encourage our best and help us not shy away from getting involved. Keep everyone safe who speaks up or intervenes on behalf of inclusion, protection from harm, unity, and restoration. In Your Holy Name we pray, Amen.