Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Friday, 5 September 2014 - Matthew 18:15-20

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary's God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Friday, 5 September 2014 - Matthew 18:15-17 “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him—work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you’ve made a friend. If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won’t listen, tell the church. If he won’t listen to the church, you’ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God’s forgiving love.
18-20 “Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this. When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I’ll be there.”(The Message)
Unfortunately, conflict is not a 21st century invention. Jesus, too, dealt with dissension in his own ranks and knew that to be in relationship with anyone is risky and vulnerable. In verses 17-18, Jesus is reminding us that we are created in God's image and calls on us to reflect the love and grace of God at all times and in all places. God's love for us is risky and vulnerable. 
Jesus spends much of his time with those deemed unlovable and outcast from the community, such as the Gentiles and the tax collectors. Jesus here commands us to treat those who offend us as a Gentile or a tax collector—that is, much like those whom Jesus continually reached out to with love. Jesus also reminds us that what the church forgives (or doesn't) on earth, will be forgiven (or not) in heaven. If the church is comprised of people made in God's image then the church should reflect God's desire for absolute and radical reconciliation with all of creation.
God, may we risk our own comfortableness to reveal your love and forgiveness to a broken and hurting world. May we practice and receive forgiveness from one another and may all of our interactions reflect your unconditional grace for us all. We pray that we may reflect the light of Christ into all the dark places in the world. Amen.
Brigett Weier
Englewood, Colo. 
Master of Divinity , 2012
Matthew 18:15 "If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.
16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 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.
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them."(New Revised Standard Version)
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