The scales from my eyes just fell (thanks to a story in Chapter 3 of The New Christians about Frank the truck driver). Matthew 18 contains in it a notorious passage often used to expel—or in the old days, excommunicate—someone from the church if they unrepentantly continued to sin. It lists the steps a church should take to restore a brother or sister in sin. The very last step is listed in verse 17 where it says,
“If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”
People read that as a command from Jesus to expel that person from the church (I know I always have). But these are Jesus’ words and how did Jesus treat pagans and tax collectors? He dined with them, he embraced them, he healed them, he gave dignity back to them, he loved them, he forgave them.
WHAT?! Could it be?
When Frank, while meditating on this passage, realized what it might be saying he began scouring other English translations and he found the Message,
“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.”
So even with sinful and unrepentant believers we are to extend the same amount of love and embrace as we would an unbeliever walking into our church for the first time? Seems to line up with Jesus’ example and his words to forgive 490+ times.
Wow. After I sweep up my eye-scales from off the floor I think I will go to sleep on that note of grace. Thanks Frank!
6 comments
Comments feed for this article
March 21, 2008 at 9:02 pm
jonathanbrink
I think Frank’s story comes from Rob Bell. He gave a sermon awhile ago with this very message.
March 22, 2008 at 6:44 am
Jeromy
Perhaps. All I know is that I read it last night in The New Christians when Frank was going to Solomon’s Porch and shared his insight during a gathering. Regardless, I had never thought of this passage in that light and it floored me. I’m still chewing on it.
March 23, 2008 at 7:30 am
Light Bulb Moment « Paris Point
[...] Jeromy gives me (via his recent reading explorations) a light bulb moment. [...]
April 21, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Church of Plastic Potted Plants « A Mending Shift
[...] [You may recall Frank from my Matthew 18 epiphany] [...]
May 17, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Frank Schutzwohl
I’m glad to hear that Rob Bell has come to the same conclusion regarding Matt. 18. I guess the Holy Spirit doesn’t just speak to Truckers(its a joke ok). I have consulted every major commentary in my library and had always concluded that the position given(shunning,excommunication,etc.) was the correct one. It was in a small study group at a friends house that we first practiced lectio divina(thanks to Tony’s book on the subject). We were reading the passage repeatedly and while meditating on it “the light came on” for me. I’m glad that this portion of scripture is finally being used in a correct way.
Trucker Frank
May 17, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Jeromy
Frank (or should I call you Trucker Frank?—a joke as well), thank you for letting Tony publish your story about Matthew 18. I seriously put the book down after reading it to pick my jaw up off the floor. As I shared this story here, a friend of mine read it and she began to weep as Jesus’ healing flooded over her. His love for her in that moment was very real and she basked in it. Sadly (and I’m making a judgment here), this passage has probably been used to hurt and destroy more people over the past 2,000 years than we would care to know. Thank you again for the willingness to put your words out there. They’ve been a blessing to me, as I am sure others as well.
Jeeper Jeromy