Our Own Houses

You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.  (Matthew 5:21-26)

This week we continue with some thoughts towards the Sermon Series, “Okay, Jesus, Now What?” Throughout this Sermon Series we are looking closely at what Jesus said in the collection of teachings in chapters 5-7 of the Gospel of Matthew known as “The Sermon on the Mount.”

Last week, we looked at what he said about fulfilling the commandments of God by entering into them deeply and expansively, opening our souls to the light of God within, and then letting that light radiate from us through how we treat others. The key to understanding Jesus’ teachings is this: we are to look inside ourselves first, and deal with what is in our own hearts, minds and souls before we even attempt to cast a judgment or provide commentary upon another person. Today’s readings expand upon this idea.

This is a saying that is directed towards the behavior of his followers in their faith communities. He has just said, “You are the light of the world,” and “You are the salt of the earth.” But how can we be light for the world if we continue to act like children of the darkness? For example, this is what other New Testament writers  say about this:

Whoever says, “I am in the light,” while hating a brother or sister, is still in the darkness. Whoever loves a brother or sister lives in the light, and in such a person there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness. (1 John 2:9-11) Those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing. If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. (James 1: 25-26)

 If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.  How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species,  but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.  Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water?  Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.   Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.  But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth.  Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.  For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.  But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.  And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. (James, chapter 3) Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called—that you might inherit a blessing. For:
“Those who desire life
and desire to see good days,
let them keep their tongues from evil
and their lips from speaking deceit;
let them turn away from evil and do good;
   let them seek peace and pursue it.” (1 Peter 3:9-11)

The method of Jesus for dealing with these things is for us to take the initiative and examine our own situation. If we have spoken unkindly or harshly, it doesn’t matter what happened, we must be responsible for our own comments. And there is the reverse of this situation, if we are aware that we have offended someone, it is upon us to seek to set things right. Sometimes, though, we may not be aware we have caused offense. Then it is important for the person who is offended to approach the person who committed the offense. The point is, if we have committed an offense and it comes to our attention, we need to seek some way to reconcile our division. I’m not talking about differences here, I’m talking about those situations when something has come between us that creates hurt feelings, or anger at how a decision was reached unjustly or against agreed-upon procedures.

But there is a caveat here – the offense must be real, and not imagined, and not a product of our own pride or exaggerated sense of our self. There are those who go around with a chip on their shoulder, and who seek out conflict, even generate it. Often these same people twist situations out of context or even spin falsehoods in their thinking in order to justify their supposed injury. These are people who seek to sow seeds of discord. Sometimes people do this not even being aware that they are doing so. Paul talks about them when he says:

All have turned aside, together they have become worthless;
    there is no one who shows kindness,
there is not even one.”“Their throats are opened graves;
they use their tongues to deceive.”
“The venom of vipers is under their lips.”  “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” (Romans 3:12-14)

The point is for us to put our own house in order and to keep our own tongues in check – bridled, as James says. Divisions occur when people think their own version of the story is the most important one, or the only correct one. That refers to everything from our version of a conversation to decisions a church council might make. Isaiah the prophet says, “Come let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18) and that is precisely what we are called to do – talk together reasonably, truthfully and humbly.

Once we have carefully considered an issue, discussed options and a variety of thoughts concerning it and then made a decision as a group, either by voting or reaching consensus, then that is where the matter rests, unless new things come up, or new information and something happens that must be dealt with. It does not serve the church to have questions second-guessed or criticized by means of this person complaining to this person, or aspersions being cast upon the motives of people making decisions, or even false statements being circulated that are not based in facts. The church, more than any other place, must be the place where truth is upheld as the prime, cardinal, foundational principle of everything we do.

Along with thinking, speaking and acting truthfully, we must act with love and consideration towards one another, and with compassion. Before we say anything, we should call upon the Holy Spirit to serve as our editor that says to us, “If I were this person, how would I feel if this were said about me?” Also, when I talk about seeking to resolve anger between persons, I’m not referring to when people get their nose out of joint because they don’t get their way. There are those people who resort to bully tactics such as getting angry, yelling, storming out of meetings or other dramatic displays when things don’t go according to their dictates and desires. These are people who sow seeds of discord, and they are walking in the darkness of which John wrote in his first letter.

So, the basic instruction from Jesus is this: put your own house in order before trying to redecorate your neighbor’s.

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