Proper 11 / Pentecost 9 / OT 16
Devotional
Water From the Well
Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
Object:
He answered, "The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom...."
-- Matthew 13:37
If we had been designing the nature of the church that we would have established on the earth to effect the salvation of the world, we would probably have made it a perfect organization. Our church would have been a model of moral perfection that would have demonstrated for the world how God wants us to live in this world. We certainly would not have allowed it to have within it the petty bickering and often tragic, immoral behavior that too often convinces many that the church is a lost cause.
From the beginning of church history, there have been movements to reform and purify the church. There are churches in our time that seek to be a righteous organization by excluding all those who they feel are sinners. They are quick to explain that they are simply wanting people to be accountable for their behavior. "Let them repent first, and then we will accept them." The parable suggests that such an approach will do damage to those who are truly good. One only has to see the hopelessly fractured body of Christ in our time to verify the truth of the parable. None of the reformers wanted to split the body of Christ, but that has been the result. Jesus' approach was to "associate with sinners" and to let his goodness speak for itself. We see in his behavior and ministry the danger of our wanting to quickly exclude sinners from our community. If, as Paul reminded us, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), it might even result in our being the ones that would be excluded. Jesus suggested that the timing and decision of judgment be left to God. To want to be among the good seed is natural. Yet, Jesus warns of the damage to our souls in being too quick to exercise judgment.
-- Matthew 13:37
If we had been designing the nature of the church that we would have established on the earth to effect the salvation of the world, we would probably have made it a perfect organization. Our church would have been a model of moral perfection that would have demonstrated for the world how God wants us to live in this world. We certainly would not have allowed it to have within it the petty bickering and often tragic, immoral behavior that too often convinces many that the church is a lost cause.
From the beginning of church history, there have been movements to reform and purify the church. There are churches in our time that seek to be a righteous organization by excluding all those who they feel are sinners. They are quick to explain that they are simply wanting people to be accountable for their behavior. "Let them repent first, and then we will accept them." The parable suggests that such an approach will do damage to those who are truly good. One only has to see the hopelessly fractured body of Christ in our time to verify the truth of the parable. None of the reformers wanted to split the body of Christ, but that has been the result. Jesus' approach was to "associate with sinners" and to let his goodness speak for itself. We see in his behavior and ministry the danger of our wanting to quickly exclude sinners from our community. If, as Paul reminded us, we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), it might even result in our being the ones that would be excluded. Jesus suggested that the timing and decision of judgment be left to God. To want to be among the good seed is natural. Yet, Jesus warns of the damage to our souls in being too quick to exercise judgment.
