This week, those of us at The Gathering began our discussion of practices our community wants to focus around. As I mentioned earlier, we are taking our lead from John Howard Yoder‘s book Body Politics and the five practices he mentions there-
- Group discernment and reconciliation
- Open Meetings–a community of equals
- Everyone has a gift and can contribute to the kingdom and the community
- Shared meals as a community (Lord’s Supper, communion, the Mass)
- Baptism as entry to a new world
This week we covered the idea of reconciliation and discernment as a group. We took our lead from the book of Matthew, chapter 18, verses 15-20;
“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. 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. 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. 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. 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. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
Several things we discussed were:
That the goal in this process is never punishment, but reconciliation. First and foremost, we want to settle disputes and correct wrong behavior, not wave a club of authority at sinners (which would be all of us…)
That brings us to our next point, which is that this is not something the ‘leaders’ do to the ‘congregation’, but is a responsibility of all of us Jesus followers. We are to hold each other accountable.
That even in the worst case scenario (let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector), these are people who are objects of mission and the goal is always reconciliation and hope for repair to the relationship.
We discussed that the Bible is not a rule book, but a story or narrative and thus, we have to discern what is right or wrong (binding and loosing) with the help of each other and the Holy Spirit. Rather than give us rules, we have been a given a process, and this is it.
That this process is useful for reconciliation (such as if a member has an addiction, or is engaged in behavior harmful to himself or his relationship with us or Jesus), for individual discernment (what should I do in this situation) and for resolving disputes or discussion over ethics (Can I follow Jesus and be pro-choice? Even though we are not married, can she and I live together?)
Discussion was lively and spirited (We went over our time considerably) and everyone contributed to the discussion. We also talked about how being in a community of Jesus Followers was a bit like a marriage, in that you give up something of yourself and your will in order for it to work.
Overall, our little experiment is going great! Already, our members are working to support each other, to correct each other and be there for each other.
Keep praying for us.
Photo Credit: Walwyn
Yeah good stuff.
You might like to know that the photo is of a statue in the Coventry Cathedral ruins, a building destroyed during German air raids, and that a copy of it sits in a peace garden in Japan (Nagasaki I think). I see it often and it often makes me cry.
[...] love my family more, spend more time with my neighbors, and hang out more with my friend Hugh Hollowell and his homeless friends downtown. Stuff I think I could do with some whole-life [...]