Forewarned is forearmed.
The advice we are given relates to being prepared for all things and in
all things. Before this happens, do
this. Measure twice , cut once. It is best if we slow things down, don't put
ourselves into situations where we are simply reacting to changed
circumstances. It is best to prepare
ourselves and take care of ourselves, to do what we can to take charge of situations. Deliberation is usually a good idea, if I
take this action, what is the likely outcome.
It is always the wise thing.
The process Jesus lays out for dealing with sin among
Christians is simple and also a process.
If I am sinned against by a brother or sister, we are to first attempt
to deal with it among ourselves. If that
doesn't work, we are to add some people who can help us sort things out and if
that doesn't work, we are to involve the church. If all those steps fail, the church is to
take action as a unified body. Unfortunately,
this process usually breaks down in two ways.
First, we have to recognize when to use the process, when is sin serious
enough to involve anyone else in the discussion, we often simply make it about
small things and then it is for no reason other than gossip and to get sympathy
and support rather than actually confronting things. The second problem we have in the church
today is that it is simpler to go across the street to another church rather
than resolving things at the current church.
We take our baggage with us. This
process Jesus lays out allows for deliberation and cooling off, getting some
perspective.
We are one body. We share one bread. Those are the words of the Kenyan liturgy we
use in our church. There is a cause and
effect relationship between the two sentences.
Because we all share the same bread, the body of Christ, we are
one. The act of making communion
together is meant to literally make us one.
Prior to the liturgy of the table we make our confession of sin, receive
absolution and are therefore at peace with God.
When Paul speaks of eating the sacrifice as participation in the altar
here he is thinking of what is known as the peace offering, an offering meant
not to establish peace with God but one that celebrates an existing peace. In such cases all who are present have an opportunity
to come and share in a meal from the sacrifice.
Our confession re-establishes the peace between us and God that has been
established and grounded in Jesus' sacrifice so the priest proclaims, "The
peace of the Lord be always with you."
We then share the peace with one another as a sign that we are not only
at peace with God but also with one another, sins are forgiven because He has
forgiven us. Instead, we too often
cheapen that time with how's it going and small talk. Can we change that and make it deliberate?
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