An Attitude of Love

Exodus 19:16-24; Romans 13: 1-10; Matthew 18:15-20

When J. P. Morgan, one of the greatest multi-millionaires and financiers in American history, died it was found that the year before his death, he had made his will. It consisted of about 10,000 words and contained thirty-seven articles.

But we are left in no doubt as to what J. P. Morgan considered to be the most important clause in his will, if not the most important affair in his life.

In his life he had made many transactions -- some affecting such large sums of money so as to even disturb the financial equilibrium of the world -- yet there was one transaction that evidently stood out in J. P. Morgan's mind as of supreme importance at the end of his life. For in his will he wrote:

"I commit my soul to the hands of my Savior, full of confidence that, having redeemed me and washed me with His most precious Blood, He will present me faultless before the throne of my Heavenly Father.

"And, further, I entreat my children to maintain and defend, at all hazard and at any cost of personal sacrifice, the blessed doctrine of complete Atonement of sins through the Blood of Jesus Christ once offered, and through that alone."

For J. P. Morgan, the most important thing in his life was his belief in the idea that Jesus makes us one with God through his death upon a cross.

From the very beginning humanity has been plagued with the problem of how to be at one with God. But not only has humanity struggled with this problem of how to be at one with God, but we have also struggled and failed, time and time again, at the task of being at one with creation and with ourselves, as well. Indeed, as we look at ourselves, at our history, as well as at our present day, and probably at the future, too, we are forced to admit that we have done a pretty awful job of being at one with God, at one with creation, and at one with ourselves. And, most often, we have succumbed to brokenness and division, separation and fragmentation.

The Bible is filled with stories dealing with this problem. From the story of Adam and Eve to the very last words of the book of Revelation we are presented with instance after instance of not only how the problem began and was played out time and time, again, but also we're shown how God solved the problem. And we're given assurances that all of creation will, once again, at some time in the future, be at one with itself and with God.

Our Old Testament lesson for today deals with the problem of the separation of humanity from God. In the book of Exodus we see the people of Israel, led by Moses, gathering around the base of Mt. Sinai because of the thunder and lightning, and the sound of a trumpet blast. And we're told that God descended from heaven onto the top of the mountain, and Moses went up to the top of the mountain to speak with God.

Now, the interesting thing about all of this is that after Moses climbed all the way up that mountain God told him to go all the way back down and warn the people not to try to climb the mountain, themselves, because they weren't holy enough to do so. So, in spite of Moses' success in having communion with God, there was still the separation between God and the rest of humanity. Moses and his priests and the Ten Commandments and the Law would have to serve as an intermediary between God and humanity. Thus, the religion of the Jewish people was established, a means by which the problem of the separation between God and humanity was re- enforced and given even greater recognition.

It was the coming of Jesus Christ into our world which changed all of this. With Jesus Christ the barriers were broken down between God and humanity. With Jesus Christ, no longer were priests, or the Law of Moses, or the teachings of the prophets necessary as mediators between humanity and God. But, with Jesus Christ, God, through his Son, became the mediator. Christ became the personal Savior. And that's why we can sing, "What a Friend We Have In Jesus." That's why we can call Jesus our brother. That's why we can call God our Father. And, interestingly, that is why we are able to call one another brothers and sisters in Jesus. It is because there is no distance between ourselves and God that we are called the children of God. No longer are we hung up on following all 613 Laws of Moses. For, as our lesson from the book of Romans says, "The commandments...are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" All of this came about because Jesus died for us.

Thus, with the life of Jesus came, not only atonement with God, but atonement with humanity. For the apostle Paul, as it should be with us, "Love is the fulfillment of the law."

Many of you have probably heard this story, but it doesn't hurt to tell it again, since it is a good one. The story goes that a man had just arrived in Heaven and as we met St.Peter at the Pearly Gates, asked him how grateful he was to be in heaven, but wondered if he could just have one glimpse into Hell in order that he might appreciate his home in Heaven in more. This Peter did.

Going down to Hell, St. Peter showed him a long table extending as far as the eye could reach, laden down with the most delicious of all varieties of foods. But everyone around the table was starving. When asked for an explanation, St. Peter replied, "Everyone is required to use four foot chopsticks to each with here. They are so long that no one can reach the food from the table to his mouth, and therefore each one is suffering from starvation."

Quickly they returned to Heaven, and behold, the new arrival saw an identical table, laden down with identical foods, but everyone around the table was happy and well fed. Then he said to Peter: "With what do they take the food from the table?" And Peter answered, "Only with four-foot long chopsticks." At that the new arrival inquired: "Then why are all those in Hell starving to death while all those up here are so well fed and happy?" Whereupon Peter replied: "In Heaven we feed each other."

Being at one with God implies that humanity should be at one with itself, as well. Indeed, as Paul said, "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation."

And, so, we have our gospel lesson for today, expressing Christ's concern for those who will be among his flock, telling them how to deal with a fellow Christian who sins. Jesus said, "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over."

For a person to do this kind of thing, he has to love the Church. Many people, after all, would be tempted to either ignore the sins of an errant Christian or just find another church if that person's sins became a real nuisance. Too many people are reluctant to do as the scripture says: to go quietly to the one who is sinning and talk it over. But, as I said, I takes a lot of love for the church for a person to do that sort of thing.

And I've had persons who loved the church come to me with things that they felt I should be doing differently to make my ministry more affective. And sometimes they were able to change my thinking, and sometimes I changed theirs. But what has impressed me most as I have looked back upon those times is that it was a great love and concern for the church which motivated such persons to come to speak to me.

I would hope that all of us would have the kind of love that we need to be concerned about our brothers and sisters enough so that we may be open and honest and willing to communicate. For it is through such communications that we are able to minister to one another and experience oneness in Jesus Christ.

Indeed, it takes love for Christ's church to share with others. I am reminded of the story of two strangers who attended the same church for several Sundays. None spoke to them. One said, "I will give this church one more chance. If nobody speaks to me next Sunday, I'll never go there again." The other stranger said, "I don't like this no-speaking in church. If no one speaks to me next Sunday, I'll speak to someone."

Next Sunday, the usher happened to seat both of these men, one in front of the other. As usual after the service, no one greeted the other. The first man rose to stalk out forever. But the second man turned, put out his hand and said, "Good morning, sir, I'm glad to see you. Fine service, wasn't it?"

Both were pleased at having made a friend, and continued to come.

As Jesus said, "Where two or three come together in my name, there am I in their midst." Amen.