Man on a Mission: I Just Can't Get Over You (God's Peace)
*** Matthew 5:21-26 ***
As we begin the year we are getting on the same page in a unified manner to officially launch our church in the next several months. (Leading expectations in a church plant)
Last week, we talked about Jesus calling his people to be a city set on a hill, a city within a city, as we will aspire to be as 2nd City Church. To do so, we are unpacking the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus tackles the things that are essential to a healthy Christian life. These include how we prioritize our relationships, our service and our money.
Beef with you:
I was angry with my friend: I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe: I told it not, my wrath did grow.” ― William Blake
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. (Matthew 5:21, 22 NIV84)
Explanation and significance of: Angry (Greek: orgizo) - enraged Raca - means "empty-headed" and was a personal, public affront. Name calling was extremely insulting in Jewish culture because it challenged the identity of the individual by stripping the significance attached to one's name. Think of lible suits. Sanhedrin - the official adjudicating body of the Jews handling matters of the law except when impinging upon Roman rule You Fool - also implies moral failure Hell - Gehenna
It is not ok in the church or in life to carry around grudges. The anger that Jesus speaks of often originates with a pride in our own righteousness. This is the inner working of murder which precipitates disparaging speech about others when you are pressed. It is often overlooked because it is so commonplace in our environments. However Jesus takes it very seriously because it is the seedbed of bitterness which destroys individuals, households, churches and societies. I.e. - the ethnic tensions in Chicago We never really recognize how much the grudges that we carry shape and limit us in life. There is no one who can say they are unaffected without sincere self-evaluation. It is the motivating factor for both discrimination and merciless judgments against one another. It removes any motivation to build relationships or move beyond your own desires or needs. It is a self-absorbed and loveless existence.
* The church should be a place of esteem, affection and commitment as we consistently engage one another to model Jesus' love while building his Kingdom together. This is what we will aspire to be as 2CC
Beef with me:
Why would Jesus be so emphatic about these issues?: Ultimately, life is about relationships; relationship with God our Creator and relationship with one another. This is the summary of the two greatest commands which sum up the law and the prophets which he came to fulfill.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23, 24 NIV84)
It is not ok to ignore the offense that others have with you, whether it be a co-worker, spouse or friend. We all have blind spots which precipitate our selfishness and it is the pain that others experience in their interaction with us that can at times point out our sin. God is clearly saying that you can not both be "spiritual" and negligent of the relationships into which he has sovereignly placed you.
What he is not speaking about is taking on the burden of the things that damage relationships that are not under your control. What Jesus is enforcing by taking matters to the heart is that we need to take responsibility for our own actions and treat others in their own shortcomings with the grace that we ourselves have been shown in Christ.
C.S. Lewis articulated clearly why we will begin the reorganization talking about relationships:
“There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. This does not mean that we are to be perpetually solemn. We must play. But our merriment must be of that kind (and it is, in fact, the merriest kind) which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously - no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
We live in two extremes in life. We are products of the fight or flight psychology, but God calls us to deal with relationships squarely and righteously.
Breaking Free:
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5:25, 26 NIV84)
In the Jewish culture, there is no record of debtor's prison. The implication here is that it was a Roman institution. What this meant for the people of God is that you lose your political immunity per se if you choose to allow yourself indulgences because of your position or walls with which you shelter yourself. You, in a sense, remove yourself from the amnesty and protection of God until you treat others with the dignity and seriousness with which he views them.
Duke University did a study on “peace of mind.” Factors found to contribute greatly to emotional and mental stability are:
1. The absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor in unhappiness.
2. Not living in the past. An unwholesome preoccupation with old mistakes and failures leads to depression.
3. Not wasting time and energy fighting conditions you cannot change. Cooperate with life, instead of trying to run away from it.
4. Force yourself to stay involved with the living world. Resist the temptation to withdraw and become reclusive during periods of emotional stress.
5. Refuse to indulge in self-pity when life hands you a raw deal. Accept the fact that nobody gets through life without some sorrow and misfortune.
6. Cultivate the old-fashioned virtues—love, humor, compassion and loyalty
7. Do not expect too much of yourself. When there is too wide a gap between self-expectation and your ability to meet the goals you have set, feelings of inadequacy are inevitable.
8. Find something bigger than yourself to believe in. Self-centered egotistical people score lowest in any test for measuring happiness.
Source unknown
Javert vs. Jean Val Jean in Les Miserables and Acts 9 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. (Hebrews 12:14, 15 NIV84)
Now is an opportunity to get connected to God through Jesus and his grace - the new walk that begins as you receive his forgiveness provided by his death, burial and resurrection.
As we go into next weeks 2nd prelaunch, we can ask ourselves the question, not only who are our friends that we can invite, but also those who need Jesus who are in whom we've hated, had broken family or romantic relationships, those to whom we've lied, or owe us something. Treat it as an extension of grace. Who have been your downright enemies to whom you can show the grace that you've been shown?
2nd City Church – Man On A Mission Sermon Series 2013