“…for
truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God – since you have received
me with such favor.” Jacob to Esau -
Genesis 33:10b
I am
schism-prone.
As an introvert who
despises conflict and confrontation, and avoids it like the plague, it’s easier
for me to separate than debate, or worse.
For United
Methodists embroiled in this seeming no-win tug of war over homosexuality, the “easy
way” of dividing so we can all take our ball and go home, is
tempting – but hardly Christ-like. (That
was settled at Calvary when Jesus refused to take the bait about coming off
that cross if he was truly God.)
Considering Jesus wouldn’t bail, there’s a
message for us somewhere in that!
In the first post on
this subject I alluded to Paul and Barnabas’ dilemma concerning John Mark, who
had failed to go the distance with them on their previous missionary
journey. Paul gave JM a failing grade;
Barnabas agreed, but wanted to take him along on the next trip in spite of his
shortcomings. A sharp division ensued,
causing Paul to partner up with a more suitable companion – Silas – while Barnabas
and John Mark went another way.
Many would point to
this as evidence that the “split” doubled the work-effectiveness – twice as
many church visits!
But is that really
so?
Do you suppose Paul,
Barnabas or John Mark were clear-headed as they travelled and did the work of
God?
Do you suppose they
were not heavy-hearted at the rift between them?
Did it not haunt
their dreams?
Who is to say how
much the division interfered with their work?
But this we do know – Paul and John Mark eventually reconciled. JM was included in Paul’s salutation to the
Colossian believers (4:10).
And at the end of his earthly life, stuck in a Roman prison, Paul had
his friend Luke with him, but he asked Timothy to bring John Mark to him
because (Paul said) John Mark would be helpful to him in his ministry
there.
Paul was a
hard-driving, no nonsense kind of guy.
He probably could hold a grudge with the best; but here we see his
underbelly – tender, exposed and ready to receive a brother.
I can’t be totally
certain Paul ever really liked John Mark; but he received
him for the sake of Christ.
Both sides of the
current UMC crisis can insert their own names in this story in every
character. Can you see
yourself as:
·
Paul the
stubborn one?
·
Barnabas the peacemaker?
·
John Mark the rejected one?
·
Luke putting up with Paul the grouchy one?
If you can’t see
yourself, at least in some way, or at some times in each of these roles, you’re
not working hard enough!
Going back to the
Old Testament – remember Jacob sneaking out of town in the middle of the night
because he stole Esau’s birthright? (Ooooh…couldn’t
we could draw some neat analogies from this in the current crisis?) But God allowed Jacob 20 years of exile to
get his head right; Esau got a 20 year cool-down for his temper. And in the end, when the brothers are finally
reunited, the (now) mature Jacob tells Esau, his former arch rival and enemy, seeing
you is like seeing the face of God.
Reconciliation doesn’t
get any better than that!
And, one final
example; how about the schism of Acts 15 over whether Gentiles belong in the
church? There was nothing more odious to
Jews than uncircumcised Gentiles. Yet,
the outcome, after much General Conference debate was to accept those Gentiles
who were turning to Christ, and simply ask that they refrain from eating meat
sacrificed to idols and fornication.
This was a via media (Wesleyan
middle way) solution if I’ve ever seen one!
Main
Question
Can we not take these
examples as our game plan to “follow Jesus, make disciples and transform the
world”?
We have a real (but
dwindling) opportunity in these “pre-schism” moments to display for the world
how genuine believers act under pressure, and in the face of an angry temptation
to divide like contemporary culture lives.
We have the opportunity to show the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace instead of anger, rancor and judgment.
We have the
opportunity to be the face of God for an unbelieving world caught in a very
dark culture. We don’t have to add to
the darkness; we can bring the light of an undivided God to a divided world.
Wouldn’t you call
that mission?
Today…for you
United Methodists are simply a microcosm of the
bitterness and contention which seethe and boil as the creation groans for
redemption.
Today I’m praying for God to make my heart open
for the via media a middle way to choose, and help others choose to
accept the ministry of reconciliation in a way that clearly speaks the love of
God.
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