The Sweet Dropper

I wish everyone could see a congregation the way I get to see it as a preacher. Some faces are joyful and expectant, others skeptical and wary, others bored and sleepy, others surprised and wondering. I preached this past Sunday night from Proverbs on the sins of meddling, gossip, and slander. I’m not sure how to describe the looks that say, “Hey, how did you know what was going on in this relationship and this situation?” I know because I struggle mightily in this area as well. Who can argue with James when he writes, if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man…[James 3:2]? If I can master my tongue, so much of the rest of life would fall right happily into place.

You might think being a pastor simplifies these matters, because I get to breathe the pure, sanctified air of the pastor’s study and am insulated from all the sharp edges of “real life.” If you think that, you’d be wrong. Martin Luther said that unless a minister “smells like death and devil” he’s worthless. One of the devil’s aromas that surrounds me comes from the war of words. Like anyone else I hear rumors and bad reports, slander and abuse. And I’m called to labor for the peace and purity of the Church. I am an ambassador for his kingdom agenda of grace and truth. I hear Jesus saying, Blessed are the peacemakers [Being a peace-keeper is easier by far.]. What do I do with the information that comes to me by observation and report? What do I need to confront? To what do I need to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear and cover over with forbearance and compassion? How do I help my brothers and sisters repair and restore broken relationships? When the Bible requires us to purse the more formal avenues of church discipline, how should we deal with evidence and information?

Sometime soon the sermon from 3 August will be posted at fpckosciusko.org and on the free podcast at iTunes. If it helps, thanks be to God. If you want a shorter treatment from some more reputable teachers, read this related post that appeared on 4 August on Justin Taylor’s Between Two Worlds, written by Tim Keller and David Powlison, entitled Should You Pass on Bad Reports? I recommend reading it carefully. In a follow-up to some comments, Powlison writes,

…the leading edge of our argument is to place checks on the tendency we all have to snide, sneering, self-righteous, gossipy, malicious words. Any growth we can make in the direction of Ephesians 4:29 will make life much more joyous for all, and bring much glory to our God. And even criticisms I make become more hearable when I the critic am not posturing, but actually care about others. When I don’t care, my bad attitude and superiority becomes my actual message. Love is patient, love is kind . . . and then love is candid.

How much grace and mercy you and I (well, at least, I) need!