The Watchman’s Job Description
ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." What, exactly, is meant by "agreeing?" Do we agree with every decision we make as Christians? Do we agree on the hymns we sing or the style of worship we employ? Is it an agreement of doctrine?
The Greek used for agree is the same word we get "symphony" from. Now, what is a symphony? Well, a symphony is a disparate collection of musical instruments that each have notes and sections which each plays. Some are high in pitch, some are low. Some use strings, some use wooden reeds, some are metallic. Each of these differences produce a different sound. Violins can be used to express sorrow. The brass is used for jubilant expression. Woodwinds give a mellow tune for meditative reflection. Different instruments, different sounds, different functions. But in a symphony they act as a group to make beautiful music.
Last week we looked at the body of Christ and how we all have a function in this body. Today's lessons continue that theme. This week we see that this includes addressing those issues we'd rather ignore. But if we ignore them, they become a cancer. Society today is said to be in a downward spiral. We can all give examples of where our society is going awry-teenage pregnancies, addictions of all manner, even looting and killing such as we saw on the TV news this last week in New Orleans. But can we blame society for all these woes? The sad truth is that the rates of divorce and illegitimate pregnancies and addictions among Christians are statistically similar, if in some cases not higher, than the average among society as a whole. Obviously we in the church need to address our own planks in our eye and then the speck in our brother's eye before we can call the society as a whole to account.
The reason we seek an accounting is because Jesus wants us to be closer to him. He knows that each one of us is a sinner. That is why he told Peter "forgive seventy times seven." And when we do go to our erring brother or sister, or take a witness with us, Jesus gives us a promise in this endeavor: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them." At the center of our discussions is
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