Table

Last week I saw an interesting interview about bridging the gap of what we all see as a great political and ideological divide in America.  It is interesting that this interview happened just before two other events ... 1) one of the last Tuskegee airmen, Brigadier General Charles McGee, passed away at the age of 102 and, 2) Martin Luther King's birthday celebration on Monday, January 17th.  I lift up these events because General McGee lived his entire life watching our great nation struggle with the same divisive issues including racial tension, environmental policy differences, an increasing divide between the extremes of liberalism and conservatism, a not-so-wonderful reframing of Christianity and a rabid "we vs. they" attitude.  Dr. King experienced the same.  That "we vs. they" thing has devolved into a perverted definition of compromise that defines success as conversion to the "other" side.  I believe the General and Dr. King might reflect on their lives and wonder if much has changed.

I bring all this up to remind us that we, the Church, can play a part in bringing people together.  The interview of Dave Isay was interesting to me because 18 years ago Isay founded a group called StoryCorps and, more recently, One Small Step.  The idea is simple.  One Small Step places people with very different views into a room and asks them to talk ... just talk.  The discussions are not about politics, policies and pundits.  They are about life ... raising children, personal struggles and the challenges of being human.  It is interesting how these conversations seem to go.  It is hard to demonize a person when you are sitting at the table with them.  It is difficult to view that person as an enemy when you are both talking about frustrations with children, making ends meet and where/how you grew up.  Table brings about commonality and invites people to community.

I am not writing today to make a political or social statement.  I AM writing to ask you to reflect on 3 things.  The first is the Biblical basis for this type of conversation.  Matthew 18:15 says "if your brother sins against you, first go to that brother."  I am assuming this goes for sisters too.  But you get the point.  We (as God's people) go to table and sit down and talk.  This is Jesus' call to us.  We treat other people like people.

The other two observations are contextual to Chapter 18 of Matthew.  Everything we read in Scripture should be evaluated in its context.  And context begins and ends (often) as chapters begin and end.  The context here begins with disciples (followers) wanting to know who will be the greatest in the kingdom.  This is such a human conversation.  We become followers and might even become very enthusiastic about our faith.  Some might study, some might passionately witness and some might even get animated about God.  Then we (in our pride) begin to order how we stack up to all of those people who fail to get the point of the faith.  WE want to be the greatest!  Jesus does a wonderful job of bringing the prideful down a few notches ... "unless you become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  Childlike faith, childlike trust of God, childlike willingness to forget wrongs might all be in play here!

Jesus accentuates His expectation of His followers by ending this chapter with a parable, the parable of the unforgiving servant.  The servant, although he had been forgiven, was unwilling to forgive another, and had the other man thrown in prison (forgetting he was also an egregious sinner).  Jesus closes this conversation with some pretty harsh words ... "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless your brother or sister from your heart."

The bottom line here is simple ... not partisan, political or proud.  Table is a place we are called.  Table is a place where we share the common things of life.  Table is where we get off our self-importance and get into relationships.  Table is vital for Americans to sit and share life.  And table is not optional for Christians.  And forgiveness (at the table of our Lord) is an action that is vital to our faith and to our place in God's kingdom.

Soon we will be back on Wednesday nights.  You will be invited to God's table.  You can come in from the cold and from the weary world.  You can share a meal and life with others, and I hope you will move around from table to table, meeting people who are different than you.  They can learn from your life.  You can learn from their life.  And we can all share in Bible study after the meal, for God has something to say and teach.  Will you come?  Are you willing to make a start toward being in community with God's people?  If you want to have a place in God's kingdom, I hope you will read Matthew 18, be convicted by the message, and begin that journey of forgiveness that must start in God's people ... it is not optional!  You are welcome at the table! Randy