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2 Corinthians 2:5-17
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Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure - not to put it too severely - to all of you. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.
But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. (ESV)
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Embrace Sinners
Thursday of Pentecost 6
12 July 2012
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Being a pastor is an impossible task. How finely and carefully a man of the cloth is required to distinguish true contrition from hard heartedness. Upon the latter he is to call down the wrath of God, demand repentance and renovation of life. He is to threaten eternal retribution upon those who are not grieved by their sins and continue to live in them. To the former he is to share the whole wealth of God's grace in Christ through holy absolution. He is to deliver the fullness of the mercy of the God who excuses sin and covers them with the precious blood the Savior. He is armed with lightning bolts of the law and with the sweetest consolations in the holy gospel. He must know when to use the weapon that terrifies and kills and the buckler that turns away wrath and gives life and every spiritual blessing.
When those who have sinned are repentant, truly sorry for their offenses, it is his duty to absolve. He may not scrutinize their repentance for its quality. He may not probe the wounds caused by the law any deeper; for to do so is to jeopardize the life of those whom he is serving. He may not cut down to the quick, as Luther says, "ad vivum," down to the life of the penitent, for he may pierce the heart. He needs to "do no harm," offering gracious and fatherly care to those who are sorrowful and struggling with their sin. How often this happens! Christians are constantly under the onslaught of Satan, the world, and their own perverse flesh. They are enticed into moral failures by their own weakness and spiritual inattentiveness. They fall into sin, that if they had carefully considered such things, they would never have done such a thing. They lament, "How did I fall into this. I myself have marveled at and mocked those who have fallen into such great sham and vice. Here I am fallen into just such a failing! Oh God, be merciful to me a sinner!" Their pastor needs to embrace them and call them back to God's life with the words that give that life: "I forgive you" (Jn 20:23). Why should we be surprised by the moral failings of sinners? Why should we be surprised that they come to us pastors with tears streaming down their faces deeply chagrined by their foolish and detrimental acts? Like us, they too are fallen humans, susceptible to failure until the Lord calls them to Himself. Until then, there will be plenty to absolve. We need to do with gentleness and meekness of spirit.
Those whose sins are against the truth, they require a less gentle approach. For if they are teaching contrary to the divine Word their sins hurt not just themselves, but also those who hear them. If they are confirmed in their false teaching, they cannot be dealt with temperately, but must be rebuked in the severest possible terms. The first president of the church body of which I am a member, Dr. C. F. W. Walther tells of having to rebuke a pastor for false teaching, which he did with a stone face, giving no quarter. Upon leaving the man's presence and going into the next room, he himself broke down in tears deeply chagrined for the man's hard heartedness. But he never showed that face to the transgressor. This is God's business. The teaching is God's treasure to the church. We may not squander it. Those who do need to be severely rebuked. But those who sin out of weakness must be absolved when they are contrite and be encouraged by their spiritual fathers. Because we care for them we must embrace sinners in the midst of their suffering. |
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Martin Luther
"'Brothers,if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness' (Gal 6:1). The words of the Apostle must be carefully considered. Clearly he seems not to be speaking about heresies or sins against doctrine, but far less severe sins, int0 which a man could fall, without purposeful or evil intent, but out of weakness. Here he uses such gentle and paternal language, not calling it error and sin, but a transgression. Therefore, so as to minimize and even to excuse the sin he transfers the whole guilt from the person and adds 'if man is caught,' that is, overcome by the devil or by the flesh. He also uses the word 'man' (anthropos Gk) to be able to minimize the matter even more, as if he were saying, 'What is more appropriate to man than to fall, to be deceived, and to be able to err?' So Moses in Leviticus says, 'As human beings are accustomed to sin' (Lev 6:3 Vul). It is therefore a statement full of consolation which once freed me from death with the highest certitude. Therefore the saints in this life not only live in the flesh, but also experience the desires of the flesh whenever instigated by the devil, that is when they struggle with impatience, envy, wrath, error, doubt, indifference, etc. Satan fights perpetually against purity of doctrine by trying to destroy everyone with sects and discords and he defiles purity of life through daily sins and offenses. Because of this Paul teaches that since such falls must occur, nonetheless those who remain steadfast must restore them in a spirit of meekness.
"It is useful for those who preside over the churches to know this lest they seek to divide things too finely and forget their fatherly and motherly compassion, which Paul requires from those who have the care of souls. He sets before them an example of this precept in 2Co 2:6-8 when he says that the reproof of the man who was excommunicated was sufficient, which was constituted by the majority, but now they ought to excuse and console him, lest he be overcome with an overburdening sorrow. On account of this he said, 'I beg you to reaffirm your love for him, etc.' (2Co 2:8). Therefore pastors should sharply rebuke those who have fallen, but when they see that they are contrite, they should begin to comfort and console them and as far as they are able to excuse their sins. They ought to do this with mercy, which they set over against sins, lest they be overcome with an overburdening sorrow. Just as the Holy Spirit defends and retains the doctrine of the faith, yet just so mildly and easily does He bear with and excuse their sins (provided that they are sorry for them), that they not fall into despair over them."
Martin Luther, Lectures on Galatians, 6.1
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Prayer
Dear Jesus, You have empowered Your messengers to forgive sins for those who are sorry. Give them the courage to do as you command, providing the shield of Your tender mercy for the repentant. Let meekness be their mantel as they speak for You. Amen.
For Ann Kunz, who is at home recuperating, that she would regain her strength
For those who are threatened by flooding, that the Lord who parted the waters would keep them safe
For all those who care for those in the midst of illness and suffering, that they would be upheld in every good deed
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Art: DÜRER, Albrecht The Adoration of the Trinity (1511)
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 © Scott R. Murray, 2012
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