Unbalanced

How do you sin against someone else?

“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them." -  Matt. 18:15-20

I guess we can sin against someone by lying to them or cheating them. We can steal from them, I suppose.

All these things can be set right. Forgive me, and accept my restitution of what I stole from you or cheated you out of.

But what about something more heinous, like murder?

I don't think you can settle this by going to the person and pointing out the fault.

This is where restitution is not possible, so the desire for more severe punishment is warranted.

Right?

Now, if it was an accident and the person shows remorse, maybe I could accept that and walk away, but that still seems unbalanced, and I think that is the point here.

We expect balance, which sounds like an eye for an eye.

Now, as a last resort, Jesus says we can, or his apostles could, hold that person accountable on earth and it will be so in heaven. 

Does that feel good for you?

This is why we have wars. We humans can't let the other guy win. There needs to be justice, we say, but what we mean is we need to feel like we both won. Or better yet, that we won.

So, we remain unbalanced in our thinking, regardless of what Jesus says we should do. And that means we have trouble following him.

More to come...