Crystal Clear

As he hung up the phone the look on his face told her all she needed to know. “He’s not coming is he?” “No,” said Tom as he stared at the floor. This wasn’t the first time. Tom’s dad was very busy. Too busy. Too many times Bill has promised to be at Tom’s big events. Too many times Tom has called. Then there are the times he forgot to call. He has no idea the impact he is having. At that moment it just seems like he must get more done. He feels obligated to be at the meetings. He has no idea the track record he is compiling with Tom. And if it were only Bill’s relationship with Tom it might not be so bad. Unfortunately, Bill makes big claims about his relationship with Jesus. Tom is trying hard to understand faith. He wants to be on God’s team. Or so he thought. It’s getting to the point where he feels like his dad is not honest. “If dad is so in love with God, why does he ignore me? Does God ignore me, too?” [pause]

Susan was explaining on the phone why she had to reschedule the Bible study. “I’m sorry, Joan, but something’s come up again. I so look forward to these studies, but you understand, right?”

“Oh, sure,” Joan replied. But if Susan could have seen through the phone, she would have seen that it wasn’t okay. Joan was a brand new believer. Susan was a long time church member. If Susan hadn’t cancelled the last three sessions, she would have known that Joan was hanging by a thread. Joan was starting to question almost everything she had come to believe in the last 3 months. Her boyfriend was pressuring her to stop attending church. Her mother had sworn she would never set foot in a church. Joan was starting to feel like she didn’t belong there, either. Susan was making it a lot easier for Joan to feel that way. She had looked up to Susan so much. She really seemed to have it all together. Now she was acting as if discipling Joan was way down the list. Just about anything could knock it off the priority list. “I thought Susan was for real. If God is really holy and loving, why would his people act like this?”

If Susan and Bill were members of a small club it might not be such a problem. But the truth is that these days Christians don’t have the same track record they used to have. There are many Susans and Bills in almost every congregation in North America. People like Susan and Bill like feeling close to God. They like to feel as if they are on God’s team. Yet, their willingness to say “yes” to commitments often exceeds their willingness to follow through. Those of us who are very involved in church are familiar with Bills and Susans. People like Joan and Tom who are trying to find their way into the church pay the price.

The headlines tell a very dark story of betrayal in the church. Sexual abuse by clergy and volunteers stain the fabric of our culture. These kinds of reports make us angry. The victims suffer the rest of their lives. We resolve to put a hedge of protection around the innocent and vulnerable. Yet, these situations are relatively rare compared to the Susans. Don’t get me wrong, even one incident of abuse cannot be tolerated. We are accountable to create a safe environment for the most vulnerable and to monitor that environment. Yet, by sheer numbers, failing to keep our word deserves much more attention than it receives. These situations should also stir up a righteous anger, especially when we see them in our own lives. We can get good at reconstructing reality. We rationalize that we’re busy. Everyone is busy. Everyone understands. But at the heart of the issue is the integrity of Christian community.

If Jesus had said, “They will know you are Christians by your fish insignias”, we’d be on solid ground. But the world knows that’s not what he said. The Corinthians were holding up this truth. They were looking at Paul next to this reality. They had some questions. They aren’t the only ones with questions. When we take the name of Jesus we take on a level of responsibility. We have a reputation to protect. Not ours. His. The world is watching. Jesus also said, NIV Matthew 5:37 “Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” There can be no genuine relationships where there the truth is not spoken. It’s time we Christians come to terms with truth telling and integrity. As long as we make excuses we only embarrass ourselves. Furthermore we embarrass our Lord. Our culture does not need any fresh reasons to think less of Jesus. Even 2,000 years ago Paul understood that. They had questions. He gave them answers.

The last time I checked Christians are human. As members of humanity Christians are prone to error and personal failure. To make a mistake is not unforgivable. What is unforgivable is to fail to give account for ourselves. I’m glad that in the earliest days of Christianity Paul could see this. He took their questions to heart. He gave an accounting. NIV 2 Corinthians 1:18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not "Yes" and "No." Paul is quick to assure the Corinthians of his integrity toward them. He is even picking up on the traditions of the words of Jesus, not yet formed into gospel. Paul sees beyond an individual having a story to explain is actions. Paul sees that the very integrity of God’s work is at stake. Furthermore, the light of Jesus is allowed to shine through his life. NIV 2 Corinthians 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes." 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

God has set his seal of ownership on us. We belong to God. He is the one who makes us stand firm. Corinthians, I am standing firm in Christ, by the grace of God. I am not wavering. NIV 2 Corinthians 1:12 “Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.” NIV 2 Corinthians 1:14 “as you have understood us in part, you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.” Paul goes on to explain the background in v. 15. He had planned to visit and was under great distress. Paul had evidently written them another painful letter, which we don’t have. In this letter he addressed several negative issues. This isn’t hard to imagine if you’ve ever read the letter we call 1 Corinthians. Yet, he had a change of heart. He decided a painful visit might be too much for them. Time has passed and some of the biggest issues have subsided. He decided in God’s wisdom to hold off on the visit and let repentance do its work. It turns out he was willing to change plans when it became clear it wasn’t best for the church. That’s a respectable humility.

The specifics are not so important. What is powerful here is how Paul gives account for his actions. He ties it to the on-going work of God in the world.

Tom took his familiar spot at the end of the bench. Slowly but surely the game pressed on. One by one his buddies took their turn at bat. In t-ball things just keep on going. They scored 7 runs before it was his turn to bat. He walked dejectedly toward home plate. He didn’t notice his sagging socks. He didn’t care that his brand new bat was dragging in the loose dirt. But just as he made the turn to the left batter’s box something familiar caught his eye. A bright blue Cubs hat in the front row. He followed the stitching down to the beaming face of the most important person on the world. It was his Dad, Bill. The coach met Tom as he trotted slowly across home plate a few seconds later. “I don’t know what got into you today, Tommy.” The umpire said that ball must still be flying. Suddenly Tommy can see forever much more clearly. Crystal clear.
“Joan? Hi, it’s Susan. Yeah, I know we just talked. I’ve been thinking. I’m glad you’ve been so understanding about my crazy schedule. But, I just got the feeling that God is not okay with it. I hope you can forgive me. I had to ask God to do the same. I’m also hoping you might still have time to get together with me?”

And so it begins. Yes. And Amen.