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Racism, Alcoholism, Divorce and Gossip: What’s A Church to Do? part 2 Walter, a middle-aged African American man who also happens to struggle with alcoholism starts attending a small all-white church. He doesn’t make a scene or disturb anyone but as his visits continue others begin to complain. In addition, Bill and Jane Smith, an active couple at every event suddenly stop coming to church. The gossip is as thick as molasses with talk of adultery, theft and even drug abuse but so far no one knows what actually happened. What would you do? What should the church do? How would Jesus respond? Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapters 5-7) offers sound spiritual guidance. Most of us readily recognize parts of the sermon but until recently I never noticed how all three chapters fit together to form one provocative message. Chapter 5 points out how we should behave in order to receive God’s blessing: We are to be as salt and light. Knowing we cannot be perfect, Jesus then provides spiritual tools in chapter 6 designed to help us strengthen our relationship with God. At first, Chapter 7 seems to be a collection of sayings with no real relationship to each other. I was amazed to discover that Jesus is actually teaching us how to apply what’s already been learned in chapters five and six to real world situations. I found six helpful steps:
Okay Larry… so how would these steps provide help for a small church and Walter? 1. Don’t judge: After several weeks, the pastor called a church leaders meeting and asked point blank: “What are we going to do for Walter? He has a right to be here and we need to help him.” 2. Be realistic: Everyone tried to be diplomatic so the word, “black” was never mentioned until one gruff old man stood up and said, “Admit it. If this young man was white we wouldn’t even be here talking. He’s black and you don’t like him. The alcoholism is just a sorry excuse to run him down!” 3. Seek God’s will: One woman tentatively raised her hand and asked: “Preacher, would you lead us in prayer so God can show us what to do?” After the prayer, a quiet hush fell over the room. 4. Give respect: Another leader responded, “We have not treated this young man properly. We should make more of an effort to welcome him to our church family. I think this is where we start.” 5. Sacrifice required: Several spoke up after that: “I’ll sit beside him next Sunday and introduce him to a few folks.” Another spoke of his own struggle with alcoholism and vowed to call Walter. 6. Produces good fruit: The following Sunday, Walter visited the same building for worship but was welcomed by a noticeably new church empowered by the love and grace of Jesus Christ. During Sunday school a member of the class Bill and Linda Smith attended said: “I am concerned for Bill and Linda. I’ve heard the rumors about their marital problems but has anyone from our church actually talked to either of them?” There was a prolonged silence as first one then another shook their head. “I for one am not prepared to abandon them when they need us most. Why don’t we pray for them right now as a class and maybe God will show us what to do next?” Later that afternoon, two women from the class visited Linda while two men searched for Bill. Jesus ends the sermon with the promise, “if we listen and obey, we will be like the wise man who built his house on solid rock. The storms come but the house will not collapse. It is the foolish person who takes the easy way and builds on the sand. When the inevitable storms come the house will fall with a mighty crash.” All of us regularly face situations similar to Walter’s and couples like the Smith’s. The question is: will you listen to the counsel of Christ? Is your foundation on solid rock or on shifting sand? “What will you do? What will your church do?” |