Accountability: How to Live with the IRS Agent in the Pew

Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20

On Thursday the National Football League opened its new season. This afternoon, and tonight, and tomorrow night there is a gloriously full schedule of professional football games. Opening weekend of any sport is always a time of hope for sports fans. It’s the one day of the year when every team has a chance to win a championship. But as the season wears on realities set in. Teams begin to realize their shortcomings, and fans begin to find their belief in God. But I’ve come to realize that God pretty much ignores “football prayers.”

Now, I’m not talking about those sometimes-controversial pre-game prayers. I’m not even talking about the prayers offered up amid end zone celebrations. By “football prayers” I mean those prayers that come from the fans seating in stadiums or planted on living room couches in front of the television.

“Good Lord, God of Israel, woudst thou graciously part the defensive line of thine enemies so that thy people may run free? Dear God, Lord Almighty, safely guide thy quarterback’s pass into the hands of our blessed receiver as we say our Hail Marys and pray for another Immaculate Reception?”



It’s absurd! And maybe I exaggerate, but we know the kinds of ridiculous prayers routinely offered up by desperate believers who face “fourth and long” situations. There are actually times when hundreds of good Christians are united in their prayers for the salvation of the home team. Yet big games are still lost despite Jesus’ assurance that heaven and earth are being moved in response to the request of united prayer efforts.

Clearly Jesus was wrong about what he said … or else we have misunderstood Jesus’ point about unity in prayer.

In the 18th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew Jesus is working at a fevered pitch to explain to his followers what life in the community of disciples will be like. He’s right to do so; his time is limited. He is on the cusp of entering Jerusalem where in a short time he will be crucified. So, Jesus tells the disciples that they will find themselves powerless, rejected by some, welcomed by a few. This new way of life – discipleship – will be demanding. Accountability and mutual support among the community of disciples will be required for survival. In fact accountability will be one of six sign of Christian community.

But Jesus is a realist. He knows that there will be conflict among the disciples, and he knows that how a community handles conflict is crucial to its continued existence. So Jesus gives the disciples a series of steps to follow, and I think most modern-day conflict-resolution consultants would be proud. This is a beautiful and fairly unique passage because it is one of the few places where we actually get step by step instructions for living out our Christian faith.

When someone has done you wrong, when someone has done something to break the relationship between you, then the person who has been wronged is to go to the offender one on one without gossip, without making a big scene and point out the fault. Indeed, Jesus has just told the beloved parable of a shepherd who notices that one sheep is missing, so the shepherd leaves the entire flock and seeks out the one lost sheep. Now Jesus tells the disciples that they are to be like that loving, seeking shepherd. When we have a broken relationship, we are to be like that shepherd seeking out the one who we feel has done us wrong.

Isn’t that interesting? When we are hurt or wronged or offended, we are to respond with continued and committed love for the offender. It is a love that seeks out and a love that seeks to bring back. It’s a counter-intuitive move for our society which seems to love the courtroom more than the sanctuary, the tabloids more than the Scriptures, and gossip more than plain talk that might just mend relationships.

Now, I don’t want to minimize the pain that we feel when someone has hurt us. There are things that people do to us that can cause deep damage. The point is not to gloss over these wounds with an “I’m sorry” bandage. What Christ desires for the disciples is not instant agreement and quick words meant to dispel guilt.

Throughout the process of holding one another accountable our actions that Jesus lays out for his disciples, the goal is never instant agreement. Jesus never says, “If someone doesn’t agree with you gather some witnesses.” Instead, Jesus says, “But if you are not listed to” then take it to the next level.

The goal is not hollow words and quick fixes. What Christ desires is deep and committed accountability to one another. The goal for Christ’s disciples is listening, but listening is not forgiveness. However, listening sets the stage for acknowledgment of fault, and acknowledgement leads to repentance and repentance is the grounds for forgiveness. The value that guides the community of disciples is long-term reconciliation. Our scripture reading this morning tells us to be accountable for our own actions and as a community of faith to hold one another accountable for our actions. As we do this we know that rapid pronouncements of forgiveness are usually incomplete, but lasting forgiveness is embedded in the learning of a whole new way of life in Christ. (WOF)

So what does all of this have to do with prayer? Jesus tells his disciples that one who refuses to listen to efforts at reconciliation should be treated like a Gentile and a tax collector. Treat one who refuses reconciliation, who refuses to listen, who refuses to acknowledge the harm he or she has caused like one of society’s despised outsides. It’s odd advice: treat the one who will not listen like a Gentile and an outsider. It sounds like Jesus is advocating excommunication and permanent exclusion from the congregation of disciples.

Except …Jesus makes it a point throughout his ministry to reach out to and associate with those exact despised outsiders. Jesus speaks with and heals Gentiles. Jesus calls tax collectors to ministry with him. Jesus shares meals with tax collectors. Let those who refuse reconciliation and accountability be to you as a Gentile and tax collector. Let them be to you the goal of Christian mission and outreach. Let them be to you the ones that you reach out to and spend time with. Let them be the ones with whom you eat. Let them be the ones you call to join you. Let them be the ones you with whom you seek reconciliation.

It is the church’s job to discern the presence or absence of repentance and forgiveness and determine whether an offender is within or outside the community of faith. There is no one single person who gets to decide this; it is a community effort. What is bound on earth will be bound in heaven and what is loosed on earth will be loosed in heaven. It is the church’s communal task to determine appropriate conduct.

Here, Jesus is not talking about praying for anything under the sun – especially football games. Like God, the community of disciples pursues the difficult task of restoration. For this it must pray as it does its reconciling work. To agree in praying for the offender’s restoration expresses the willingness of the community members to forgive and to effect reconciliation. (Carter) Reconciliation is an act of the community of faith carried out through continual listening and prayer. Reconciliation is ultimately an act of holding one another accountable for our actions and our words but not so that we might have power over others and exclude them but so that the members of Christian community might be brought into right relationship with one another and thus with God. Amen.