I clearly do not have the "gift" of blogging or journaling. Should I just give up now?! I feel like I am having a conversation with myself ... a conversation that might not even be worth having. Should I even be concerned about what I write ... or how I write it ... if I am the only one who will ever read it?
Our pastor preached on Matthew 18 this week. I thought he did a great job -- especially since the topic is a tough one. The verses he focused on were those that explain the obligation that Christians have to confront other Christians who have sinned. The text provides three steps, or stages, on how the confrontation should proceed.
http://www.cornerstonecc.us/sermons/2003/2004-10-10.mp3
What does this have to do with being intensional? Everything, I think. In an effort to avoid tension within the church, most of us have been taught that we need to "play nice" at church. Most often that means never confronting someone who is sinning and certainly never telling someone that they have sinned against us or offended us. As a result, we sweep a lot of hard feelings and well meant concern for the wellbeing of others, underneath the pews or carpets in our sanctuaries.
But all that stuff that we are hiding from view remains there, just piling up. Inevitably someone will eventually trip on the piles someday ... or the piles will take on a cancerous life of their own. The longer we put off dealing with such things, the greater the chance that they will destroy us.
Being intensional may require that we do things that will cause tension in the short-run, in the hope that peace, joy, and love will result in the long-run. Can we really forgive and forget if we don't confront? Can we really love our neighbor as ourselves if we don't "speak the truth in love" to them when they offend us or God? How do we hold fellow believers accountable without being judgemental?
