LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 88

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88

CONVENTION BIBLE STUDIES

in getting the log out of your eye . In relationships where hurts
are deep, it may be helpful to use the form Announcing God’s
Grace to guide both people in confession and forgiveness .
God promises to give us the strength and courage to act
on His directives . We are empowered through the Gospel to
do that which we cannot do on our own . Accordingly, during
our lunch time today and over the next two days, pastors will
be available for private Absolution to hear your Confession
to God and to proclaim God’s forgiveness to you . Note that
the private absolvers are listed with their respective rooms in
Wednesday’s edition of Today’s Business on page 536 .
None of those serving as absolvers are officers of the district
or Synod . No one is to keep track of who goes to Absolution
and who does not . If you go to a room for Absolution and the
door is closed, simply wait until the door is opened . You may
use a form of Confession and Absolution from a hymnal, from
the catechism, or from Announcing God’s Grace . Or you may
ask to confess your sins without a written form . You may confess generally or specifically, but the primary purpose is to
receive God’s forgiveness so that you are equipped to do the
work that God prepared in advance for you to do . Or you may
simply seek private Absolution for any particular sin that troubles you . You may also seek Absolution from your own pastor,
if he is available .
Just a quick reminder about reconciling with key leaders . Some may desire to seek reconciliation with the Synod
President or a Vice President, a district president, a board
member, or other key leader . Please remember that these
reconciliations need to take place, but many people may be
attempting to reach these same leaders . Don’t be afraid to ask
for an appointment, but be understanding if one indicates that
the meeting may have to be delayed perhaps even beyond
this week .

How Good and Pleasant It Is!
Joe was head of the trustees in his church .5 He strongly disagreed with the elders . He believed that the elders were simply
“yes–men” hand–picked by the former pastor who easily gave
in to the pastor’s wishes, especially those that Joe felt were
harmful to the church . Joe sent out a letter to all the members
of the congregation, condemning the actions of the elders, and
encouraging people to vote them out of office at the upcoming
voters meeting . His letter assumed motives and put the worst
construction on things . Joe had met once with the elders a few
months before, but he had not talked to them prior to sending
out this notice .
Joe rallied a number of people, and the voters meeting was
packed . After hours of quarreling, a vote barely passed supporting the elders and keeping them in office . But the church
remained sharply divided .
With help from reconcilers, Joe began to understand how
he let his passion get out of control, driving him to employ sinful means to protect God’s church . In private Confession, he

2010 Convention Proceedings

received comfort in the words, “God forgives you for Jesus’
sake .” Joe then asked to meet with the elders .
The elders also received counsel from the reconcilers, and
they recognized how they contributed to the severe conflict
in their congregation . They not only confessed sins of commission, but also of omission in their responsibilities as the
spiritual lay leaders . They agreed to meet with Joe .
Both sides surprised the other when they came prepared to
confess and forgive, and they were reconciled .
Because this dispute had polarized the congregation, the
elders and Joe stood before the church to publicly confess
their sins against the membership, seeking forgiveness . The
reconcilers led the congregation in proclaiming God’s forgiveness, and then individuals also extended personal forgiveness .
Both Joe and the elders offered to resign, but in the end they
were affirmed by the congregation and encouraged to remain
in office .
Evidence of the miracle of reconciliation occurred when
the elders asked Joe to join their board, and he accepted .
Joe loved his church and wanted what he felt was best .
His desire for a change in leadership was not sinful until he
started trusting himself and worldly ways more than God and
God’s commands . Joe failed to fear, love, and trust in God
above all things, a sin against the First Commandment . He
justified his sins against the Eighth Commandment by saying he was simply exercising his rights as a voting member .
It’s just politics, right?
Luther explains the Eighth Commandment: “We should
fear and love God that we may not deceitfully belie, betray,
slander or defame our neighbor, but defend him, speak well
of him, and put the best construction on everything .”7 In the
Fourth Commandment, we are not to despise those in authority nor provoke them to anger, but give them honor, serve
and obey them, and hold them in love and esteem . Likewise,
those in authority have responsibility not to lord it over others, but to serve with humility and love as Christ demonstrated
by His example .
Have your passions ever driven you to use sinful means
to protect God’s church? I’m guilty of that . If you, too, are
guilty of such sinful thoughts, words, or actions, then listen
very carefully to what I say next .
Fellow beggars, our Lord knows more than you and I about
how sinful we have been . But because He has poured out His
love for us in Christ, He declares us forgiven . Our sins were
paid in full on the cross . “The blood of Jesus His Son cleanses
us from all sin” (1 John 1:7) .
May the riches of His grace move us to experience what
the Psalmist exclaims in Psalm 133:
Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell together in unity!

It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!