David Bahn – Reflections

Light from the Word and through the lens

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In 1968 Jerry Snell opened a door in the hallway outside our first hour chemistry class. He invited me into what I discovered was a darkroom. Soon I was on the school newspaper and annual staff as a photographer. Later I learned that Jerry was a Lutheran who was planning to become a pastor. A few years later I was not only a Lutheran, but I was heading off to seminary to become a Lutheran pastor, too. Jerry followed a year later and served as a pastor in Missouri until his untimely heart attack and death. I thank God for Jerry and enjoy photography still today – not to mention rejoicing in having served as a Lutheran pastor in congregations in Utah, Colorado, Arkansas and Texas. I’ve retired now and serve part time as a Congregational Support Specialist for the Texas District of the LCMS. I also provide coaching and leadership training through various PLI cohorts and with individual congregations and organizations. David Bahn is a follower of Jesus Christ, husband to Diane, father and grandfather. He is an avid amateur photographer. His photo website is “Flowers by God Photos by David” He also publishes a devotional blog DavidBahn-Reflections.com. He and Diane live in Cypress Texas and enjoy visiting their grandchildren who live in the United States and Germany. He graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1979, and earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in 1991. Diane, his wife, is now retired from PLI (PLIleadership.org). They have offered presentations on Marriage and Ministry Partnership, Leadership, Changing Your Congregation’s Culture, and Missional Living. They look are working with PLI International training pastors and wives of the ELVD Diocese of the Lutheran Church of Tanzania. David’s personal mission statement is “Leading people to realize Jesus’ calling and plans for their lives.”

A Holy Pursuit

Life would be so much easier if no one sinned! Starting with Adam and Eve and continuing down through the ages with one notable exception (thanks be to God!), the smoldering torch of sin and rebellion has been passed from generation to generation. Only Jesus was exempt by the miraculous intervention of the Holy Spirit and the virgin birth. So if we’re all sinners (and that’s the clear testimony of Scripture), it stands to reason that we will disappoint and hurt our brother or sister in Christ along the way. Despite our best intentions and efforts we will sin against even those we love most.

 

Communion Rail
The ground is level at the foot of the cross. When we kneel for communion we are confessing our need for God's forgiveness and our hope for his grace in Jesus.

 

Matthew 18:15-20

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

So don’t be surprised when your closest friend, your favorite uncle, your pastor or even your spouse sins against you. It’s in their nature. It’s in yours too. Jesus confronts this here. “If your brother sins…” could be replaced with “When your brother sins…” And his message is not a call to be shocked, but a plan to be followed. Go to your brother. Tell him his fault. Be reconciled. The recurring hope throughout the process is that he will listen to you and you will win your brother.

Not only do we have the great privilege of binding and loosing one another’s sin, but we have the promise of Jesus’ presence in the process. For this process is filled with the grace of God and a holy pursuit of an erring brother or sister in Christ. This is no call for an inquisition, nor an effort to prove one person’s right over another. It is a call to right relationships that have been broken by sin of any kind. And Jesus is not only concerned about these relationships, he is present and intimately involved in their restoration.

Just as we have been forgiven by Christ, we forgive our brother or sister who sins against us. By that Jesus is glorified.

 

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