Sunday, September 4, 2011: Ezekiel 33:7-11; Matthew 18:15-20

A person in our church was complaining bitterly and threatening to leave the church. His power and influence were waning and he was lashing out. After prayer and reflection, I decided that confrontation would escalate the situation into a polarizing fight. Instead of confrontation, he needed space. Like a child throwing a tantrum, he needed to cry it out and regain his composure. His friends in the congregation and I made an effort to give him space. We tried to avoid reacting defensively, prayed for him and maintained our friendships as best we could. I had made a judgment call about judgment. As the apostle Paul said, "If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Rom. 12:18).

But sometimes I wonder if I'm shirking my responsibility when I don't point out a believer's fault. If the problem is just between us, it seems reasonable to let it slide. If the escalation of tension will be greater with confrontation than the patience required to endure the problem, I am inclined to live with the problem. Is this the right response? Does "turning the other cheek" mean standing my ground without confronting my brother? Or is it cowardly to evade confrontation?

Turning the other cheek is not the same thing as turning a blind eye. Sometimes love may require that I undertake a costly initiative to save my brother when my every impulse is to ignore him. In the Old Testament lectionary companion to this Gospel text (Ezek. 33:1–11), the watchman is obligated to warn the wicked. If the watchman doesn't "sound the trumpet" and dissuade the wicked from their ways, the Lord promises to hold the watchman accountable for the Lord's judgment of the wicked.