If Jesus Worked in HR
Matthew 18:15-20, Romans 13:8-14 In the 1980 hit movie, Nine to Five, Doralee Rhodes, played by Dolly Parton, discovers that the whole office believes she is having an affair with the boss, Franklin Hart. “Well that explains it. No wonder all these people treat me like a dime-store floozy…” Mr. Hart is a “sexist, egostical, lying, hypocritical bigot” and would be skewered in the #metoo movement that cast corporate sexual harassment into the spotlight a few years ago. In 9 to 5, the women’s accomplishments are credited to the men in the office and their complaints against Mr. Hart are ignored over and over again, and so Doralee, Violet (Jane Fonda) and Judy (Lily Tomlin) take matters into their own hands. The boss is secretly hog-tied, presumed away on business, while the ladies institute workplace reforms that actually improve morale and productivity. It’s a wildly exaggerated comedy, of course, of what can happen when HR doesn’t respond appropriately to conflict in the office. And it’s a good movie (for adults) to watch on this Labor Day weekend and especially in memory of the dearly departed Dolly Parton. Matthew’s 18th chapter is not intended for corporate conflict, but for those living together as the family of God. “Jesus is describing what life looks like in a community committed to protecting the vulnerable, telling the truth, and pursuing reconciliation.”1 The passage we have before us today has been used by many under the heading of “church discipline.” Discipline. Discipline, in this context, by definition is training that develops self- control, obedience, or order. Too often “discipline” is synonymous with punishment. Is this a formula for “church obedience,” “church order,” “church punishment?” Nobody likes the sound of that. We might call this, Jesus’ three-step process for conflict resolution in the Kingdom of Heaven HR policy manual. Here’s what he says. If a brother or sister has hurt you, first, GO to them and TELL them how they have hurt you. If they listen to you, the issue will be resolved. If they don’t listen, move on to step 2. Step 2: Take with you one or two others so that every word may be held accountable by two or three witnesses. If the offender listens, the issue will be resolved. If they don’t listen, move on to step 3. Step 3: Take your concern to the church. If this doesn’t change anything, treat them as any other gentile or tax collector. Before we look more closely at this three-step process for church conflict resolution, I need us to consider the context and realize that what Jesus is implementing is less First, consider the context. These verses come immediately after Jesus has instructed his disciples on humility by centering a child among them. (jamie alford, tabitha borders) Perhaps it’s one of the disciple’s children he calls over to him. Here is one of the least among them – not only in size, or age, but the person in the lowest position in their society – and Jesus says, “if you don’t become like this little one, you won’t be able to understand what the reign of God is supposed to look like. To be like one of these, is what it takes to be great.” And then he went on to say, in no uncertain terms, woe to anyone who dared to lead one of these little ones astray. And to drive home his point, he told them a parable of a lost sheep. And how, of course, of course!, the good shepherd will leave the rest of the flock – all 99 – to go in search of just one little sheep who has lost his way. And when that lost one is found? Oh how the shepherd rejoices! And he tells them, in the same way, God in heaven is like that Shepherd. So I ask you, where has Jesus disciplined their focus? […]