Let Us First, Reconcile

 “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”-Matthew 5:23-24

Nowadays, in the motivation or self-help section of a bookstore certainly will be filled with, if not one maybe few, of books that would talk about conflict management, resolving conflict, avoiding conflict, or any related topics in regards to conflict. Rightly so, because conflict has become part of human dynamic in any relationship. One could say that the only way to avoid conflict would be to separate oneself from the community; living in seclusion. But, that itself is quite a fit to achieve since even within ourselves we could have a conflicting natures; the dance of two wills if I must say. So, why are there so many books about resolving conflict when in reality the conflict will continue to exist as long as we live? As usual, good answer comes from good question. We need to ask ourselves, why conflict exist within the fabric of the society or individual?

In this season of Lent, it is important for us to take a step back from our track and try to slow down. Some of the issue such as conflict, if not address well, could become a permanent battle scar in  us Christian, especially to the minister. Do understand that this article mainly from the perspective of a minister, however, it does not mean that this issue is an isolated issue from the rest of the Christian congregation. As once a wise man told me, “if you are not the solution, you are the problem,” so, the next best thing is for us to strive to be the solution. This would be the invitation to all of us who will read this, that we should use this season of Lent not only to draw our attention to our God but also to His children; our siblings in faith.

Through His sermon on the mount (Matthew chapter 5-7), Jesus addresses the congregations of what it means to apply the law into their daily lives. Certainly the congregations present at that time are no stranger to the laws (Ten Commandments, Ceremonial Laws, and the Civil Laws) given and it may not come to a surprise for them to have a rabbi teaching them the laws as he should. But, Jesus has taken a different approach for His exposition of the laws by going extra miles on what it truly means for them as God’s people, and what difference that they should make when they were called holy (set apart) as their God is Holy (Leviticus 19:2; Matthew 5:48). It shows that the called to be God’s people comes with an active responsibility in oppose to passive imposing of identity (just because you are born into it does not mean you are automatically part of it).

Friends, the question here is not how to make the conflict non-existence or to live a life without conflict but rather, at least from the verses quoted, what implication of one’s failure to resolve it would cost. In verse 22, Jesus put it rather crudely that whoever is angry towards his brother will be judged, and whoever curse or degrade his brother will be thrown to the hell fire. This verse itself enough to draw our attention on how such isolated action, hidden in most circumstances, could make us liable to future condemnation. If we were to jump the gun, we could simply say that, Jesus taught us to love one another so being angry at your fellow Christian is wrong (some would go as far as telling us that it is a sin). However, it does not answer the question of what value does a person has that could result to such undesirable outcome?

When we talk about value nowadays, it will always based upon what things that another person could offer to us that could leverage or elevate our status. Such definition strengthen by the fact that the society nowadays strive to be competitive in pursuing success; enough to create a mentality of which a person is a valuable as he or she could offer (how much a person could make me happy or satisfied with myself and my status). When all the values exhausted from a person, conflicts will occur. Almost certainly the conflict will draw the emotion of anger within the parties involved. But, why such a stern warning against such emotion when in the Scripture, such emotion IS not entirely warned against? (Psalm 4:4; cf, Ephesian 4:26)

The anger itself is not a sin that warrant a punishment, however, anger could leads to the sin of murder. We need to understand why it is forbidden for us to take the life of another human. In the Ten Commandments, one of the command firmly warned against murder (Exodus 20:13) and this is understandable because we are all created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) -- in oppose to the theory of evolution (suggesting that we evolve from monkey!). Within that prospect, it is unthinkable for someone to be able to end someone’s life considering the fact that we are made equal. In other words, one could end someone’s life after denying the person of his identity; a human. Following that argument, Jesus suggested that the murder does not begin with the act of homicide but rather begins from the contemplative intent, fueled by anger. A small tinder could start a fire.

By challenging the congregation with such application of the law, Jesus also challenging them with the rest of the application of the laws (including the laws of offering and thanksgiving). It proves that our devotion to God involves our attention of others rather than personal gratification of one’s will. It is easy for us to justify our action by saying that our action does not reflect our devotion but Scripture does proves otherwise. The reason for such a stern warning by Jesus is because there is no way that we could be right with God if we could not be right with the people of God; who also created in the same image of God. It does not make any sense. By denying that exclusive identity of someone else, we inevitably denying ourselves from that exclusivity of relationship with God; hence the hell-fire warning.

So, my beloved friends, we need to remember that the battle that we had on this world is not against one another but against the spiritual forces of the evil that prompts our flesh to continue to sin in spite of our redeemed status (Ephesian 6:12). It is safe to say that, as long as we are here, we will continue to face this challenge of which our self-serving desire being fed consistently to pit us against one another. But, be holy (set apart, different) for our God is holy. Let us take this as an opportunity to rely upon God to draw us closer to Him and trusting that He does not leave us to fight without weapon and armor (Ephesian 6:13-15). Ultimately, the goal is for us to glorify Him as His children, so, let us first, be reconciled with one another.

Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, we give You thanks that through Your Son we could come to Your throne of grace asking for forgiveness and being forgiven. Grant to us the heart that desire peace and love with one another so that we too could reflect Your glory in this world. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

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