Radical Reconciliation Before Worship

Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?  1 Corinthians 6:7b

Joni Eareckson Tada, who has spent more than fifty years in a wheelchair after a diving accident, often reminds her listeners, “God allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves.” While she refers to her own confinement in a quadriplegic’s body as something God hates, she also hearkens back to God’s Son and His torturous death before the resurrection brought life to all who believe. This death before life, humility before exaltation, weeping before joy, and suffering before abundance unlocks the mystery of God at work in human lives. He is at work in the darkest and most evil places. Corrie Ten Boom and her sister attested to that throughout their imprisonment to the Nazis in Ravensbrück.

Humans commit evil deeds, hating and hurting one another. There is no greater evidence of this than the life and death of Jesus. Jesus never sinned against one person. He healed, He loved, He touched, He fed, and then He forgave His murderers before they offered one plea for repentance. Jesus expects His followers to do likewise.

Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. ¹⁹ For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. ²⁰ For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. ²¹ For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: ²² Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: ²³ Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: ²⁴ Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 1 Peter 2:18-24

In Matthew 5:23, Jesus ties worship to reconciliation. The former must be done before an offering is made to God.

 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; ²⁴ Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:23-24

Matthew 18:15-35 outlines the steps toward reconciliation with another believer.

v. 15—“go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone..”

v. 16 –“take with thee one or two witnesses…”

v. 17—“tell it to the church..”

v. 21—forgive seventy times seven

v. 35—“from your hearts forgive…”

What about a brother who refuses to repent? Forgiveness is not for his good but for the wronged party. Unforgiveness will only grow deep roots of bitterness, anger, and vengeance. It poisons the one who drinks it, not the person to whom it is directed.

Paul directly addressed the Corinthians who struggled with unforgiveness and strife in the church. In 1 Corinthians 6:7, he asks why they are unwilling to be defrauded and suffer loss. Why, indeed? It is a question still echoing through modern churches today. Yes, people have an expectation of righteousness from other believers, but sin still exists even in those who call themselves Christians. Here are a few of the reasons believers can choose to forgive.

1. God will mete out proper judgment.

The beginning of Matthew 18 reveals that those who offend (or hurt) others will suffer God’s justice. Romans 3:5 reminds the believer to rest in God’s vengeance, rather than trying to mete it out for Him. 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 defines how good and bad will be unveiled at the Judgment Seat of Christ. 2 Peter 3:7 warns that God will righteously judge the ungodly.

2. God delights in mercy.

This is why God allows what He hates to accomplish what He loves. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9.) He delights in mercy according to Micah 7:18-19, and He is kind to the unthankful and the evil, according to Luke 6:35. It is because of His great mercy that any of us are saved. We cannot afford to withhold mercy from fellow sinners.

3. God’s righteousness can never be accomplished by man’s wrath. James 1:20

No matter how righteous we believe our anger to be, God spends at least twelve different verses warning men about letting anger and wrath rule their lives.

Here is that list to get you started, but there are many more beyond these few.

Psalm 37:8

Proverbs 14:29; 15:1; 21:24; 30:33

Eph. 2:3; 4:26; 4:31

Col. 3:8

1 Thess. 5:9

1 Tim.2:8

James 1:19-20

What if God’s people became known for their love, mercy, kindness, and forgiveness more than their righteous anger? What if we accepted what God hates: injustice, suffering, sinfulness, and evil done against us to allow Him to accomplish what He loves: mercy, forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration. What if we truly prayed for our enemies? This would be real worship.

I am praying for you today, my friends. May the light of His glorious Gospel shine brightly through every opportunity.

Erica B.