RECONCILIATION WITHIN THE BODY OF CHRIST

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother and sister has something against you, leave your gift in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift." [Matthew 5:23-24]

Haven't we all had a feeling of not belonging?

Maybe at school you were the last to be picked for the netball or football team. Or you weren't invited to the "popular must go to" party. Or you were excluded from a lunch get together with friends. Maybe you feel as if you don't even belong in your own family!

Whatever our situation, there is good news!

In Ezekiel 36:28 God says:

"....you will be my people, and I will be your God."

God has invited us to belong to Him. Not just to a team, a club or even a group of friends, but to Himself; and when we belong to God we also belong to others who belong to God. In other words the Church is a gathering of people that belong to God.

We are all different. We don't have to think the same, act the same, dress the same or "fit in" to be together. Our commonality is much deeper than that: we are united by the blood of Jesus that has cleansed us from our sins and presented us to God as holy and righteous.

If we have faith, we belong, because God says we belong!

But sadly some people choose not to be part of a local church for different reasons. The most common reason is because they have been hurt badly by the church community.

People are messy and when you put a bunch of us together it gets messier!

If we are being honest, none of us always do the things we say we should all the time. We all make mistakes. We have all said one thing and done another! The Christian life is meant to be lived in fellowship with other believers so the fact that we are all sinners means we will hurt and wrong each other, which can lead to conflict. The church is not for perfect people but for broken people in need of a Saviour.

Many of us have experienced first-hand the hurts that can be caused within the Church community. Things can be said in anger; feelings are hurt which causes unrest and conflict.

Can two people sit in the same church… sing the same worship songs… lift the same hands… hear the same sermon… and yet not speak to one another?

Yes, it can and does happen.

But is it okay?

The Church is not just a building we attend, it is the Body of Christ. And when two members of one body refuse to speak, something in the body aches. Worship may still sound beautiful but heaven hears the silence between hearts.

In 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, we are reminded that we are one body with many parts. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” And yet sometimes pride whispers, “I don’t need them.” Hurt says, “Let them make the first move.” Offense says, “I’m justified.”

But love… love kneels.

In Matthew 5:23–24, Jesus says that if you bring your gift to the altar and remember your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift and go be reconciled first. That means reconciliation matters to God. He would rather pause your worship than let bitterness sit quietly in His house. You can be in the same pew and still be miles apart in spirit. Sometimes we can disguise avoidance as “peace.” But peace without reconciliation is just silent distance.

In Ephesians 4:31–32, we are told to get rid of bitterness, rage, and anger, and to be kind and compassionate, forgiving one another just as Christ forgave us. Forgiveness is not weakness, it is Christlikeness.

Something beautiful happens, when we choose to forgive: we show the world what the grace and love of God has done in our lives, and we show that we have been truly forgiven. When we look at the cross we should lose every excuse not to forgive others.

The cross was not silent. Jesus did not look at us in our sin and say, “I will stay distant.” He moved toward us.

He spoke.

He bled.

He reconciled.

So is it okay to not talk?

Sometimes space is needed for wisdom.

Sometimes silence is necessary for healing.

But permanent coldness in the same spiritual home?

That grieves the heart of God.

Because church was never meant to be a place where we master the art of avoiding each other. It was meant to be a place where we learn the art of loving like Christ.

We will never find a church in which we agree with every doctrinal view and practice. God has not called us to find the perfect church but to commit to a faithful church. People outside of the church are quick to criticise and judge, therefore, we must protect the unity of the church. To do that we need to have much patience with each other and bear with each other in our disagreements. The enemy doesn't need big issues to divide a church - just small ones that are left to fester.

When the world sees that we can disagree strongly and yet still love each other as Christ loves us, they will see the greatness of Christ.

Maybe the holiest worship on Sunday is not the loudest song… Maybe it is the quiet courage to say, “Can we talk?”

God bless