Be reconciled
The idea of reconciliation is quite pervasive in the teachings
of Christ. How else could it be for one in whom God was reconciling the world to
Himself (2Co 5:19)? This is nowhere more evident than in that section of his
teachings known popularly as the Sermon on the Mount. Here, in rapid succession,
the Divine Master places his blessing upon the meek, the merciful, the pure in
heart, and the peacemakers -- the reconcilers! The "Beatitudes" are followed by
the warning of Mat 5:20: "For I tell you that unless your righteousness
surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly
not enter the kingdom of heaven." Jesus could not have meant that his listeners
should follow a more abundant "righteousness" than that of the Pharisees: that
would have been well-nigh impossible at any rate. He must have meant a
"righteousness" of a different sort -- leaving behind the painstaking legal
hair-splittings of washing and purifying; the wearisome fretting about
contamination and separateness in a ceremonial sense.
The righteousness that Jesus advocates is an earnest, loving
consideration for one's brother, the principle rather than the appearance of
righteousness, a reaching forward and not a pulling back: "Everyone who is angry
with his brother shall be liable to judgment" (Mat 5:22, RSV).
We can well imagine the skeptic's words: 'Yes, this is all
well and good; but what does it have to do with 'fellowship'?" The answer is
found in the next two verses (Mat 5:23,24). The "gifts" we offer to God at this
time, which Christ must have had in mind, are prayers and praises (Psa 141:2;
Hos 14:2). The "altar" to which we now approach is Christ himself, in heaven at
the right hand of the Father, where he acts as priest and mediator also (Heb
13:10; 1Jo 2:1). The lesson is obvious, and has -- it may now be seen -- a
strong bearing upon our "fellowship": Even if your "lamb" or "gift" (ie your
personal, individual worship and service) is "without blemish", you must still
be reconciled to your brother before God will be pleased to accept it! Only when
reconciliation is sought, and peace is made, and brethren dwell together in
unity (Psa 133:1) -- only then is the invitation extended: "Come and offer thy
gift."
The Proverbs tell us there are seven abominable things, which
God hates. The seventh (the worst?) of these is "he that soweth discord among
brethren" (Pro 6:19). If this is so, then the teaching by contrast would be
this: he whom God loves above all else, who is worthy of the seventh (the
greatest?) blessing, is the peacemaker and the reconciler -- ''he who sows
accord among brethren".
"The command of Christ is, 'BE RECONCILED.' Jesus does not discuss where the
fault may lie. That is unimportant. The important part is -- Seek
reconciliation, continually, always. Not just go through the motions once or
twice, like a technical Pharisee. He says -- BE reconciled; keep at it; never
give up the effort. IF THESE COMMANDS WERE OBEYED, THERE COULD BE NO ECCLESIAL
PROBLEMS" (GVG, Berean 57:47).
"Brethren in Christ must PRACTICE reconciliation, atonement, and unity, not
seeking to expose sins but to recover the sinner. They have no authority from
Christ to mark up the failings of others and to make known from the housetops
their deviations and sins... We should be no wedge-drivers but reconcilers, and
not fall into the error of rejoicing more over the one sheep that is lost than
over the one that is found, over withdrawing fellowship rather than restoring
it" (CMPA, "Fellowship -- Its Spirit and Practice", The Christadelphian
109:11).
