Secret Agent (1)

leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way, first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering  Matthew 5:24

Go Your Way – In his commentary on Matthew, Nicoll says, “Reconciliation before sacrifice: morality before religion” and calls this one of the four cardinal principles of worship.  If we are careful in reading this previous verse, we see that the one who is about to offer a gift before the Lord is interrupted by the thought of a brother who holds something against him.  This does not mean that the one at the altar actually committed an offense.  It means that his brother holds a grudge even if it is unjustified.  Jesus says, “Stop!”  It doesn’t matter if I am in the right and my offended brother is wrong.  I must first be reconciled.  Then I can worship in peace.

What would happen in your church this week if we really took this verse seriously?  Remember, it is not about my transgressions.  It is about the other person’s reality.  Someone else holds something against me.   If God reminds you of the other person’s feelings, Jesus says leave the scene of your worship and be reconciled.  Would you see a mass exodus before the offering is taken?  Or are we too “proper” or too socially conscious to follow the leading of the Spirit?

“Go your way.”  Well, not quite.  There is an implication in Greek that we do not see in English.  The verb is hupago.  It does mean, “to go or to go away,” but it implies to do so in secrecy.  It is undercover action.  Go your way, but don’t march out, confronting the other person and demanding agreement.  Go secretly.  Be discreet.  It is morality with feeling for the other’s trauma.  This is a private matter and must be dealt with privately.  You are not there to confront.  You are there because God reminded you of an injured brother or sister and you are there to heal.

So, go your way, with discretion,  Quietly.  Secretly.  And be reconciled. 

The organist is playing softly.  Opening prayers have been given.  The minister stands before the congregation.  And suddenly, out of the blue, you remember that neighbor who thinks you are mean.  You remember that worker who thought you cheated him.  You remember that friend who felt you didn’t’ stick up for her.  It’s time to slip quietly out of the sanctuary.  Be God’s secret agent.  Find that injured person.  Make amends.  Be reconciled.  Then you can worship with an inner peace.