I knew this guy who loved to sing all out in worship services. Hands raised, dancing, kneeling. He said, “It’s all or nothing during worship, baby.”
But I also knew this fellow had some tough personal relationships with people that he did not deal with. I thought, “Dude, you can’t have it both ways. You can’t worship all out and then remain so doggone inflexible toward a brother in Christ who really annoys you.”
That makes me think of what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: “
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” — Matthew 5:23-24
And it makes me wonder, “What will any of us do when God disrupts our sacred moments of worship to open our eyes to a problem between us and a fellow sister or brother?” Do we just hope that thought goes away? Do we pretend that nudge isn’t from the Spirit living within us? Do we just close our eyes tighter and raise our hands in worship higher?
What I hear Jesus saying is, “Listen son, don’t be avoiding the real issue with another brother by sugar-coating this conflict by wildly worshiping me. Who are you trying to impress — me? I love it when you worship me, but I am not impressed when you avoid the chance for true reconciliation between you and another precious son of mine.”
So, do you need to leave this worship service and go talk to someone, even (yes, even!) if you perhaps didn’t start the conflict and are not the one most at fault? Or will you make your peace by avoiding or denying the conflict and just spend more time worshiping Him with all your might?
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