Confrontation = Reconciliation

"This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God."
Matt 5:23-24 THE MESSAGE BIBLE

"If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the fault. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back." Matt 18:15 NLT

I was sharing with my leadership team on the principles of Mt. 18 in regards to handling conflict that occurs between members of the Body of Christ. Jesus was very direct in how He taught it should be handled. But, we fail to do it His way. We don't go to the person as He said but go to others or don't go at all.

What is bad is that the one nursing the grudge is the one hurt by it. Jesus speaks of it affecting our worship and relationship with God. Plus the conflict causes the Holy Spirit to withdraw His peace from us and then we find ourselves subject to the continuous attacks of the enemy.

Jesus stressed in the context of the verses of Mt. 18 that if we bind/loose the conflict on earth it is bound/loosed in heaven. He is talking about the peace and reconciliation that is restored to the individuals and ultimately His Church.

God might get more done in us and through us if we followed the way of Jesus' teaching. After all isn't that what following Him is all about?

Listen to this advice:
"I've had a few arguments with people but I never carry a grudge. You know why? While you're carrying a grudge, they're out dancing." ~ Buddy Hackett