Suffering Wrong - When reconciliation fails
by Erwin W. Lutzer
Many Christians are trapped, sitting behind walls of animosity and deep-seated anger because of the hurts endured from friends, relatives and members of the wider Christian community. The devil, ever seeking an advantage in his war against God's people, has many of us immobilized, waiting for the elusive day when justice will be served, when the wrongs will be made right and we will be vindicated. Until such a time, many have taken themselves out of the race of life to mark time, waiting for a better day.
Jesus was realistic about us as humans. He said, "Woe to the world because of offences! For it must needs be that offences come…" Matthew 18:7. The Greek word for offences is scanalon, from which we get the word scandal. The word originally was used for a small part of a trap to which the bait was attached; thus it is translated "offence" or "stumbling block," or "snare". We can use it to refer to anything that becomes a hindrance to others or causes them to all by the way. Jesus was saying, in effect, that it is inevitable that some people will offend others. And Sattan uses hese offences to keep them bound.
God wants us to be free from resentment even if the injustices done against us are not made right; even if those who have wronged us do not apologize.
In fact, there are some people with whom reconciliation is impossible, either because they refuse to admit they have done wrong, or they expect us to admit to things of which we believe we are innocent. Others desire reconciliation only as a further excuse to control those with whom they are estranged. Even so, God wants us to be free from the resentment and anger that quenches the Holy Spirit's freedom in our lives.
Consider the other side of the coin: for every person wronged, there is someone who has done the wrong. What this means is that many see themselves as victims of injustice, but actually they have also perpetrated injustice or cruelty of various kinds! Fact is we are usually blind to our own faults, magnifying the failure of others and minimizing our own.
Unless we see our own failures, we will never be able to deal biblically with the failures of others. Unless we are willing to be honest about our own sins, we will always distort and over react to the sins of others. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is with us to reveal our own needy hearts.
Let us determine that we will no longer carry offences which have hindered our walk with God. In letting God free us we discover we can free others in order that the name of Christ be honored in our churches and families.
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