First
Read Matthew 5:23-24.
In Zagreb, Croatia is a unique museum. There is only one other like it in the world, and it shares a cooperative arrangement with the original one in Croatia. It is called the Museum of Broken Relationships, and it exists to house, celebrate and memorialize items that represent the brokenness of individual romantic relationships. It began when two people ended their four-year relationship and didn't know what to do with their shared possessions. Eventually, they decided create a privately-owned museum for their items, and since that moment, others have donated their own items to this couple's collection. Last summer, an extension museum opened in Los Angeles—right next to the theater which hosts the Oscars. Seems appropriate.
While it sounds like a crazy idea for a museum, the idea has proven popular, in part I think because we all recognize that brokenness is sometimes the only guaranteed part of our lives. Jesus knew that, and he also knew what brokenness can do to people. That's why he says we should deal with such brokenness first.
We read past these two short pithy verses too quickly sometimes that we don't take time to consider the implications. As a pastor, it's hard for me to even admit what Jesus is saying here, but what he's saying is also very profound: there are some things that are more important than going through the ritual of worship. Let me put it another way: sometimes our worship needs to happen first outside the church walls.
Jesus says this: consider a person who is giving an offering. We think of passing the plate, but in Jesus' day, the image that he's referring to was giving up a lamb or a goat or some sort of sacrifice at the Temple. So that person has stood in line all day, waited for their turn to give their offering to atone for their family's sin, and just as it becomes their turn, just as they approach the altar, God reminds them of something. Remember that person you said nasty things to today? Remember the argument you had with your spouse this morning? Remember how you yelled at your child for something silly just because you were tired?
Remember that broken relationship?
Jesus says we can't be in true and full fellowship with God if we have broken relationships that we could make right. So his advice to such a person? Leave your gift and go make things right. Or at least attempt to make things right. Paul, I think, gives us some additional guidance here when he reminds the Romans they are to live at peace with everyone "as far as it depends on you" (Romans 12:18). In other words, we're only responsible for our part. We can't force the other person to reconcile and we can't change their mind. But if there is error on our part, if there is hurt we caused, we're responsible for making it right.
Because there are some things we should do first, some things that are more important than offering our gift. And Jesus doesn't say that because the gift is unimportant. Jesus says that because such brokenness will inevitably get in the way of our worship. It will impede our relationship with God. It will prevent us from receiving all God has for us.
So deal with your brokenness—not by opening a museum, but by seeking reconciliation as far as it depends on you. Then return to worship, knowing that God has blessings untold ready to give you.
In Zagreb, Croatia is a unique museum. There is only one other like it in the world, and it shares a cooperative arrangement with the original one in Croatia. It is called the Museum of Broken Relationships, and it exists to house, celebrate and memorialize items that represent the brokenness of individual romantic relationships. It began when two people ended their four-year relationship and didn't know what to do with their shared possessions. Eventually, they decided create a privately-owned museum for their items, and since that moment, others have donated their own items to this couple's collection. Last summer, an extension museum opened in Los Angeles—right next to the theater which hosts the Oscars. Seems appropriate.
While it sounds like a crazy idea for a museum, the idea has proven popular, in part I think because we all recognize that brokenness is sometimes the only guaranteed part of our lives. Jesus knew that, and he also knew what brokenness can do to people. That's why he says we should deal with such brokenness first.
We read past these two short pithy verses too quickly sometimes that we don't take time to consider the implications. As a pastor, it's hard for me to even admit what Jesus is saying here, but what he's saying is also very profound: there are some things that are more important than going through the ritual of worship. Let me put it another way: sometimes our worship needs to happen first outside the church walls.
Jesus says this: consider a person who is giving an offering. We think of passing the plate, but in Jesus' day, the image that he's referring to was giving up a lamb or a goat or some sort of sacrifice at the Temple. So that person has stood in line all day, waited for their turn to give their offering to atone for their family's sin, and just as it becomes their turn, just as they approach the altar, God reminds them of something. Remember that person you said nasty things to today? Remember the argument you had with your spouse this morning? Remember how you yelled at your child for something silly just because you were tired?
Remember that broken relationship?
Jesus says we can't be in true and full fellowship with God if we have broken relationships that we could make right. So his advice to such a person? Leave your gift and go make things right. Or at least attempt to make things right. Paul, I think, gives us some additional guidance here when he reminds the Romans they are to live at peace with everyone "as far as it depends on you" (Romans 12:18). In other words, we're only responsible for our part. We can't force the other person to reconcile and we can't change their mind. But if there is error on our part, if there is hurt we caused, we're responsible for making it right.
Because there are some things we should do first, some things that are more important than offering our gift. And Jesus doesn't say that because the gift is unimportant. Jesus says that because such brokenness will inevitably get in the way of our worship. It will impede our relationship with God. It will prevent us from receiving all God has for us.
So deal with your brokenness—not by opening a museum, but by seeking reconciliation as far as it depends on you. Then return to worship, knowing that God has blessings untold ready to give you.
That sounds like a horrible museum. It would be so nice if people really wanted to face what they have done wrong or how they'd been hurtful and apologize. However, in my experiences, the blame is just thrown on the other person and they are made to feel worse. More and more, people seem to do anything in their power to not accept blame on their part.
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