Hi ~

Last week I interviewed with Lauren Rose of Called to Peace Ministries. She asked me several questions about the Scriptures that abuse survivors had asked her, ways that Scriptures needed to be untwisted.

You can see that interview here.

Of all the questions she had on her list, I had already written about all of them except one. And I'm writing about that one right now, right here!

It's the question of Matthew 5:23-24.

“Therefore, if you [Person A] are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother (or sister) [Person B] has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother (or sister); then come and offer your gift."

Abuse survivors have wondered if God wouldn't receive their gifts, their offerings, if they haven't reconciled with their abusers.

So, just a reminder.

Person A is trying to offer a gift to the Lord. Person B has something against him. Person B is the one who was harmed. Person A is the one who did the harming.

The one who did the harming is the one who is supposed to go do the reconciling.

And how does reconciling happen? Through genuine metanoia (see book #4 for that!), through an actual change of life. Then forgiveness for the one who has changed, as laid out in Rhoda Hostetler's guest article about that topic.

I'm reminded of when the Lord told the Israelites through at least 3 of His prophets. Isaiah said (in Isaiah 1:11-15),

"What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices?" says the Lord.

"I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams

and the fat of well-fed beasts;

I do not delight in the blood of bulls or of lambs or of goats.

When you come to appear before me,

who has required of you this trampling of my courts?

Bring no more vain offerings;

incense is an abomination to me. . . .

When you spread out your hands,

I will hide my eyes from you;

even though you make many prayers,

I will not listen;

your hands are full of blood.

Jeremiah reported the Lord as saying (in Jeremiah 6:20) to the stiff-necked, stubborn Israelites who refused to turn from their wicked ways,

"What use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba,

or sweet cane from a distant land?

Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,

nor your sacrifices pleasing to me."

The prophet Amos spoke the words of the Lord to the same purpose (in Amos 5:21–23),

“I hate, I despise your feasts,

and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,

I will not look upon them.

Take away from me the noise of your songs;

to the melody of your harps I will not listen."

It's clear that the one whose sacrifice will not be accepted by the Lord is the one who will not turn from his wicked ways.

With you for reading Scripture clearly and truly,

Rebecca

Untwisting Scriptures at heresthejoy.com

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