I can say it more easily, now that I’m retired. Some church people seem to relish fighting and feuding with each other. Church conflict is hardly unique to our time. Early Christians had to learn to live with tension in the community also. Given hostility from the surrounding Roman Empire toward this upstart religion, Christians needed to find ways to get along or the whole mission would go up in smoke.
A fourth-century document, Didascalia Apostolorum (Teaching of the Apostles), took Jesus’ admonition about reconciliation seriously, “If you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that someone has something against you, leave your gift at the altar, go to that person and be reconciled, then come and offer your gift” (Mt. 5.23-24). The early church bishop Cyprian called these verses “Jesus’ Law of Prayer.” The Didascalia outlined a defined process for reconciliation. When the early church met for worship, the oversight deacon would routinely ask the assembly, “Is there anyone who maintains anger with his neighbor?” Since the community was small and people knew each other well, it was obvious which believers were quarreling with each other. Disputing members would then approach the presiding bishop to mediate the dispute. If the conflict couldn’t be resolved, the aggrieved parties met with the bishop the following Tuesday so harmony could be restored.
The early church took Jesus’ counsel about unity to heart. Their very lives and the church’s mission depended on it. Maybe we ought to restore this ancient practice to mediate our disputes. Today’s prayer from the Celtic tradition mirrors this teaching and asks God to give us a reconciling spirit: