Tag Archives: Reconciliation

Reconciliation

Lent

March 10, 2023

Scripture Reading Romans 5:1-11

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. –Romans: 5:6-11

My spring Bible Study Group is studying Genesis*. In a video accompanying the study, a Jewish scholar discussed the scene in the garden when Adam and Eve, after disobeying the rule that they could not eat from the tree of good and evil, realized they were naked and began to clothe themselves. He said the Jewish view of that story was that upon discovering they were naked, they had to clothe themselves in doing good deeds to reconcile their failure to follow God’s commandments. I like that interpretation. Firstly, it does not deliver the message that there is something bad about the human body. Secondly, from the very start of life, humans were given the opportunities to find reconciliation with God when we have strayed from doing what is right.

Of course, if you read further into the scripture, we see God kicking Adam and Eve out of the garden and yoking them with hard work and painful birth. What do we make of that? Being reconciled with God frees us to restore justice wherever we can. The pain we may have caused others does not go away merely because we recognize our mistakes. I love the story of John Newton, the author of the hymn, Amazing Grace. He was involved in the slave trade when a killer storm struck the slave ship he was sailing and threatened to kill all aboard. He prayed as a last resort for God to save his life and committed himself to give up the slave trade and serve God fully, which he did. He, indeed, did dedicate his life to Christ’s work. Telling of his reconciliation in his hymn alone has opened the door to God’s Grace for millions worldwide.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for making us whole through your gift of grace. Amen

Invitation to Genesis, A Short-Term Disciple Bible Study, Abingdon Press.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Reconciled to and through God

Lent

March 24, 2022

Scripture Reading:

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Reconciliation always requires change whether we are reconciling ourselves to God or one another. We reconcile to God when we commit to coming in line with God’s loving ways of being where God accepts us as we are and as we grow into being all that we can be. Reconciliation with one another involves every day coming into sync with people as we traverse the routines of our lives making the effort to bring our lives into alignment with others. Reconciliation also must occur to correct the fault lines, we may have inherited, but remain a danger to justice for all people. The lack of reconciliation among people is at the heart of most of our problems in this world today and is often the result of being out of sync with God’s justice as we withdraw from being reconciled to God in search of the gods of the world.

The peculiar thing about reconciliation is the issues needing to be reconciled are not the heart of the matter they are merely outcomes. We will never solve those negative outcomes until we address the fundamental problem of failing to love like God at some time in some place recently or historically and change our hearts as well as our behavior.

Prayer: Create in us clean hearts and right spirits as we work for reconciliation. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Settled Anger

Lent

March 13, 2020

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-11

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us. Much more surely then, now that we have been justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. But more than that, we even boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.  –Romans 5:6-11

I must say I have become rather obsessed with checking out the original language of the Bible primarily to broaden my understanding of what the authors are trying to articulate. I do wonder if Greek and Hebrew authorities cringe if they see me lifting definitions of words from Strong’s Concordance without the depth and breadth of study they invest. It does seem to help me though so I will continue to do it and I hope it helps you and that the experts forgive me when I stray.

Wrath–(from orgáō, “to teem, swelling up to constitutionally oppose”) – properly, settled anger (opposition), i.e. rising up from an ongoing (fixed) opposition*.

I did find it a bit amusing to see the words “constitutionally oppose” in the definition of God’s wrath. Many in Oklahoma including me have been working now going on 12 years to get the state to participate in the Medicaid expansion program that provides low-income adults much needed medical care.  I and my cohorts are well acquainted with the idea of “settled anger.”

The former governor would not even consider accepting Medicaid expansion nor would the new governor. Finally, the people had had had enough and an initiative petitioned with overwhelming support was cleared that would allow the citizens of Oklahoma to vote on Medicaid expansion which would amend the state Constitution to require the program. The legislative and executive reaction was swift, trying to pass something that they could continue to control outside a constitutional requirement. No matter how we might misinterpret God’s intentions or choose not to follow God’s guidance, God does have the final Word.

I think I have always envisioned God’s wrath as somehow violent. This definition seems to say that God’s wrath does express anger but more at our stubborn unwillingness to change our behaviors that are clearly in opposition to that which is best for us. God has demonstrated in many ways up to and including sending God’s son to save us that our best interest is his primary concern. We are thus left to suffer the consequences of our own actions when we turn our backs on God’s ways.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we foolishly choose paths that are harmful to us and not conducive to the wholeness of the world you created. Amen.

* https://biblehub.com/greek/3709.htm

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Accepting Responsibility

Kingdom Building

September 18, 2019

Scripture Reading:  Psalm 79:1-9

How long, O Lord? Will you be angry forever?
   Will your jealous wrath burn like fire?
Pour out your anger on the nations
   that do not know you,
and on the kingdoms
   that do not call on your name.
For they have devoured Jacob
   and laid waste his habitation.

Do not remember against us the iniquities of our ancestors;
   let your compassion come speedily to meet us,
   for we are brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation,
   for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and forgive our sins,
   for your name’s sake. –Psalm 79:5-9

I read these two stanzas of a poem and decided they reflect a good grasp of humans. The first of the two expresses some amount of guilt saying will you be angry forever. Of course, I am assuming the person praying is assuming God is angry at them. Perhaps the person is also assuming that God is angry because the person is guilty of turning to other gods. Will your jealous wrath burn like fire? Then it takes a common human turn, get angry at all those other nations that do not even follow you. He or she then prays for God to not blame us for what our ancestors did. We struggle with that even today trying to deal with slavery and the massacre of indigenous peoples among other things.

Finally, like Jacob wrestling with God*, the author of the poem recognizes that we, too, like our ancestors and all other people are sinners. We are responsible for our sins. When we take responsibility for our sins and work to change our behaviors and bring reconciliation and restoration to correct any fallout from our sins, we are doing our part as a member of God’s kingdom of love. Even better when we learn to work together in love bringing about reconciliation and restoration, we further the development of God’s Kingdom in our world.

Prayer:    for the glory of your name;
deliver us, and forgive our sins,
   for your name’s sake. Amen.
*See Genesis 32:22-32

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Reconciling the World

Lent
March 29, 2019

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses, God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. –2 Corinthians 5:18-21

God entrusted the message of reconciliation to us. This expectation could not be clearer. So why are we so divided? Why do we seem to work harder at doing Christ’s job of judging people rather than our assignment of reconciling people?  What does reconciliation include?

The Greek word translated as reconciliation here, katallassó*, has three descriptions. It was originally used for the exchange of coins; properly, to change, exchange (especially of money); hence, of persons, to change from enmity to friendship. It is applied to marriage partners (1 Cor 7:11), but usually in the redemptive sense of a sinner reconciling to the Lord. And, finally, decisively change, as when two parties reconcile when coming (“changing”) to the same position.

The Identity Statement of my faith group. The Christian Church’s (Disciples of Christ), speaks to its ministry of reconciliation: We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one body of Christ we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us**. We as participants in this group commit ourselves to this identity. My guess is that most faith groups have some similar statement. The challenge is how do we make it real?

The definitions above provide some guidance. The first speaks to economic justice getting a fair return on one’s investment which plays out in moving from enmity to friendship. The second definition takes it further than friendship comparing reconciliation to the covenantal relationship of marriage which is used Biblically to illustrate our redemptive state in relationship to a loving, forgiving God. The last step takes the personal relationships of friendship, marriage, and God’s redemption to the community level where people work to find common ground for the Common Good.

We live is a diverse culture where many faith groups exist, and many people live who practice no faith at all. That was true of first century Galilee and Israel. Jesus intersected with them all, loved them all, and set the standard for how we are to live in our diverse world today seeking reconciliation.

Prayer: Make us all reconcile-rs as we let go of the need to judge others and learn to love them. Amen.

*https://biblehub.com/greek/2644.htm
**https://disciples.org/our-identity/

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

The Holy Spirit

Christmas
January 4, 2018

Scripture Reading: Acts 19:1-7
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.

Most of us today have at least heard of the Holy Spirit, but I think the Spirit remains a mystery as a part of our life of faith. I worked with a woman who attributed something being a God-Thing to explain a right result for which there was no explanation. I picked up that language. I welcome the glimpses of the Spirit at work particularly when we have done our very best, and it just was not enough, but good came from it anyway.

We are called to do our very best as part of the Body of Christ in partnership with our advocate and counselor, the Holy Spirit. I am very thankful for the counseling; I need all the help I can get. Having a full-time advocate is a special blessing. We can all get down on ourselves at times. Advocates by definition speak in support of another. We envision our Advocate speaking to God on our behalf when we fall short of the glory of God. Advocates might also plant seeds of support in the hearts of our perceived enemies opening the door for reconciliation.

I recently watched the documentary The Sultan and the Saint on PBS that explores how Saint Francis of Assisi and the Sultan of Egypt risked it all to end the Crusades. I am sure much holy counseling and advocacy took place in that amazing encounter within the hearts and minds of both these uncommon people.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for your constant presence with all your children. Make us each whole and make us all one. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Reconciling Love

Epiphany
February 12, 2017

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:21-37

‘Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, “You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.” But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let your word be “Yes, Yes” or “No, No”; anything more than this comes from the evil one.
–Matthew 5:33-37

I am cynical about most things I read, hear, or watch these days and I do not like it. Why must I cross check even things that seem reasonable? I depend on source-trust, some totally, others with a recognition of their known biases. I appreciate editorials but only when labeled as such. I am even acquainted with propaganda, but the prevalence of fake news or perhaps the sheer availability of it is disturbing.

Source-trust built on experience demands we follower of Christ be very attentive to how we represent our faith. Not only what we say or write must pass the test of eventuality, but we also must live as the Christ we teach lived. At times, I do not recognize Christ in what I perceive to be the hate and in-hospitality of people who claim to be Christian. Is that what they think and feel about me in return? Are my actions and words construed as un-Christlike because they differ so from another’s points of view? How do we find reconciliation in such circumstances?

Finding wholeness in Christ is the only way we can find oneness as his disciples and justice for all God’s children.  Finding wholeness requires us to seek a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Christ, opening our beings to the fullness of his love. The beginning of faith is the acceptance of God’s unconditional redeeming love. It paves the way to oneness and justice.

Prayer: God of love, forgive me when I allow outside sources to shattered my relationship with you. Reconcile me to you enabling my reconciliation with all your children in the oneness of your love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the new Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Reconciliation

Sending Off disciples two by twoLiving in the Spirit
July 2, 2016

Scripture Reading: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20

Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, “The kingdom of God has come near to you.” But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, “Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.” –Luke 10:5-11

Living in diversity dates at least back to the early stories of Genesis where we see Abram dealing with the people of the new land to which he had immigrated. The story of Moses is one of oppression and servitude as the Israelites lived among the Egyptians who once had welcomed them. The battles of the tribes from Jericho to King David are some of the most brutal reading one could ever explore. Following the relative peace of David and Solomon, Israel fails and falls once again into slavery.

Jesus revolutionized the ways God’s people dealt with diversity. He recognized the image of God in all people and encouraged his followers to do the same. The story in our scripture today does not tell us if the ones sent out were only interacting with other Jews or just any people with whom they came into contact. After experiencing the factions and fractures among the Jews, reconciliation within that community of faith may have been a first step. I dare say reconciliation is needed among those of us who call ourselves Christian today, if we are to bring about the oneness for which Jesus longed.

In the final analysis doing the battle to determine who is right and who is wrong does not help. Dialogue that helps us all grow in spirit and in truth does help.

Prayer: Lord gives us ears to listen from our hearts, and mouths to speak from Yours. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Reconciliation

Reconcilation 2Living in the Spirit
May 19, 2016

Scripture Reading: Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. –Romans 5:1-2

It was a loud thundering storm that awakened me; it was dealing with how to handle a divisive issue that left me tossing and turning as the rain first came in torrents and then more gently tapping on the roof. I hate situations where decisions must be made that, in the final analysis, identifies someone as right and someone as wrong. Life events are rarely that black and white. I know how Jacob felt when he wrestled with God. He had to be purged of his vanity as well as his guilt. He had stolen his brother’s birthright, ran away to save his own skin, and met his match in a father-in-law who could be just as conniving as Jacob was. Finally besting that same father-in-law, Jacob was ready to go back and face his brother. The real battle was with God resulting in Jacob’s cleansing before reconciliation could occur. As he moved toward his brother not knowing what he would face, his brother met him with open arms. Perhaps Esau had wrestled with God, too.

The peace of God is necessary in our quest for justice for everyone. The peace of God starts first with our cleansing through the living water Jesus brought us, springing from an eternal source that will never go dry. It is the same water that can wash our souls clean while continually hydrating our wholeness. Certainly some cleansing may feel like we have been caught in a ferocious storm. As the storm abates we can experience the gentleness of God’s love like life restoring rain quenches the burnt earth.

In the early hours of the morning, I did finally drift back to sleep. When I awoke the rain had stop and a bird was singing joyously outside my window. A new day had dawned and the peace of God was with me.

Prayer: Lord, as you prepare us for reconciliation with others forgive us for our omissions and commissions that are a part of torn relationships and grant us wisdom that all involved may move forward in your truth together. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Reconciliation

created in the image of godEastertide
April 16, 2016

Scripture Reading: John 10:22-30

At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. –John 10:22-27

I bristled a bit when I read the email. I had been in a conversation recently with someone regarding reconciliation within the church and throughout the world, a reality that, I do feel, is one of our greatest challenges. The email seemed to me to make the assumption that I was ignorant of oppression and suggested some books to read to get me started on the road to understanding. I am sure I do have a lot to learn about discrimination and other forms of oppression, but I am certainly not a novice. Why did it bother me so? The author barely knew me, has no idea what I know about the subject and was probably good intentioned. My reaction made me think of the movie, Ground Hog Day. I haven’t seen it but I understand it illustrates an endless cycle of waking up each day and discovering it is Ground Hog Day again and again.

I think my response was the result of my thinking that we cannot read or role play or be lectured into reconciliation. True reconciliation results from letting God clean all the filters out of our brains that cause us to react in unfair or untrue ways with the others in our lives. Reconciliation only occurs when we learn to love like Jesus. Jesus learned to love by getting to know someone. “What is it that you want?” “What do you need?” By taking the time and investing the energy into loving the other, he could meet them where they were. They could meet him where he was. They became reconciled and justice and mercy resulted.

I actually have been a bookworm all my life and know reading to be a great way to experience the realities of others in places far from my rather sheltered existence. I really don’t mind doing role play and enjoy good lectures. What causes my discomfort is thinking that my clocking hours in such activities is all I need to do to be reconciled and create a just world.

Prayer: Lord, infuse us with your ability to love like you, clean our filters so that when we encounter others in our lives we first see the image of you in them. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.