The Possibility of Reconciliation

The present political process makes us aware of the differences that exist in our country today. The candidates who seek to be elected to public office are swift to tell the potential voters that there are several key differences between their opponents and themselves. Each candidate pledges to bring the city, state, or country, depending on the office being sought, together and bring about needed changes in policies. These new policies will benefit all the citizens that they seek to serve. Each candidate is able to convince some of the voters that he or she is the most qualified person to bring unity to the citizens. This is because their platform will be more effective than the platform of the other candidates. Interestingly, the people never completely agree about who is the best person for the job, and there is never one hundred percent reconciliation between the citizens. Of course, my goal here is not to make a statement about my personal political views. Rather, I want to use this situation to raise questions for the churches that bear the name of Christ. Is reconciliation a possibility among human beings; whether between individuals or between groups? Why is there a need for reconciliation among the various groups of people in our cities, states, country; and further among countries in the world? In America there are many who are deeply concerned about social justice. A very significant problem is that the various groups do not agree on what social justice looks like. Many African Americans believe that there are social justice issues such as imprisonment, health care, education, and employment. They look to the government to establish laws that will bring about social justice in our country. On the other hand, many whites do not think that these problems exist. Furthermore, they believe that it is the lack of making sound decisions by those who suffer from these so called injustices. Can there be social justice without righteousness on the part of both parties? The eighth century prophets, Amos, etc. suggest to us that the injustices among people first begins with the people living unrighteous before God. The solution is that the people involved must first get right with God. I believe that reconciliation is possible, and I believe that God promises that there will be reconciliation. Before we begin our discussion, let me give a working definition of “reconciliation.” The various definitions found in secular dictionaries collectively refer to reconciliation as the bringing together of two parties that have different views, goals, and ways of doing things. Reconciliation means that differences are settled and the two live together in harmony. On the other hand, the New Testament writers saw reconciliation as something that takes place primarily between God and man. In his letter to the church at Corinth Paul states that God makes reconciliation possible and Christ has given His church the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:17-19). Paul states that we are the enemies of God, separated and alienated from God because of sin. Through the death of Jesus Christ God through His grace offers reconciliation to those who will accept His terms (Rom. 5:10-11). The terms are simple. One must believe the gospel, change their attitude and repent of sin, and accept the offer of God’s propitiation for sin in Jesus Christ. At this point I want to establish that reconciliation with God is necessary for reconciliation among people. We can understand why there is a need for reconciliation among individuals and groups in the world when we return to the beginning of human relationships between human beings and God and their relationships with each other as recorded in the book of Genesis. Before we begin let us be clear. The book of Genesis and indeed the whole Bible is not a book of science. Rather these are declarations of faith communities written by men to give reasons for their faith in God (John 20:30-31). The emphasis is on telling what God has done, is doing and will do as God interacts with the world that He created and particularly with the people that He created to live in harmony and fellowship with Himself and each other. In Genesis 1:26-28 the writer tells us that God created human beings, both male and female and gave them special responsibility to take care of all that He had created. In chapter 2 the writer tells us that God created the man and the woman to live in perfect union with each other as they followed His commands. Initially, they were one flesh and God intended that there be no separation between God and people as well as no separation between people. (Gen. 2:24). However, in chapter 3 the serpent came among the man and the woman. The serpent convinced the woman by deception that nothing bad would happen to her if she disobeyed God and ate the fruit from the forbidden tree. After the woman and her husband ate from the tree they discovered that their special relationship with God was now dead. God drove them from the Garden and they could not reenter on their own accord. They must wait for the seed of the woman (Christ) to bruise the head of the serpent before they can be fully reconciled to God (3:15). Sin causes the man and the woman to lose harmony with one another and this division becomes a part of the human experience. God drives the man and his wife from the garden, and they struggle to live on the earth. Eve gives birth to two sons, Cain and Abel. Cain kills his brother Abel (4:8) and a descendant of Cain, Lamech take two wives, breaking God’s intent for a union between one man and one woman (4:19). Sin continues in the earth and in time corruption is the norm for all people (Gen. 6:3) and corruption continues to this day. Earlier we asked why there is a need for reconciliation between people both individually and among various groups. The simple answer is that sin brings about separation and division. The same sin that separates us from God separates us from each other. When the man and woman sinned in the garden God removed His Spirit. Thus the nature of people was changed. Instead of living by the Spirit humankind begin to live by the flesh. Instead of living in obedience to God’s commands they live in disobedience to His commands. Humankind began to establish their way of life (Gen. 11:1-4). In Galatians Paul points out that there is an essential difference between the one who lives after the flesh and the ones who are led by the Spirit (5:17). Paul gives us a list of deeds of the flesh (vv. 19-21). An analysis of these deeds and we see that these deeds are things that corrupt a person, and they are the cause of division among those who live according to the flesh. On the other hand those who are led by the Spirit receive the fruit of the Spirit (5:22-23. An analysis of the fruit of the Spirit leads us to the conclusion that those who have been reconciled to God are able to be reconciled to others who have reconciled. This is what the angels say to the shepherds when they announced the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. They said, ‘“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased’” (Luke 2:14, NASB). Did you get that? Peace is possible among men that God is pleased with. Thus, peace is made possible by God alone and that to those that God has extended the grace of reconciliation. According to Paul, it is God who reconciles groups hostile towards one another. Reconciliation between Jews and Gentiles is made possible because of the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross (Eph. 2:1-22). Throughout human history there has been hostility between various groups in the world. There has been thousands of peace treaties agreed to by hostile groups. Yet, none of these agreements have brought lasting peace. As seen in Galatians 5:19-21 the nature of the flesh is such that men eventually break their peace agreements. The possibility for reconciliation begins with people first being reconciled to God because their hostility towards God is the catalyst for their hostility toward other people. God is able to bring about reconciliation to those who repent of sin, be regenerated by His Spirit, and live under His Lordship. Finally, God promise is that Jesus will return to the earth and set up His kingdom. No sin will be in His kingdom. His righteous kingdom will not suffer the effects of the present corrupt world.