Reconciliation ~ Part 1

Reconciliation: Where we, as followers of Jesus, bring healing to all who Papa God puts in our path and, where we can and as much as it lay within our power to do so, bring healing, unity and reconciliation to those (both within and outside the church) who have been wounded, giving diligent care to those who have been wounded by the past errors of the church.

“And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; whereas God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and putting the word of reconciliation in us. Then we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as God exhorting through us, we beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

(2 Corinthians 5:18-21 MKJV)

Reconciliation; Jesus being the example, the model manifestation of God’s ultimate act of reconciliation.

And, if we are willing to yield our hearts to His will . . . our guide on the Journey, of which reconciliation is a major part. Be it grand in scale or small is not important. It is what we are called to bring that counts.

You may have noticed I have changed the wording a bit from “ . . . have been wounded by the past errors of the church.” to “ . . .who have been wounded, giving diligent care to those who have been wounded by the past errors of the church.” This was done to clarify the fact that reconciliation takes on different aspects depending on the circumstances.

But what shapes might reconciliation take? What is our part in it all?

Are there different levels involved? Do past wrongs done by those who represent Jesus really matter? These are but a few of the questions that I will attempt to address. And by no means is my revelation in this area complete and final. Like I said, it is a journey.

Before Reconciliation, Repentance! . . . ~ Selah ~

An imperative first step. Not only must there be recognition of the injustice done but there must also be a turning away from the former mind set/point of view/bias and a turning towards that which is righteous, just and true. It is always easy to see the wrong done by someone else (or another culture) than it is to see within oneself. The dark nature of ourselves sees it as a weakness to admit our failings.

But indeed it is not a weakness but a door to strength and healing to do so.

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” must then also include inviting Holy Spirit to bring God’s light into old paradigms. Cultural mind-sets must give way to God’s Kingdom culture. We must even let our paradigms of what “God’s Kingdom Culture” be challenged for at one time “Manifest Destiny” and the Templar saying of “God Wills it” were touted (in their own way) as being “of His Kingdom”. The ripples from the carnage, destruction and slavery that have resulted from those twisted views still carry on. That is as it is. But it does not mean that it has to stay that way.

Jesus has cleared the path and has shown the way. He invites us to follow.

How can we possibly say that reconciliation is not important?

Journey 2009

Happy New Year . . .???
For some yes. For others no. Praying for Shalom is always good . . .

I will be wrapping-up "The 4 R's" with Reconcilliation later this month. I have started on it but I want to give it due, in-depth thought as the subject touches many aspects of the Journey. Some of those aspects will make some uncomfortable. All of the apsects bring their own challenges.

Forgetting what lay behind (but not the lessons learned or wisdom gained), I press on . . .

For 2009:

Something that resonates with me is what my friend Martin Scott brought to a small group of us about 2 years ago. And it is something I belive very revelant for this time:


Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Caesar Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, and Annas and Caiaphas high priests, the word of God came to John, the son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. John went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "He is a voice calling out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way for the Lord! Make his paths straight! Every valley will be filled, and every mountain and hill will be leveled. The crooked ways will be made straight, and the rough roads will be made smooth. Everyone will see the salvation that God has provided.'"
(Luk 3:1-6)

Things may seem to be out of control. Doubt and uncertainty around every corner. The shadow of fear seems to obscure all that is light and casts a cold, deathly pall of gloom upon everything.
Most who are in power either flaunt their corruptness or show little concern for the oppressed.
"Religious" leaders show more concern for keeping the 'status quo'; maintaining their "castles" (and keeping the "peasants" in their place) rather than developing a Kingdom vision/mission and equipping (and freeing) the body of believers.

BUT . . . All of the above is not the last word. For The Word has come. To those in the wilderness (the secret places, the hidden places. Places that are scorned, disdained or deemed "not important" by those of the world). To those who are seeking and listening, they know that the things happening are not the final "say so". No matter how crooked the path may seem, no matter how deep the valley or how high the mountain . . . The Word is in control and there is nothing impossible for The Word. "The Word" has a name . . . Emmanuel . . . Yeshua . . . Jesus.
His word shook all that could be shaken and broke all that could be broken.
The shaking and the breaking continues for 2009 . . . but do not fear. Lo, raise up your heads and look high. Your redemption draws nigh.