Our environment is frequently one of pointing fingers, of endless blame and taking sides. It seems there is always something to argue about or someone to criticize. It can simply get exhausting. There are, at times, issues that need rectifying in the world—but how ought one respond? It can be difficult to discern the role of the church when every opinion is a battleground.
With all the hurt, anger, and suffering around us, there is a calling God gave each one of us to fulfill—the ministry of reconciliation.
Paul told the church that “God. . .through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18). We are new creations in Christ; therefore, we are called, not to count the trespasses of others against them, but to share “the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19).
What does reconciliation look like? These lyrics from Brandon Heath’s 2009 song “Follow You” illustrate reconciliation: well:
You live among the least of these
Follow You, Brandon Heath
The weary and the weak
And it would be a tragedy
For me to turn away
Follow You into the homes of the broken
Follow You into the world
Meet the needs for the poor and the needy, God
Follow you into the world
Reconciliation, then, is a conscious effort to offer a hand instead of pointing a finger—to embrace rather than impair.
These lyrics also exemplify the reality of following Christ. Jesus said the sheep follow him for they know his voice and they will not follow a stranger (John 10:4-5). Therefore, if we are to know if we are following Him, we should be present where Jesus was present—where Jesus reconciled.
Where did Jesus go? He met with the minorities, the marginalized, the despised, and the impoverished. He recognized people’s needs and met them. Into their homes he went, places the self-righteous thought too lowly for them.
Reconciliation is a conscious effort to offer a hand instead of pointing a finger—to embrace rather than impair.
Brooke Tracy
It is easy to agree with the concept, but is that how we act? Are we found meeting the needs of the hurting? Are we aware of our own blessings and the hardships of others? Do we mingle amongst the homeless and the underserved in our communities?
I realize these are difficult, evaluative questions, but Jesus never called us to be comfortable. He called us to the ministry of reconciliation. People will never know that we are His disciples if we do not have love for one another (John 13:35).
But what if others are wrong? Again, it is easy to point a finger or speak a harsh word. Yet Galatians tells us that “if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1). Watch yourself, remain pure, but always seek reconciliation and restoration with gentleness. It is the calling of the spiritual.
Lastly, I recognize this is challenging. As you implement the humbling work of reconciliation, remember not to “grow weary of doing good” (Galatians 6:9). Do good to everyone and do not give up, for you will reap the fruits of eternal life (Galatians 6:8, 10). Reconciling others to Christ has an eternal impact. There is no greater fulfillment than that.
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