Healing and reconciliation (July, 2005)

Jay takes us back to the roots of Pietism, calling us to healing and reconciliation.

In Genesis 3 the curse begins. In Revelation 22 it ends. ... Paul argued that God's people already live in anticipation of this healing, life, and reconciliation: 'If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!'

But in living in anticipation of this reconciliation, we recognize that it won't be here until God intervenes, when history reaches Revelation 22. Like holiness, we reach for it but know it only comes from God.

If Christians are about nothing else, we are about healing and reconciliation.

Here we have a watershed in the Church. What place does reconciliation take relative to speaking the truth? Jay's exactly right when he says we're "fallible and quarrelsome," and we've got to keep this in mind. In 2 Tim. 2:14, Paul says, "Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen."

At the same time, we're called to stand firmly (1 Cor. 16:13, not forgetting verse 14 : "Do everything in love."). To speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15). To lovingly but boldly confront, as Paul and John did (Galatians 1 & 2, 1 Jn 2:19). I think of Paul's instruction to Timothy...

2 Tim. 2:23-25
Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, ...

When does standing firmly cross over into quarreling? Perhaps when love falls by the wayside. When does reconciliation cross over into pleasing people instead of God (Gal. 1:10)? Perhaps when truth falls by the wayside. How do we get it right? How do we walk that fine line? May God have mercy on us and give us grace.

Note, too, that when Paul talks about his ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18-20), he's talking about us being reconciled to God, not necessarily one another. (Don't read too much or too little into that.)

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• alienate: 1. To cause to become unfriendly or hostile; estrange. 2. To cause to become withdrawn or unresponsive; isolate or dissociate emotionally. ...