Abusing Reconciliation

I hear many calls for reconciliation, to just get along, ala Rodney King. It’s a bit more complicated. Reconciliation requires an admission of guilt and wrong. It requires change. It cannot simply sweep wrongs under the rug as though no harm has been done.

We can become reconciled if I have hurt you, but only as far as I am willing to make amends and change course into the future.

Anything less is a cover for more abuse.

"Be reconciled to your [sibling]," cannot be done without a meeting of minds and intentions, respecting and honoring each other’s human dignity. We are not to embrace continued abuse, anger, and hate. We are to put aside our own anger, hate, and abuse, changing how we act toward others.

I am in control only of myself and my actions. I can only do so much toward reconciliation. It takes accepting responsibility for my own actions. It does not necessitate taking responsibility for the actions of others, nor should it.

Jesus' call to reconciliation does not ignore injustice, abuse, anger, hate, and violence. Jesus continually addressed these and other issues around him regarding abuse and oppression. It's the same with reconciliation with God. It requires a shift toward love and grace on our part. Otherwise, we are rejecting God's overtures of love and grace.

I can't be reconciled to someone I am continuing to harm. I can't be reconciled until I have ended the harm, changed my attitudes, and changed the character of my actions. Only then is reconciliation even a possibility on my part.



— ©Copyright 2024, Christopher B. Harbin 



http://www.sermonsearch.com/contributors/104427/

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