Seeing our world today torn apart by divisiveness within all levels of society- politically, socially, and religiously- makes it easy for a person to become discouraged. Although this discord is very distressing indeed, yet we should not expect anything different from the unregenerate world, because sin at its very core is the destruction of community.
There is a greater tragedy however, and that is when the professed disciples of Jesus Christ are at continual odds with each other. This is most disheartening, since the theme of the Gospel message of Salvation through Jesus Christ is one of reconciliation, firstly, reconciliation between God and humanity, and secondly, between fellow humans. Our relationships suffer because sin obstructs fellowship with both the divine and human realm.
Now what we sometimes understand as reconciliation falls short of the New Testament Reconciliation, which goes much deeper than any human idea can fully convey. Biblical Reconciliation is not merely the absence of conflict so that we are able to get along or put up with each other. No, rather it is the complete annihilation of animosity, thus enabling us to become close friends again! Indeed, it is re-instating us into an intimacy of fellowship with one another that is more profound than we had before the relational rift.
This type of reconciliation is oftentimes very painful, because it demands that we lay everything out on the table in front of our brother or sister: all our grievances, grudges, resentments, and whatever else we find offensive in them. But then, this reconciliation also demands that we expose ourselves to whatever grievances they may have against us. We must be sincerely honest with one another if we want true healing for our strained and broken relationships. Since God the Father did not spare his dear Son, Jesus Christ, in his zeal to reconcile us to himself, but delivered him over to a cruel death on the cursed tree. Consequently, as the brothers and sisters of the Son of God it is only reasonable that we also forgo personal rights in our efforts to reconcile with one another. Are we willing to pay the price? If not, then we forfeit the marvelous grace and wonderful peace of God in our lives.
Certainly, it is high time that we Christians exemplify to this factious generation a genuinely Godly Peace Movement, for if we refuse to pursue peace within our churches we really have nothing better to offer them! Undoubtedly, The Cross stands as a timeless monument to God’s reconciling power, namely, the restoration of severed fellowship between God and humankind and among humans. This is the essential message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As God’s people then, we owe our hurting and confused world a real-life demonstration of his passion to salvage their wounded and shattered relationships.
-Alfredo Mullet-
