Reconciliation. What a beautiful word – but more important, what a glorious experience. Certainly, the capacity to experience reconciliation is at the heart of God’s greatest gift to his children.
Reconciliation. What a beautiful word – but more
important, what a glorious experience. Certainly, the capacity to
experience reconciliation is at the heart of God’s greatest gift to his
children. Yet, reconciliation is far too often left on the sidelines of
human relationships.
The need for reconciliation means estrangement and
alienation are facts of human existence. In our fallen condition, our
understanding on issues and circumstances start from a self-centered
perspective. We view matters from, “Is what the other person wants or
does in contradiction or conflict with what I think is best for me? Is
it in keeping with what I believe and what I want? What is best for me?”
That is the conflict we have with God. “Is
surrendering to God and to his will and way what I believe is best for
me? Will I get what I want from my relationship with him? Will I have
to give up what now matters most to me?” In our fallen, sinful state,
we find ourselves in conflict with the divine. And our conflict with
God poisons our relationships with others.
If we remain in our egocentric state, alienation from God and our fellow human beings is inevitable.
This alienation and estrangement permeate human
existence and, therefore, often exist among God’s people in personal
relationships, in churches, associations and conventions. The results
inevitably become that the people who should be reconciled to each
other because they are reconciled to their father set aside that
reconciliation so they can continue with their egocentricity. Thus,
there are church fights and splits, associational discord, convention
controversy. And when the spirit of ego rules over the spirit of love,
discord leads to dissipation of the working presence of the Holy Spirit.
The power and opportunity of reconciliation God
provides on the cross are our only hope for a unified church,
association and convention and, certainly not of least importance, for
unity of personal relationships. In that reconciliation, we begin to
understand that his love and salvation and Lordship can, does and
should bring unity and spirit and fulfillment of purpose.
Idealistic and impractical we say? Hardly.
A recent edition of Christian Ethics Today came to
my desk. The magazine carried an article by Jim Wallis about God’s
reconciling power in his life. For years, he had been strongly
alienated from Bill Bright. Of course, Bright was the extraordinary
leader of Campus Crusade for Christ. He probably was used of God to
bring as many people to a saving relationship with Christ as any other
person in history.
Bill Bright and Jim Wallis were both evangelical
Christians but different politically – and perhaps theologically –
about as much as any two people can be. And there was “bad blood”
between them for years, Wallis said in the recent article.
But one day the two men stayed in the same hotel at
the same time. Some would say it was coincidence; they believed it was
by divine appointment. They agreed to visit. They shared their personal
testimonies of salvation and their visions for their organizations.
They prayed for one another, and for each other’s ministry.
Years later, Bright, who was 80 years old, grew
physically ill. One day, Wallis received a letter from Bright that said
– “Congratulations on your great ministry for our Lord. I rejoice with
you. An unexpected gift designated to my personal use makes possible
this modest contribution to your magazine. I wish I had the means to
add at least three more zeroes to the enclosed check. Warm affection in
Christ. Yours for helping to fulfill the Great Commission each year
until our Lord returns. Bill.” The letter contained a check for $1,000.
As Wallis read the letter and contemplated its
significance, an associate entered his office and said, “Did you hear?
Bill Bright just died.” As close as they could tell from the postmark
on the letter, the letter and check were among the last things Bill
Bright did on this earth. He obviously did not want to leave this earth
until he extended through his person the reconciliation Christ had
given him.
Did he ask Jim Wallis to change his political views
first? Did he ask him to bring every jot and tittle of his theology in
line with his before he gave his hand in reconciliation? No. He simply
said by his actions –“You are my brother in Christ. As such, I know
Christ would have us be reconciled.”
As I thought about this magnanimous action, I
thought, “When one has been transformed enough to give his heart and
life to fulfilling Christ’s Great Commission, we should not be
surprised by his powerful act to be reconciled to his brother in
Christ.”
Reconciliation. What a beautiful word – but more important, what a glorious experience.