LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for August 15: Relationships: The reconciliation factor

We cannot hide from God. He sees our inmost thoughts and knows our every action. The psalmist says it most eloquently; “O Lord, you have searched me and you know me” (Psalm 139:1).

As the opening verse of our passage indicates, the Apostle Paul knows that one day he will stand before the judgment seat and give an account for his life, which God sees clearly. The fear of the Lord Paul speaks of comes from this fact, and it keeps him alert (2 Corinthians 5:11).

However, fear rarely motivates as love does, and Paul points to Christ’s love as the engine that compels him. He is convinced Christ died for every one of us. Accordingly, those of us who have accepted Christ no longer must live for ourselves but for Christ who sacrificed himself for us.

This passage explains that part of living for Christ is becoming his representative of reconciliation in the world. For Paul, the ministry of reconciliation, which is the theme of this lesson, begins with accepting that God through Christ is reconciling us to himself. We must allow this wonderful truth to penetrate every fiber of our being as Paul did. Then, we too can begin to work for reconciliation in the world. The emphasis of this lesson is on the importance of being reconciled with other believers. The lesson encourages adults to seek and receive reconciliation with grace.  

The ministry of reconciliation that Paul speaks of requires more of us than simply explaining to people what God has done in Christ. That is the first step, but it also requires we become active reconcilers.

What does this look like? We imitate Christ who as, “a minister of reconciliation plunges into the midst of human tumult to bring harmony out of chaos, reconciliation out of estrangement, and love in the place of hate,” as David Garland states in his commentary on 2 Corinthians. God mends the relationship between humanity and himself. Now, we are called to mend relationships one with another.

What keeps us from reconciling with each other? Most often, I believe it is pride that gets in the way. In our culture, pride can simply mean self-confidence or self-respect, neither of which is bad. In fact, we encourage our children to “Take pride in their school work.” Problems arise when pride turns into arrogance and self-centeredness. Then, relationships remain broken because neither offended party is willing to admit fault or take responsibility for bringing about reconciliation. We allow our need to be right, to outweigh the importance of reconciliation. Usually, for reconciliation to happen, one party must, in humility, bring a peace offering, as was the case between two of our founding fathers, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.  
Adams and Jefferson were considered “the voice” and “the pen” of the Declaration of Independence. While serving as ambassadors in Paris, they became friends. But on returning to the United States, their differing political views created a chasm between them. Adams, who was a Federalist was elected as the second president of the United States, and Jefferson, a Republican, became his vice president because he had received the second greatest number of votes.

Instead of harnessing the power of their friendship for the nation, they fought. Their partisanship led to a fracture in their relationship. Adams accused Jefferson of being disloyal and out for his own political gain, and by the end of his presidency, their relationship was severed.
 
Many years later, one of their mutual friends, Dr. Benjamin Rush, encouraged Adams to extend an “olive branch” to Jefferson. Adams agreed and sent Jefferson a Happy New Year’s note. When Jefferson received the note, he was overjoyed and responded immediately. The two rekindled their friendship. Adams later wrote to Rush, “… you have wrought wonders. You have made peace between powers that never were at war.”

Adams and Jefferson remained friends for the next 14 years, before both of them passed away, on the same day, July 4, 1826, which ironically is the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.  Much of their correspondence over the years remains intact, among Adams’ most affectionate words to Jefferson are these, “While I breathe, I shall be your friend.”

A simple note paved the way for these two friends to reconcile. Perhaps the letter of 2 Corinthians which Paul wrote to his friends in Corinth also is an olive branch, for Paul longs for their relationship to be restored. He knows they are united in Christ, and as such are “powers that never really were at war.”  

We too are members of one family, one body united in Christ, but sadly this truth rarely is visible in the world. As Henri Nouwen points out, “All these divisions are tragic reflections of our separation from God.”

The reconciliation of humanity to God and of humans to one another is intrinsically linked. We cannot work for one without working for the other. As the church, it is our job to reveal this truth to the world. Wherever we see divisions among the people, be that in marriages, among families or in faith communities, we should work for reconciliation.