2 Corinthians 5:11-21
“More Than Forgiving”
19 June 2016 St. Andrew’s
Military Chapel Singapore
I
have to admit, it’s been hard sorting through all the things this passage has
forced me to wrestle with. Reconciliation is such a hard and complex topic I
don’t think anyone fully grasps all that word entails. I’m going to try, but be
gracious with me and let today be a conversation starter in how we individually
and collectively seek to move towards the costly grace found in reconciliation.
A
few weeks ago, we explored the idea of forgiveness and how hard it can be to
forgive someone as well as how hard accepting forgiveness can be for us. Using
the bishop from Les Miserables as an example we saw how forgiveness is where
someone gives something of themselves to give us back to God. Not only that but
that each of us individually has the power to forgive on behalf of the whole
community. It is powerful to look someone in the eyes and boldly proclaim, “In
the name of Christ you are forgiven.”
I
think we are all agreed on how difficult it is to forgive someone. Well, Paul
just upped the stakes dramatically. He is now telling us that we are to engage
in the ministry of reconciliation because God has reconciled us to him through
Christ. So what in the world is reconciliation and what might that look like?
Forgiveness
and reconciliation are not the same. Forgiveness is a gift of mercy and grace
given to one individual or group to another. A gift of grace not bestowed by
merit. Nowadays we tend to view forgiveness as the end of the conflict and once
we have offered or received forgiveness then our role is complete. However, it
seems that forgiveness is a necessary first step in reconciliation.
Reconciliation
is a process, a journey in which individuals are transformed. Forgiveness
doesn’t change behavior. It may heal wounds and serve as a public declaration
of grace bestowed, but forgiving someone isn’t necessarily a transformative
act. An initiator of transformation and a much necessary step down the road,
but it is not transformative by itself.
It
seems that we want to conflate the two terms because offering forgiveness is
easy and allows us to take the high road. If we are the ones in a position to
offer forgiveness and we choose that option then we look to the world as the
morally superior, dare I say righteous, party in the disagreement or conflict.
And
it’s understandable for us to stop at forgiveness. Because true reconciliation
is messy and takes time. Those working towards reconciliation are neck deep in
the muck and mire of life and rarely see the fruit of their labor. For the end
point of a journey towards reconciliation is the peace of God’s new creation
where we are all made new. It is Christ’s peaceable Kingdom which we may never
see in our lifetime. It is a journey into lament of individuals and groups of
people, listening to painful and heart breaking stories. But it is one of
learning a new imagination and seeing conversion and change in small measure.
I
don’t have the full answer on how reconciliation plays out in our lives, nor do
the so-called experts on reconciliation. Because, frankly it will look
different depending on the communities and parties involved in the effort. It’s
a God sized concept that we’ll probably never fully grasp or understand on this
side of eternity. However, we can find glimpses to guide us on the journey of
reconciliation.
In
1948 South Africa elected a government that began the process of dividing
people based on their race and passing laws that allowed the minority whites to
exercise dominion over the majority black population. For almost 50 years
Apartheid was the way of life for those living in South Africa. Then, through
the work and influence of people such as Nelson Mandela world opinion turned
against South Africa and negotiations began around 1990 to end Apartheid. In
1994, the first open elections were held with Mandiba becoming the Prime
Minster.
Part
of the end of Apartheid was the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission. An imaginative and graceful idea to bring the country together by
allowing those who were harmed during Apartheid to share their stories while
allowing those perpetrating human rights abuses in the name of Apartheid as
well as in the name of liberation a chance to offer a public apology and
request amnesty for their deeds.
The
TRC, like any human institution and attempt to reconcile people with God, had
its flaws. There is debate as to its effectiveness and whether or not justice
is required before reconciliation. However, those debates don’t change the fact
that this was a sharp contrast to the typical victor’s justice we saw in
Nuremberg. It was restorative justice with a goal of changing persons instead
of mere punishment.
A
few weeks before I began seminary I participated in a wonderful program the
seminary offered to entering students. For a week we got to know each other
through community service. We met many different organizations in the area
introducing us to the many religious organizations helping the community in
which we would all live. We also got to meet individuals that told us different
parts of the community’s story. And that’s how I met Ann Atwater.
Like
many blacks in the South in the early 20th century, Ann had a tough
life full of challenges. She eventually was introduced to an organization
called Operation Breakthrough and was hired by them to participate in what we
now call community organizing. One of her focus areas was in improving the
respect and dignity blacks received from government organizations. Ann is a
force of nature and was good at her job.
In
1971 she was asked to co-chair in a group tasked to help integrate the Durham
school system. It was there that she was paired with C.P. Ellis, the other
co-chair. C.P. was the Exalted
Grand Cyclops of the Durham KKK and had made it his mission to keep everything
segregated. Ann knew of C.P. and initially turned down the offer to work with
him. It’s a good thing she finally agreed to co-chair the committee.
Through the course of their work
together, Ann and C.P. realized they had a great deal more in common than in
opposition. They both were working in their own way to help the poor of their
communities. Their thinking changed. They became dear friends. Hearing Ann tell
the story, you see the love she shared for a man she once resented. To top it
off, C.P. was so changed that he left the KKK. He was reconciled to Ann, his
community, and most importantly God.
Paul
calls us to the ministry of reconciliation because we are Christ’s ambassadors
on earth and are called to be reconciled with each other and God. As I
reflected on this passage and the meaning of reconciliation a few places in
which we might participate in this important ministry were laid on my heart.
Our
location in the world here in Singapore rightly places us on a porch looking
out at one of the global hubs of trafficking people. We can begin to learn
about the issue and reach out to organizations that assist in stopping this
problem. We can develop a relationship with these organizations and the people
who have made it out to let them know the church values them and loves them as
beloved children of God. It will take time, effort and sacrifice, but Paul
never says its easy.
Last
week as we were gathering here in worship, someone walked into a nightclub in
Orlando and opened fire killing 49 people. A horrific tragedy by any definition
of the word. As the nation sat horrified and in grief over what had just
transpired, a number of religious leaders qualified their statements of
sympathy because the Pulse is a gay nightclub. The sexual identity and habits
of those killed does not change the fact they too are beloved children of God.
If there is any community in the US that the church needs to seek
reconciliation it is the LGBT community.
In
the aftermath of the shooting we have seen some glimpses of reconciliation.
Chick-Fil-A stores opening on Sunday to feed those donating blood, 8 hour waits
for the last few days to donate blood to help the victims, calls for
legislators to take another look at the blood donation requirements so those in
the LGBT community can donate blood to their partners, and the outrage from
church leaders to comments that this was judgment and towards those that
qualify their sympathy. However, it is up to us to continue the long journey of
reconciliation and not let these just be politically expedient words and
actions.
Many
of you may know Jen Hatmaker. As one much better with words
than I shall ever find myself, she offered a way for the church to take an
honest first step towards reconciliation with a community we have historically ignored
at best and wholly rejected at worst. I offer her words for us to reflect on
and I personally feel she says what is on my heart to everyone I know and love
in the LGBT community.
“Call your gay friend, neighbor, daughter,
college roommate, son, coworker, church member, brother - call them voice to
voice, or even better, face to face where you can put loving arms around them
and say:
"This was unspeakable. This was horrible.
This was unconscionable. I see this evil and I condemn it fully. I will sit
right here and grieve with you. We will not gloss this over or forget. You
might feel unsafe or insecure or scared today, and I want you to know you are
not alone. I love you and I stand by you."
A
first step in establishing a relationship with a community we as a global
church haven’t shown much love to over the years. A first step towards
reconciliation with that community and with God. A step on a long journey that
will change our lives.
