As we read the story of Jesus Christ and especially what has been coined His “passion” we only see one thing. That is, the pursuit of reconciliation. Jesus’ ministry was a reconciling ministry. His bent over, blood dripping, brutally bruised, spit on, slapped around body had one posture. That posture was reconciliation. Christ through His beating, death, burial and resurrection was “reconciling the world” setting what had been broken by sin straight.

That leads to our ministry. We are to have a reconciling ministry. This is primarily through the proclamation of the Good News (2 Cor 5:18-21); however, I don’t believe it is limited to Gospel preaching, though it is always for a Gospel reason.  This is critical to our relationships within the body of Christ but again not limited to the Body. Christians should be on the front-line of all types of reconciliation and our lives should be lived to be peacemakers, though our message about Christ may cause others to hate us.

However, if we want to have a posture of reconciliation, we must take on the posture of the Servant Savior. Ultimately we have to give up our rights and live as though we are dead. I think in America this is extremely if not nearly impossible. America was built on the “right to bear arms”, the right to protect our goods, the right to demand what’s fair, the right to equality; however, Christianity is not built on such things. Christianity is built on the giving up of rights, the laying down of our lives, the right to have our goods plundered. Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says:

32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one.

That leads me to some points I would like to share for a brief moment.

1. Why Not Be Defrauded?

Often times we say we want to be like Christ, but at the first sign of being wronged we flee. But when Christ was wronged He pursued. Now I think you have use some wisdom on this but I think the spirit of this still should be something for Christians to consider. You see why not be defrauded? Jesus was defrauded, sold by the very person who ate, slept and walked with Him for 3 years. Defrauded by the one whom feet He washed. I think often times when John 13 is preached, we missed this fact. Jesus washed the feet and maybe even looked in the eyes of the very one who would defraud Him. Not to mention He did it with full knowledge that Judas would betray Him. Why is it so hard for us to do the same? We want to have nothing to do with evil doers Jesus pursues them (us).

2. The Silence of the Lamb in Suffering

1 Peter 3:13-22 should be preached twice a year in every church. I already gave a great title for such a sermon. Too often I am embarrassed by Christians who always demand their rights. They are marching on Capitol Hill, they are fighting in their states, they are trying to get legislation passed, all so Christianity can have its rights in America. Now don’t get me wrong I don’t mind the freedom to walk anywhere on American soil with my WWJD bracelet; however, I think sometimes we look nothing like Christ who suffered silently.  And even in His suffering listen to His reconciling words “Father forgive them”. He has a crown of thorns, have been spit on, slapped, beard torn from His face, beat, mocked, laughed at, beat some more, kicked, blind folded, beat so more and dissed by His followers. Again He did it of reconciliation and for His natural born enemies.

3. Bear With and Forgive

Reconciliation in the Church of Christ (no not the denomination) is critical to our public witness and being filled with the Spirit. Let me say this again, it is critical to our public witness and being filled with the Spirit. I think many churches and brothers and sisters run on academic fumes not Spiritual power. The two are not the same my friend. God WILL NOT allow a Christian to harbor broken relationships without convicting and I don’t believe He will allow us to be filled with His Power while grieving His Spirit.

You see Jesus prays for our unity (John 17:1-26), He commands us to “receive/welcome one another” (Romans 15:1-7),  He demands that we  ”bear with  and forgive” (Col 3:12-13 and Ephesians 4:31-32) and finally that we live in “harmony” and be “like minded (Romans 12:16 and Philippians 2:1-2). This is how we assume the posture of reconciliation.

Lets think about this brothers and sisters, our witness is on the line, how we pursue reconciliation with our families (you can’t be alienated from your family and say you love Jesus), our enemies (how can we “love” our enemies if we harbor strife in our hearts? Let God repay the evil doer we are to love) and most importantly  within the body of Christ (how can you say you love God and don’t love the brother you see, reconciliation is the greatest evidence of this love) will testify of God’s love in our hearts and PROVE that we are disciples of Jesus Christ. We reconcile because that is His way and we are of  “they way”.