God’s ‘Ministry of recognition’

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I’VE had the privilege of meeting with a number of young folk recently in church and faith groups.

They’ve told me about the space they inhabit between church and community. They’ve described taking a stand in support of marginalised groups such as the LGBTQ+ community in the face of scepticism. They’ve told me about their hunger to wipe out food poverty, or their deep compassion for refugees and asylum seekers while the organs of national life apparently reinforce barriers.

I have been listening to these voices of leadership while I have been reading once again Paul’s letters.

To the Colossians (1:17, 20) Paul writes “in Christ all things hold together.… and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven.” To the Ephesians (2, 13, 14) Paul says: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near…. For Christ is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.” And famously to the people of Corinth (2 Corinthians 5: 18 – 20) Paul wrote: “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

It is clear that for Paul reconciliation was not an extra, like anchovies on a pizza, to be added once salvation was secured.

Reconciliation is the gospel.

John Paul Lederach, an experienced mediator and a Mennonite working for peace and reconciliation across the globe, writes in Reconcile: conflict transformation for ordinary Christians: ‘reconciliation is the mission, the organising purpose around which we understand and see God’s work in history.’ As we read the gospel through the lens of conflict we begin to realise that that if we are to follow Jesus, then this means taking the uncomfortable path of loving our neighbour as we love ourselves.

Lederach again: ‘in the life of Jesus, holiness is defined more than anything else by his persistent movement towards people, their pain, and the formation of new relationships.’

In my work with Place for Hope I had many conversations with folks in churches who were living through conflict. Relationships had broken down, hurt (often unintentionally) had been caused, crushing words spoken. They were bravely and courageously engaged in the hard work of building relationships, of walking towards the differences they were noticing and finding new ways to live together. These brave individuals were the most powerful witnesses to me of God’s love in action.

As healing slowly emerged, we began to talk together about the powerful witness they were to God’s love in the world.

In a time of extreme hurt, as we emerge post-Covid, the grieving and the yearning will be able to look at those ‘places of hope’ in their communities, those church communities who are honestly talking about difference and say: ‘how can I be part of such an honest, loving community.’ This is God’s mission. And we, and the young people leading the way as they embrace ‘the other’, are engaged in God’s ‘ministry of reconciliation’.