Radical reconciliation

In the second of a series of new bible studies, Ruth Harvey considers the words of 2 Corinthians 5 and their message of reconciliation.

“FOR we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

“Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight.

“So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 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.” 2 Corinthians 5: 1-7; 17 – 20 I’ve witnessed costly, radical reconciliation. I have seen the deep work of reconciliation that changes all involved.

I have met radical peacemakers who put their lives on the line as ‘ambassadors for Christ’, advocating and mediating for peace, willing to be changed themselves, in order to bring peace. I’m thinking of my friends in the churches of Sudan and South Sudan who took a stand on the front line of tribal warfare in their home country, acting as reconcilers in a violent war. This is costly, radical reconciliation because it demands putting themselves in the way of violence. Within the Iona Community we have a powerfully ‘worthy’ 14-point Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation commitment. This commitment is aspirational, worthy! It’s also incredibly practical! The first two clauses affirm our belief that ‘the Gospel commands us to seek peace founded on justice and that costly reconciliation is at the heart of the Gospel’; and ‘that work for justice, peace and an equitable society is a matter of extreme urgency.’

2 Corinthians 5 is also fairly worthy. Paul turns protocol, right ordering and common sense on its head, urging us to look tapsalteerie at the world, to reach for sense beyond the obvious. Our earthly tent contrasts with a house not made with hands (5:1); we groan because we want to be clothed, but not in human clothes (5: 2-4); what is mortal is to be swallowed up by life (5:5). And all this confusing, upside down, radical kingdom talk is to remind us that we ‘walk by faith, not by sight’ (5:7) - tapsalteerie indeed.

If we are to tackle the ‘extreme urgency’ of justice for all, then how might we make costly, upside-down choices that mean folding, or ‘losing’ our lives, our ego, for the sake of others? ¤

Ruth Harvey is Leader of the Iona Community. Find out more about, and join the Iona Community at www.iona.org.uk.