What Does the Bible Say About Reconciliation?
- A classic misconception is that God is interested in saddling everyone with a guilt complex. Many people shy away from following Biblical principles because they cannot live up to their own high expectations. However, it's not necessary to be so hard on yourself. Peter continued to be accepted by Jesus, even after denying Christ three times prior to Christ's crucifixion (John 18: 17). Reconciliation is a running theme throughout the Bible, serving to prove that the power of good is indeed strong enough to overcome evil: "The Lord said to me again, 'Go, show your love to a woman loved by someone else, who has been unfaithful to you. In the same way the Lord loves . . . (Hosea 3:1)" God wants to give everyone a chance to become faithful.
- Reconciliation produces brotherhood. This truth is exemplified in the story of Joseph, from the book of Genesis. Joseph, who would someday be a ruler over Egypt, was once sold into slavery after barely escaping a plot formed by his brothers to murder him (Genesis 37:18). Later, through a chain of fortunate events, Joseph became recognized for his true worth and was granted political power. Meanwhile, his brothers' fortunes floundered. When he was later reunited with them, he sought to be reconciled with them rather than to gain revenge. He realized that his position of power could not have been achieved if he had not been forced into hiding many years before: "You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good to save the lives of many people, which is being done (Genesis 50:20)." Reconciliation helped him to write a new chapter with his brothers.
- Reconciliation is often neither easy to receive nor to give. Religious attitudes do not facilitate reconciliation. Rather, attitudes formed on the basis of mutual respect make reconciliation possible. Surprisingly, not even presence at the Lord's supper guarantees reconciliation. For example, when Jesus was once invited to eat at the house of a self-righteous religious leader, he was not impressed by the leader's behavior. Rather, he was eager to dispense forgiveness to a woman who entered and washed his feet with perfume and her tears. Afterward, Jesus explained to the leader, "You gave me no kiss of greeting but she has been kissing my feet since I came in (Luke 7:15)." Don't assume that your reputation itself helps to reconcile you to those who are important to you.
- Reconciliation seeks to promote the concept of wholeness and to restore broken families. Malachi's parting words, which complete the Old Testament, are: " Elija will help the parents love their children and children love their parents (Malachi 4:6)." The philosophy of Jesus Christ was consistent with Malachi's statements. He used the story of the prodigal son to instruct his disciples. This story involves the father of two sons, one of them choosing to live a calm life while the other chooses a wild life. When the second son decides to give up his wild ways and to return to his father for help, his father does not turn him away. He chooses instead to accept his son in spite of his flaws, remarking that with his past style of living, "He was dead, but now he is alive (Luke 15:32)." Reconcilation helps mistakes to be repaired.
- Martin Luther (1483-1546) was an outspoken theologian who wrote about the concept of reconciliation. He believed that humankind itself was impure and would only be able to be reconciled to God with the help of Jesus Christ: "Our righteousness is nothing but the imputation of the righteousness of Christ; and the just have need of a continual justification and imputation of the righteousness of Christ." By this, he meant that Christ's crucifixion atoned for the sins of humanity, and that people do not need to individually attempt to solicit God's approval but rather should accept the gift of Christ's sacrifice. Luther's views isolated him from the greater Catholic community of his time, causing him and his followers to split with this church and to propose their own branch of Christianity called Protestantism.