Ministry of Reconciliation

Thoughts & Response - “Ministry of Reconciliation”

As Christians strive to “become better agents of redemption and reconciliation for our Lord Jesus.” I think the word ‘for’ (vs. the word ‘to’) is the key area of disagreement for me on this topic. Can we look at the word reconciliation for a moment? Here are a few N.T. texts where the word is used:

• Mt. 5:24 - leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. [This is a personal heart issue, not a prescription for systematic reform]

• Ro 5:10 - For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. [to God]

Here is the most quoted text:

• 2 Cor 5:18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, [He, to Himself, so that... keep going]

• 2 Cor. 5:19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. [the ministry of reconciliation is this mystery of proclaiming while the Spirit does the real work. Keep going..]

• 2 Cor. 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. [OK, so we are working for Christ, but in an effort to reconcile others to God. My fundamental point is that we are not called to produce world peace.]

• Eph 2:16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. [the only thing that can conquer sin, is the cross. Not us.]

No where in the Bible is it our responsibility to reconcile one culture to another culture. Our task, our mission is to reconcile everyone to Jesus and by doing that we will be reconciled to one another as a byproduct.