In a world of conflict…
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven you (Eph. 4:32). This simple instruction is repeated again and again in a myriad of ways throughout the New Testament. Why are we so bad at it?
Last week during a meeting of the leadership of the Baptist unions of European countries, I was reminded of this question. The discussion was of a couple of Baptist unions (one in Kazakhstan – yes, there are Baptists in Kazakhstan) who had decided to withdraw from the European Baptist Federation and the Baptist World Alliance. They had done this for a variety of reasons, none of them, from the perspective of the gathered, were very good. The discussion ensued in how to express our dissatisfaction at the break in fellowship.
There was a lively talk about how they misunderstood us, until a rather rotund upper-middle-aged Hungarian stood up. He was a man who knew what it was to live under tyranny. He had spent years in Romania under an oppressive Communism. His words stunned most of us. He said, in effect, “friends where there is a break in fellowship like this, repentance is a two way street. We need ourselves to repent.” He said this in his stilted and accented English, and it was so far from what most of us were thinking that it was stunning.
I talked to one of my fellow Americans whose initial reaction mirrored mine: “what! We haven’t done anything wrong! They decided to leave us!” But of course, with greater reflection the wisdom of what was said became apparent. Relationships are NEVER NOT two sided! That may be poor grammar, but it’s also self-evident. Jesus words were “if you are at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift… first go and be reconciled…” (Matt. 5:23-24). Note that the instruction is given to the one who might be in all ways innocent (if he has something against you!).
Later that day, we heard from an Arab Baptist based in Beirut, whose school was forced to house “his enemy” – radical Muslims who were being bombed by Israel. During the conflict, he talked about how the teachings of Christ helped him overcome his natural distrust and to love his enemy. He showed pictures of their amazing ministry of reconciliation in that time of war. It was a moving presentation. And it was a reminder of how easy we have it.
On the way home from the meeting I sat on the plane beside a woman who was very curious about me, my “job”, our church. I realized again, as I tried to talk about the kind of Baptist we were, how ridiculous our Baptist arguments sound to those on the outside. And I realized, again, why Jesus spent so much time before he died praying for unity among the disciples (see John 17). I realized, again, how far from that ideal we’ve fallen. And I committed myself, again, to be the kind of Christian who seeks to “care and reconcile in Jesus name.”
Last week during a meeting of the leadership of the Baptist unions of European countries, I was reminded of this question. The discussion was of a couple of Baptist unions (one in Kazakhstan – yes, there are Baptists in Kazakhstan) who had decided to withdraw from the European Baptist Federation and the Baptist World Alliance. They had done this for a variety of reasons, none of them, from the perspective of the gathered, were very good. The discussion ensued in how to express our dissatisfaction at the break in fellowship.
There was a lively talk about how they misunderstood us, until a rather rotund upper-middle-aged Hungarian stood up. He was a man who knew what it was to live under tyranny. He had spent years in Romania under an oppressive Communism. His words stunned most of us. He said, in effect, “friends where there is a break in fellowship like this, repentance is a two way street. We need ourselves to repent.” He said this in his stilted and accented English, and it was so far from what most of us were thinking that it was stunning.
I talked to one of my fellow Americans whose initial reaction mirrored mine: “what! We haven’t done anything wrong! They decided to leave us!” But of course, with greater reflection the wisdom of what was said became apparent. Relationships are NEVER NOT two sided! That may be poor grammar, but it’s also self-evident. Jesus words were “if you are at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift… first go and be reconciled…” (Matt. 5:23-24). Note that the instruction is given to the one who might be in all ways innocent (if he has something against you!).
Later that day, we heard from an Arab Baptist based in Beirut, whose school was forced to house “his enemy” – radical Muslims who were being bombed by Israel. During the conflict, he talked about how the teachings of Christ helped him overcome his natural distrust and to love his enemy. He showed pictures of their amazing ministry of reconciliation in that time of war. It was a moving presentation. And it was a reminder of how easy we have it.
On the way home from the meeting I sat on the plane beside a woman who was very curious about me, my “job”, our church. I realized again, as I tried to talk about the kind of Baptist we were, how ridiculous our Baptist arguments sound to those on the outside. And I realized, again, why Jesus spent so much time before he died praying for unity among the disciples (see John 17). I realized, again, how far from that ideal we’ve fallen. And I committed myself, again, to be the kind of Christian who seeks to “care and reconcile in Jesus name.”
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