Corporate Repentance

We have been praying, reading and seeking to hear from God over the past two months. It has been a valuable time for me personally. From our studying Joel and Habbakuk together at home I have been struck by some of the remarkable parallels between their situations and ours. I think that there is also a response that God expects from us in our current situation that parallels what he expected from the recipients of those messages: corporate repentance. I’ve asked our community to consider what they need to repent of in their personal lives, but also to identify the sins of our communities and nations. As the body of Christ incarnated in cultures around the world we identify with those places, interceding on their behalf. We don’t shift blame or justify the sins of the world around us. We should be a people willing to repent, confessing the sinfulness around us as genuine members of those communities. We model repentance and trust in Jesus for the communities around us. And we commit to not participate in that corruption, but to stand against it in all of the ways that we are able. The kinds of corporate sins that have stood out to me in our context include nationalism/racism, materialism, abuse and trafficking of women, and lack of care for the environment. Of course there are other sins and other contexts and other ways of conceiving corporate sinfulness.

The message of corporate repentance is as valid for all of our neighbors as it is for the church. I think this is a good time to find ways to call the nations to repent.

Source: Ryan K  -  Posted on FB, 3 May 2020

Hamilton

There are moments that the words don't reach
There is a grace too powerful to name
We push away what we can never understand
We push away the unimaginable

They are standing in the garden
Alexander by Eliza's side
She takes his hand
It's quiet uptown

Forgiveness
Can you imagine?
Forgiveness
Can you imagine?

Source: Lin-Manuel Miranda  -  "It's Quiet Uptown", from the musical Hamilton, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Philipa Soo, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and the Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton

The Great Schism

In the Protestant and Evangelical worlds, the so-called Great Schism between the churches of the East and West belongs to a chapter of church history lost in pre-Reformation murkiness, seemingly irrelevant to the contemporary struggle for survival in a secular age.
...
It is a rift which erupted in the eleventh century, although it had a long prelude and multiple grievances. The broken relationship between the Eastern and Roman churches lasted over nine whole centuries, before eventually the mutual excommunications were lifted in a joint declaration issued by Pope Paul and Patriarch Athenagoras during the Second Vatican Council in 1965. Communion however was not yet restored and significant hurdles remained.

Source: Jeff Fountain  -  Weekly Word eNewsletter, 8 April 2019, "The Creed That Unites And Divides"
https://us9.campaign-archive.com/?e=0b86898e11&u=65605d9dbab0a19355284d8df&id=0e080f28cf

An Analogy

On my mind this morning. It's a weak analogy but...
Imagine that you come across a loving, powerful, forgiving, and encouraging individual. You're having a conversation with him. His words fill you with life and hope that you've never known before. You feel you belong. You feel empowered.
Suddenly, you're attacked by a group of thugs who want to steal everything you have and leave you for dead.
This amazing man steps in and covers you. He tells the thugs, "Let him go. You can take me instead."
He gets brutally beaten, so badly that he doesn't even look human anymore. He, even in his dying, extends love to you. He dies, but later he is brought back to life.
You ask him, "What can I do for you? How could I ever repay?"
He expresses that all he wants is for his friends, family, and acquaintances to live in peace and be one together. In fact, this is what he prays for...asking God that they all be one so that the world would know about his love.
Would you respect his wishes?
Would you be appalled and saddened by the bickering, accusing ways of people that "know" him?
Would you give him what he asked for?
To be a name-caller...to be divisive...and to demean another in his name would be a slap in his face.
Yet, we as Christians, have forgotten The Way, and we slap Jesus in the face over and over again with our idiotic, self-righteousness.
Have we forgotten The Way once again during this election?
Lift up your head.
Raise your eyes.
Look at Him. Just look into His eyes. Stop trying to force the gaze of others and trust the one who loves us all.
By putting our trust in this political system we've built, we forget Truth. We forget his request.
Can't you hear the cry of the man who went through hell? Will you give him what he asked for?
(John 17:20-22)

Source: Traci Vanderbush  -  AS posted on FB 15 Oct 16

Dead, Enemy Churches

"The time for the fulfillment of the prophecy Smith Wigglesworth gave you has arrived.  It is time to begin.  I want you to go to the leaders of the churches."
I argued back.  "Lord, what can I say to those dead churches?"
"I can raise the dead."  As simple as that.
"But, Lord, they are enemies." I almost whined.
"Yes, but I have told you to love your enemy."
Ignoring the truth of Scripture in my frustration, I continued to argue.  "How can I love people like this?  I can agree with neither their doctrines nor their practices."
"Well," the Lord said firmly deep inside me, "you will have to forgive them!"
"Dear, Lord" - it really was a whine by then - "how can I forgive them if I can't justify them?"
"I never gave you authority to justify anybody.  I only gave you authority to forgive.  And if you forgive, you will love them.  And if you love, you will want to forgive.  Now you can choose."
The conversation was over.  But the battle had only begun.  A small light had gone on, enough to show me that I knew very little about forgiveness in the eyes of the Lord.  In the days ahead, I had to wrestle with the Lord, to learn, to go through the internal pain of a genuine revolution.  A new king had to be put in power over that part of my life.

Source: David du Plessis  -  From "A Man Called Mr. Pentecost", as told to Bob Slosser, Ch. 18, pp 158-159

CS Lewis on the Difficulty of Forgiveness

Quoting CS Lewis:

To forgive the incessant provocations of daily life - to keep on forgiving the bossy mother-in-law, the bullying husband, the nagging wife, the selfish daughter, the deceitful son - how can we do it?  Only, I think, by remembering where we stand, by meaning our words when we say in our prayers each night, "Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.


Source: Johann Christoph Arnold  -  Why Forgive?, pp.123

“The Love of Christ Compels Us”

When the German national planning committee met in the autumn of 2014, it quickly became clear that the materials for this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity would need to have two accents: on the one hand, there should be a celebration of God’s love and grace, the “justification of humanity through grace alone”, reflecting the main concern of the churches marked by Martin Luther’s Reformation. On the other hand, the materials should also recognize the pain of the subsequent deep divisions which afflicted the Church, openly name the guilt, and offer an opportunity to take steps toward reconciliation.

Ultimately it was Pope Francis’ 2013 Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (“The Joy of the Gospel”) which provided the theme for this year, when it used the quote: “The Love of Christ Compels Us” (Paragraph 9). With this scripture verse (2 Cor 5:14), taken in the context of the entire fifth chapter of the second letter to the Corinthians, the German committee formulated the theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017.

Source: Vatican  -  "Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2017", Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/chrstuni/weeks-prayer-doc/rc_pc_chrstuni_doc_20160531_week-prayer-2017_en.html

Joined Together Constantly In Prayer

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” ... They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Source: Bible  -  Acts 1:4, 14

Welcome your runaway slave back

(17) So Philemon, if you consider me a partner in Christ, I ask you to welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. (18) If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, you can charge it all to me. (19) I, Paul, am writing this letter with my own hand. I will pay you back everything that Onesimus owes you—not to emphasize that you owe me your very life.

Source: The Apostle Paul  -  Philemon 17-19

A Post-Death Confession

As my adult life unfolded before us, my self-centered nature predominated, and this greatly displeased my divine company.  I did very little that was not in my own self-interest.  Other people's needs were less important than my own desires.  This is opposed to the will of God and is the opposite of love ...

Source: Howard Storm  -  As quoted by John Burke in "Imagine Heaven", Ch. 17, p. 241

Start the Dance!

It takes two to tango.

The other person has their own goals, expectations, and reasons for even letting you talk to them (if they do.) Realize that all those things play into the initial meeting and the process of reconciliation. Be aware, always, that you are involved in a dynamic, two-sided relationship.

But be the first one to dance!

Source: Steven Lee  -  Posted on Facebook, 20 July 2018

A Vision of "One Accord"

One of the old brothers in that small, hardy band of Christians was constantly worried about the diversity of our backgrounds [Anglican, Methodist, Dutch Reformed].  He was convinced that a critical part of the Scripture describing the early church was "these all continued with one accord."  He had the idea that the "one-accordness" was the crucial factor about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost rather than the day itself.  He constantly disturbed the congregation with his complaint that "we are not one, we are not one."
The, the Lord in HIs mercy gave him a vision [of Pentecost] that provided a great lesson for the old man and for all of us. ...
One stood and declared, "Brethren, we were five hundred when Jesus ascended, and I just counted: now we're one hundred and twenty.  The others are gone.  We're losing, and I feel it is because we've lost our leadership.  Jesus is gone.  ... We must find someone to take the place of Jesus."
After a moment's pause, he added, "And so, I would nominate Brother Peter."
Another man got up and said, "I couldn't second that because I haven't forgotten what Peter did.  The Lord knows I love Brother Peter, and I admire him, but how can he be the leader when he failed so badly?"
So, down goes Peter.
Another one gets up and says, "Well, we need a man of great love, and I would suggest John as that man."
Someone else protested, "How can you want John?  He wanted to sit on Jesus' right hand and lord it over us.  I wouldn't vote for John."
"Well, said another, "we must have a man of faith, and James is a man wiht great insight into faith.  I nominate James."
"But," came the argument, "he is the brother of John and he wanted to sit on the left hand of the Lord."
Then someone else said, "What we need is a very cautious man who will not accept just anything.  I nominate Thomas."
Another declared, "Thomas is not cautious; he's just a doubter.  He'll get us all doubting."
Then Peter got up and said, "How far are we going with this?  If we begin to expose everybody's failures and weaknesses, who of us is any good at all?  I do not feel qualified to stand in the shoes of the Master, but I want to suggest this:  Anybody in this meeting who feels so qualified, stand up and I will follow you, and I'll call everybody else to follow you."
No one stood up.  At last, they were in one accord.
The old brother's vision helped me in later life to understand that the accord necessary for God's blessing does not center on how good we or anyone else may be, but rather on our willingness to acknowledge and accept the weaknesses and failures of each one, including ourselves.  This stopped the disturbance in our little congregation and we were humbled.   We knew that we were not good at all and that even Jesus had said, "I can do nothing of myself" (John 5:30).  So we trusted the Lord to help us.

Source: David du Plessis  -  From "A Man Called Mr. Pentecost", as told to Bob Slosser, Ch. 2, pp 12-14

Binding Up the Wounds of Conversion

Though my doubts were all resolved and the choice was made in 1959, my senior year at Calvin, actual membership came a year later, at Yale. My parents were horrified, and only gradually came to realize I had not lost my head or my soul, that Catholics were Christians, not pagans. It was very difficult, for I am a shy and soft-hearted sort, and almost nothing is worse for me than to hurt people I love. I think that I hurt almost as much as they did. But God marvelously binds up wounds.

Source: Peter Kreeft  -  Hauled aboard the Ark, http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics/hauled-aboard.htm

A Pope Praises Martin Luther!

Francis quoted Luther and praised him for having restored the centrality of Scripture to the church.

"The spiritual experience of Martin Luther challenges us to remember that apart from God, we can do nothing," Francis said.

Source: Andrew Medichini, Jan M. Olsen & Nicole Winfield  -  Associated Press, "Pope on Reformation: Forgive 'errors' of past, forge unity", 31 Oct 2016, https://www.yahoo.com/news/reformer-pope-heads-sweden-mark-luthers-reforms-050227744.html

"Confessions of a Christian Idiot"

Rita’s older sister also happened to move to the area. She heard of the renewal of relationship of her younger sisters. So with trepidation she takes a chance and agrees to meet with Rita. In the middle of a series of pleasant, but tentative, rebuilding connections, this sister and her husband had a life-changing encounter with Christ.

Perhaps those reading this are ready to shout hallelujah. But here’s the caveat. It happened through the preaching of Pope Francis and in a Catholic context! In forty-three years of Protestant Evangelicalism I have never seen such a bona-fide, repentance bearing fruit, transformative conversion—new creation human beings. Different family members said: “Who are those people?” We don’t know them.”

Well now, for some this may not compute. In my days of Christian idiocy, it would not have computed for me.

In her joy of conversion, Rita’s sister asked if Rita would attend a mass with her! Now wait, just a minute! That is too much, but not really. Rita accepted. Rita participated fully in the service (other than communion), and observed her sister weeping with joy that she and Rita were being restored and could share a common experience of Christ.

Rita took it a step further. She decided to buy her sister a very expensive and engraved rosary to celebrate her sister’s new birth! That would never have happened in our days of Christian idiocy.  I mean after all, how could I encourage someone in a “false religion?” How could we endorse “unbiblical practices?”  I will tell you how: when love compels you, and when care for another human being outranks your own need for perceived doctrinal purity. When love is the highest virtue, at the apex of your inner truth hierarchy, it is not only an easy thing to do, but it is the obvious thing to do. Love never fails.

Well, the gift of the rosary pushed things over the top. It is something Rita’s sister will treasure forever. Her sister said it was the kindest thing any human being had ever done for her! Imagine that—the transformative and liberating power of human kindness—agape—charity—given extravagantly with no agenda or “Protestant hook” in love. Love extended for love’s sake, needing no reciprocation or agreement in doctrine. It is becoming all things to all people, to win them. Jesus was willing to go to a manger, a cross, and a grave to win us. How far are we willing to go?

Source: Dr. Stephen R. Crosby  -  "Confessions of a Christian Idiot", Reprinted from Christianity Without the Religion Magazine - February 2019
https://stevecrosby.org/christian-unity/confessions-of-a-christian-idiot

14 Areas for Reconciliation

At a Canadian conference in 1995, Christian delegates from over forty nations identified fourteen general categories of deep-rooted, systemic alienation between peoples and elements of society, fourteen areas in which reconciliation ministry must be applied:
#1: Indigenous peoples to immigrant peoples ...
#2: Residual antagonisms, when there is justice under the law but wounds continue ...
#3: People-group conflicts ...
#4: Nation-state rivalries ...
#5: Independence movements ...
#6: Civil wars ...
#7: Alienation between generations ...
#8: Societal conflicts ...
#9: Gender-based abuses ...
#10: Industry, trade and labor disputes ...
#11: Social-class divisions ...
#12: Interreligious conflicts (as between Christians and Jews)
#13: Inter-Christian conflicts (sectarian divisions)
#14: Christianity to peoples ...
...
How do we respond to such deep, gaping, sometime ancient wounds!  The simple answer lies in the humility of Jesus expressed through His Body, the church.

Source: John Dawson  -  What Every Christian Should Know About Reconciliation, pp. 29-31

Forgiveness

Forgiveness is harder in practice than in theory.

Authentic forgiveness is a hard business, as any crime and justice reporter trying to fashion an article on the topic will confirm.

The exceptional instance of a victim truly forgiving a criminal is tough to find and then evaluate by conventional journalistic standards. And even those opportunities come along only a few times in a reporter’s career.

Source: Mark Morris  -  "Forgiveness is Harder in Practice than in Theory," Mark Morris, The Kansas City Star, 1 March 2015,  http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/local-columnists/article11877386.html#storylink=cpy

Daniel P. Moloney

So when I encourage my evangelical brethren to extend their ministries among Catholics, I hope to be adding to the number of people who say “Yes” to God. I do hope they say it also to Christ’s Body the Church in all the dimensions Christ intended for his Church; but, above all, I hope that they say it. Many evangelicals are good Christians, many Catholics are bad Christians, and if some bad Christians become better Christians through the influence of evangelical Protestants, Deo gratias . If I pray that there be more workers for the harvest, I shouldn’t mind when they show up, even if they are not exactly what I expected. And, as the animosities between Catholics and evangelicals subside, as Catholics and Protestants come to realize that they are already in communion, however imperfectly, I am confident that many Christians who live in the Marian dimension of the Church will continue to discover the fulness that the Holy Spirit bestows in the ministry of Peter, who is called by the Good Shepherd to feed all the sheep.

Source: Daniel P. Moloney  -  "Evangelicals in the Church of Mary", First Things, December 2000, https://www.firstthings.com/article/2000/12/evangelicals-in-the-church-of-mary

NPR pays attention to the Reformation

There are still some doctrinal disputes. But Pope Francis says that while theologians iron out their differences, the two churches can work together on social issues like caring for the poor, migrants and refugees, and combating persecution of Christians.

Jens-Martin Kruse, pastor of the Lutheran Church in Rome, says Francis' approach has been dubbed "walking ecumenism."

"We are moving together, this is a new experience that we are together on this walk," Kruse adds. "Walking together, we find that we have lots of things more in [common than] we thought before."

Source: NPR  -  National Public Radio, 28 Oct 2016, "The Pope Commemorates The Reformation That Split Western Christianity", http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/10/28/499587801/pope-francis-reaches-out-to-honor-the-man-who-splintered-christianity