Blame, Shame, and Reconciliation - 2

Over several decades, I have been privileged to witness seven small revivals. The first one took place in Kenya. I was a child there and then as a teenager, so I didn't have the tools to really understand what was happening in the East African Revival. Many other events were going on at the same time, something like countercurrents. 

Basically, European powers controlled African colonies, and African leaders were seeking their independence. Political comments were usually topics for adults to chew over after we children went to bed, not talking about around the meal table. 

At the time, I couldn't stand back and observe things analytically as I could later on. But Holy Spirit-led movements honoring Jesus Christ were a topic of profound interest at home. I wondered if I would ever see a real revival, and if so, what brought it about?

In the mid-1970s, a short-lived revival broke out on the Western Canadian Prairies. The topic of revival was important since my parents had an entire collection of books about the subject in their bookcases. Was it because of distrust among pastors and leaders that this movement faded away? Spontaneous meetings began, some lasting until late in the evening. Were church leaders uncomfortable with laypeople standing up, giving their testimonies, and with some confessing their sins?

Shortly after arriving in Brazil, and before I was entirely fluent in the Portuguese language, I was one of about 80 pastors attending the annual Pastor's Conference at Piraputanga, the beautiful Baptist camp not far from Campo Grande, in the western state of Mato Grosso do Sul. After a morning session, Pastor Jonathan de Oliveira, pastor of First Baptist Church, stood up unexpectedly. He called a deacon to the front. The surprised layman and all of us, too, heard this pastor say, "I'm sorry for what I said several years ago. Please forgive me. I was wrong." As they hugged each other, I could not control the tears flowing into my eyes. There was something about the sincerity of public repentance, forgiveness asked for, and reconciliation born that moved me deeply. 

Out of that event came the concept of forming a local seminary, away from the major cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Where leaders had lived with a defeatist attitude, harboring past wrongs, a tiny flame was sparked. Several other events had recently taken place in Dourados, a nearby city.

Leadership formation of an extraordinary kind was born. What happened over the following years is a story too long to repeat here. Some people like numbers to use as a measurement. In Campo Grande, where there were eleven churches in 1978, there are 110 Baptist churches today, according to one of my former students. The city tripled in population while the number of disciples grew tenfold. Truth be told, many other evangelical churches were also planted in that city and all over that western Brazilian state. God was glorified and is being glorified in thousands of lives. 

"Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand," said Jesus. 

I have given much thought to that single event in 1978. There was a public shame, a gentle, godly, courageous, and humble spirit of humility breaking down emotional separation. Would the same growth have come without that confession of sin? Confession, looking back on it, was such a simple act. For Pastor Jonathan, it must have been like dying to a whole part of his former self.

Arriving in Campo Grande, significant emotional turmoil existed between people. 

And I didn't know a thing about it. Things are usually that way. We can't come into a room, a school, a church, a business, or an institution and instantly be aware of past shaming or contemporary blaming. The same thing happens in family life, congregational life, sports teams, within businesses, across political lines, and even among entire ethnic groups. 

Whenever I think about that pastor's conference in 1978 (which is often), I think of these wonderful words: "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:4-32

 

Blame or Reconciliation -1

We are living through momentous days. I think everyone has the same conviction. Change is in the air. I come to this topic believing that we all want the world to be a better place. We want happiness, but we mourn past sins, aggressions, loss of life, and other disappointments.  

This raises an issue for us all. How do we approach societal, moral, and ethical changes? What is our first reaction? When we do respond, what kind of language do we use? 

I see a dramatic difference between these two poles. One might be called "Laying Blame." Another response could be named "Finding a path to reconciliation."

Much of what I see on the TV, in print, and on social media reveals dark things. 

There's lots of horrible stuff happening, to be sure. To blame another person almost invariably means looking at the PAST. We seek to bring a distance between ourselves and the person or persons who caused such outrage.

Laying blame means asking a series of questions? What happened? Who did it? How much abuse was there? What can be done about it? Will the police charge someone? Why did people get away with it for so long? How much has been covered up? How high up the ladder are those protecting the ones who were caught? I call these investigative questions, and they must be asked. However, it's all too easy to stay stuck in the past, digging further and further, distancing ourselves, creating social and relational distance, and saying, "You are to blame!"

I have deliberately defined this as a polarization because in later blogs I hope to tease out some of the more subtle nuances we face in decision making. So, the one side tends towards laying blame.

At the same time, there is another aspect to our lives. We have to work towards the future. If we go beyond laying blame, we will seek reconciliation. 

Reconciliation has to do with another set of questions. Each question brings us into the FUTURE. 

In the Gospel, I find a marvelous truth. God was in Christ Jesus finding a way to reconcile the world to himself. Mercy trumps judgment. Finding the path to reconciliation has as its goal to live in peace with one another. (2 Cor 5:18) I don't see Jesus coming to lay blame. He comes into a world, recognizing evil, but showing how to form an entirely new approach to life.

People who seek to live out the demands of the Kingdom of God will ask additional questions. 

Reconciliation involves the difficult but necessary conversation between people who have been at odds. Maybe punishment must happen, but there's a deeper foundation. It's based on agape love.

 Yes, conflicts happened. But now what? The path to reconciliation asks a relational set of questions. How can our relationship be restored? What kind of a world do we want to live in? How can we change things so that this abuse doesn't happen again? Do the laws need to be changed? Will private or public acknowledgment of guilt be sufficient? Is it possible that we might even learn to love and appreciate one another? 

(I will write more on "Reconciliation" in my next blog post.)

Faithfulness is Love Going Beyond Reason

During days when things seem chaotic, 

Faithfulness means staying calm because you care deeply for the people in your life.

     Being a child of our faithful Heavenly father helps us imitate his character.

Faithfulness is not falling into old habits, some of which may be sinful.

    Staying the course happens because the vision is clear. We desire to please the Lord.

Keeping a relationship alive brings joy during little and big events. 

    Little decisions each day add up to a lifetime of character formation.

Love helps us stay faithful to the wife/husband of our youth, despite trials and difficulties.

Faithfulness enables us to meet each day's demands. We do this because of God's faithfulness.

Jesus was faithful every day. His character is constant. The Lord is present during our most difficult moments. "God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up to it." I Cor. 10:13. 

 

The Kingdom of God: Understanding its demands

Following Jesus Christ produces the most dramatic life changes. Not only do we receive everlasting salvation, but we are also baptized into his body, the church of the Living God. 

Jesus calls for all things to be united in him. I believe that putting the teaching of the Kingdom of God in practice, as taught by our Lord, will give us an insight into how to live holy lives in contemporary society. Knowing what the Kingdom of God demands of me will orient my decisions on hundreds of smaller but still vital issues.

Jesus called twelve disciples to be close to him. He had many other followers, as well. Right after his death and resurrection, 120 disciples met in Jerusalem. Among them were the Eleven (the Twelve, minus Judas Iscariot.) Paul tells of an encounter Jesus had with more than 500, presumably those who followed him in Galilee. 

 Jesus did not call followers who would agree with each other on all things. We know Simon the Zealot was politically motivated before he was called. To be a Zealot was to plan an overthrow of the hated Roman occupiers. Andrew may have followed John the Baptist, who was likely influenced by the Essenes, who escaped contemporary society's corruption. Nathaniel may also have been an Essene. Certainly, most of the disciples, Simon Peter, James, and John, were influenced by the Pharisees, those who were conservative. Probably, Matthew was more inclined to the life of the Sadducees, those who tolerated the Roman presence. After all, Matthew was a tax collector, working on behalf of the hated soldiers and foreign administrators. Why did Jesus call people together who came from polar opposites?

What did Jesus do with such a diverse group? He taught them about the Kingdom of God. His earliest preaching was, "Repent for the Kingdom of God is near." Jesus addresses the sin issues, those things that cause division, hatred, misunderstanding, and enmity. His teaching included dozens of parables, most beginning with the words, "The Kingdom of God is like a ..." By the evening before his death, he had shown them how to live life according to the Kingdom of God.

If we can grasp this key concept, we will have a unique insight into our decisions. We have to act within a complex modern society. But the teaching of Jesus speaks to any place, language, family, or earthly kingdom. God works with people who come from every point on the political compass. We should not worry or be intimidated by current events. We will not shy away from the topic of sin, nor will we live in despair because of the brokenness that comes upon us all.  

God intends to create a new people, walking in along a new path, displaying a new kind of servanthood. Jesus illustrates this over and over in his life. He showed love and gave attention to the least, the last, and the lost. 

God intends to draw all things to himself in Jesus Christ. God desires unity. This is not an artificial political unity that favors only one group over another. That is something that quickly passes. We never find Jesus crying out for a revolution against Rome. (SOme people rewrite the life of Jesus, twisting his words, so he appears to criticize the Roman Empire.) 

Jesus even accepted Rome's demands for the payment of taxes. If anyone follows Christ's teaching, then the lust for earthly power, prestige, and glory (that which 'Rome' constantly offers) will quickly disappear. A new light has dawned. It is a new Kingdom. Earthly politicians will forever seek temporary power and glory. Lies, exaggeration, causing division, and self-serving attitudes are easy to detect. 

Christ's followers will make decisions that overcome racial prejudices, economic stereotypes, and self-promotion. His is a kingdom built on love and self-sacrifice. It is a kingdom that unmistakably seeks the best for others. The Kingdom of God is not about what most favors me, my family, and my limited group.

All kingdoms are built on power. Just examine the eleven mighty empires that came crashing down between the years 1949 and 1992. (Allworld empires gave up their powers, usually reluctantly, as colonies became modern nations.) How many thousands, no millions, or people died or suffered as these empires were built up? Think about the demise of the British, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, Belgian, Dutch, Ottoman, Russian, and Japanese Empires.

The Kingdom of God is built on a heavenly power, not on earthly powers. "That power is like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in his way." Ephesians 1:19-21