When you hear the term “reconciliation” what comes to mind? In America, “racial reconciliation” can be volatile and is usually hotly discussed, or avoided, depending on the setting. While race is a relatively modern concept (concurrent with the transatlantic slave trade), people have always found reasons to separate from each other. Some of these reasons are social constructs, or artificial distinctions made by people. Yet, reconciliation across racial and ethnic lines is a profoundly biblical concept. On the day of Pentecost in the crowded city of Jerusalem, thousands of people from a multitude of nations were present. In this setting God’s Spirit moved powerfully and gave leaders the ability to preach in several languages so that every person present would hear the gospel. What was the result? Thousands of people came to know Jesus Christ! (Acts 2:37). In a setting where longstanding prejudice along social and ethnic distinctions propagated division and hate, God intervened to bring unity.
Jesus is the Great Reconciler
What is your normal reaction when someone offends you? Most people want revenge. Some choose the opposite of retaliation and just cut the offender off. The year 2020, and all of its chaos, revealed a volatile level of division in America. Churches split and several denominations experienced turmoil due to disagreements on social and political issues. Yet, God shows us another way. Christ, even though He was the offended party, chose to initiate reconciliation for us. He looked past our offenses, and chose the cross, to bring us back to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:18-21). This passage also says that God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. We are called to model Christ in our pursuit of one another. Where the world divides, we unite in Christ.
Reconciliation is Living out the Gospel
James says that, “faith without works is dead” (2:26). Christians are far from perfect, but through the Spirit’s power, we strive to become more and more like Christ. Race was developed as a tool to intentionally divide people and promote hate. Political views do not define a human made in God’s image; so it’s OK to disagree. God made humanity with this great capacity for ethnic and cultural diversity. Paul addresses these types of social divisions in Colossians:
“Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
-Colossians 3:11 ESV
The things that make us who we are (such as ethnicity or social status) don’t fade away because we’re saved, but we don’t separate over these differences because Christ is all in all. Or, rather, it’s all about Christ!
God calls us to be reconcilers, like Him, that pursue unity. The world will continue to polarize and divide. As the body of Christ, we are called to intentionally seek oneness across lines of division. That looks like men recognizing the parity of women. That looks like Christians from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds intentionally pursuing relationships, which is living out the gospel. Our unity makes a statement to the world that Jesus is Savior and Lord (John 17:23). Christ is a reconciler, and we should be reconcilers too.
Kathairo Solutions 
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