Heart of the Reconciler

Sweet Reconciliation

Messing up as a college student. Returning to my church. I’m not good enough to be a server. “You never were good enough to be a server.”

I was humbled. And was so grateful. I had been shown mercy, and I was beginning to understand grace in a personal way.

I don’t often praise the folks who make up the lectionary, but these last couple of Sundays have been beautiful.

Ministry of Reconciliation outlined by Paul marries perfectly with the story of the prodigal son. Our call to be reconcilers and the Heart of God — the heart of the reconciler — is the focus of today’s readings.

To be a reconciler is to be someone who works to restore broken or strained relationships. Another way of saying this is a peace maker. To make whole that which was broken.

In order to be reconcilers we must regard people and the world differently. And we must be fuelled — not by my rights, or what I am entitled to — but by the love of God for all of God’s creatures. Creatures who happen to be infected with the disease of sin.

We need the compassion of a mother caring for her sick child, we need the skill and care of a nurse tending a patient.

Today I would like to take a closer look at this calling and the heart of God — the heart of the reconciler.

Ministry of Reconciliation

The Wave of Karen videos. Irate people judging others for misdemeanours as if they are a personal affront.

The New International Version Chapter 5

16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

Unlike the unfortunate people being exposed in these videos — Reconcilers cannot be easily offended. They cannot have the perspective that everyone is out to get them.

Our view of the world must be broader. Things do not revolve around me — Jesus is to be the centre.

Lowered expectations —not to excuse poor behaviour, but to understand it with compassion.

We are all infected with the same disease.

And yet — by God’s gracious invitation — we are called to be reconcilers.

The New International Version Chapter 5

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

We are a new creation. Not better than, but to be used for the purposes of God. To reflect the heart of God. What is God’s desire: loving intimate relationship with his creatures. God longs for reconciliation — a healed and restored creation.

Losing Our Way

GPS Fail — 2 Tourists within weeks of each other were directed down a boat launch. And they kept going — one thought it was a puddle!

When we travel we are completely dependant on GPS to get around, but you still need to look to where you are going.

The story of God’s people in the Bible is a story of people losing their way. It is the story of God persistently pursing them, and guiding them back to the Way.

It is s a story that continues to the played out now in the church.

We Anglicans, in the pursing power and influence committed atrocious acts. We failed to reflect the heart of God and reflected corrupted power instead.

Today our own Church is straying in other ways. But there is nothing new under the sun. What are we to do in light of this? Give up Hope? NO! We are to focus on the heart of Christ, and pray for grace. We are to be humble, gentle and know our need.

Gift of Repentance

Two abuses:

Twisting it from a good news, loving word, to a angry word of judgement.

Dismissing the need for repentance altogether. Making Self — actualization the guide for our lives rather than the will of God.

The Story of the Prodigal both of the sons are in need of repentance

The wastrel — obvious offences: Wishing the Father we dead. Wasting his inheritance on wild living.

The Responsible Son. Less obvious. But his heart is far from the father though he is physically near the father. It may look like obedience, but there is little love. His hearts desire — to host a feast for his friends. To be a man of means, apart from his father.

Repentance is a course correction. It is recognizing that the way to abundant life is in faithful obedience to God. And, by God’s grace, when we find ourselves in the desolation that is separation from the Father, we like the wastrel, will come to our senses, and make a course correction.

We can make course corrections only b/c of the beautiful heart of our Heavenly Father, because of the way provided for us by our Redeemer, and the constant interventions of the Holy Spirit.

Because of the heart of God, we are encouraged to repent daily — several times a day. Repentance is the part we play in reconciliation. It is a powerful reminder we are not in the position to condemn others, but to encourage others to find their peace in God.

The Good News we share is simply: “One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.”

Heart of the Father

How do we move from Judges to Reconcilers? How do we reclaim to love and beauty behind the call to repentance? By focusing on the heart of the Father.

Who was Looking our for the Wayward Son.

Who noticed the absence of the Elder Son.

Throwing dignity to the wind and running to the Repentant Son. By leaving the celebration to pursue the Elder son.

Who moved not to punish, but to restore, to include in the celebration

Celebration — Prodigal Father (Timothy Keller)

Reconcilers

Look for the lost, and they cheer them on in an engagement with their Heavenly Father.

They pursue intimacy with God to better reflect the Reconciling Heart, and so fulfil the will of God.