“I just think that truth and reconciliation is sequential, that you can’t have the reconciliation without the truth.” - Bryan Stevenson
The times that we are living in are increasingly putting people on the two ends of a spectrum. Responses to Covid, e-learning, racial injustice, and politics has our world in an uproar. One thing that has been difficult to grapple with in my head is the way that we as another. We, as a nation, as well as the body of Christ, are so divided that the revival that many seek seems a bit far off.
The exposure of sin is widespread, but repentance seems far off
We have people who hate people of color, and some of the people of color are fighting hate with hate. We have lost hundreds of people who have lost their lives to COVID-19, and there are many who this has yet to affect. We have children and parents who are overwhelmed with the new learning models, lack of social interaction, and others who may not know what it means to experience such. Our differences have been exposed in such a great way and it troubles me that we are so divided. Not that believers of Christ, followers of “the way” are at odds concerning everything. If you are exercising caution and compassion you lack faith, if you are choosing to not forsake the assembly as a means of faith you are reckless. I often sit and wonder why it is that we must be the ones that destroy one this is a new reality for me, but it is disheartening to continually see this in this manner. The exposure of sin is widespread, but repentance seems far off and many are clinging to their ideas so strongly that make me wonder when will this take a turn for the better? When will people that are called by the Lord’s name truly humble themselves and pray?
The space of mutual submission seems like a distant theoretical view.
As a black woman who sits at the intersection of many of the atrocities in our world, I am amazed that we believe that the process begins and ends with calling out the truth and leaving it there. Unfortunately, that is a simple-minded approach to truth-telling and reconciliation. As a lover of truth, I understand telling the truth and recognizing harm is essential to forward momentum and revival but so is forgiveness. However, I don’t see either side looking far enough outside of their own vantage points to enter spaces of mutuality. The space of mutual submission seems like a distant theoretical view. It takes major strength for people to turn from their wicked ways and for those that they have caused harm to forgive them, but that is the way of Christ, and maybe that is the new journey the Lord is calling us to.
Tell the truth in love. - Keep telling the truth, it is essential but don’t do it void of love. Am I saying that truth must come easy, absolutely not! Quite frankly, it is hard for most human beings to receive truth on any level. Knowing this information, be careful with how you share truth. It is not okay to always go for the jugular, it is jarring for the receptors and it takes a toll on the truth-teller. In essence, pace yourself because these systems weren't built in a day and they will not be torn down in one either.
Let it be the truth! - I have seen people skew data to suit them, skew perceptions and vantage points, and some just flat out lie to garner support on either side of the spectrum. Please if you are labeling yourself as a truth-teller (prophet) in this season of our lives, please do us all a favor and tell the truth.
The fight for mutuality and reconciliation may be something we are fighting for future generations. What do you mean? Sometimes the things that we fight for will not come to fruition until we die. The “hall of faith,” in Hebrews 11 is a great picture of this thought. Many of the faith leaders in those scriptures died in hope, waiting to see the promise of the Lord. Some of the things that we are called to fight have lasted centuries before our arrival and we have been recruited to fight a fight that will outlive us. Please learn to be okay with the glimpses of hope that you may receive in your journey, along the way.
When we take these things into account it helps us to live a more balanced life. Forgiving those that have wronged us, repenting when we have done wrong, and everyone taking their own sins and the sins of the communities around them with both sincerity and grace. This is the complexity of what it means to be a believer, to tell the truth and be reconciled.
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