What EVERYONE Should Know About Reconciliation- by John Dawson
This offering is the gold standard on the subject. Click the arrow to read.
Excerpt:
"Why Me?
If the people of your nation have broken covenants with God and other nations and violated relationships with one another, the path to reconciliation could begin with your act of confession. The greatest wounds in human history, the greatest injustices, have not happened through the acts of some individual perpetrator. Rather they have happened through the institutions, systems, philosophies, cultures, religions and governments of humankind. Because of this, we are tempted to absolve ourselves of all individual responsibility. However, God looks for individuals to "stand in the gap" just as He spoke through Ezekiel:
"And I searched for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one."(Ezekiel 22:30) This is a most amazing statement made by the Lord after the land of Israel had been destroyed by the Chaldeans. Could this great tragedy have been avoided by a single man who would build the wall and stand in the gap before the Lord for the land? That is certainly the implication. This gap is the breach between God and people that is created by transgression. The Lord Himself looked for a person who would stand in that breach for the land, but He could not find anyone."
Excerpt:
Four Healing Steps
We believe in Confession, Repentance, Reconciliation and Restitution.
CONFESSION:
Stating the truth; acknowledgement of the unjust or hurtful actions of myself or my people group toward other persons or categories of persons. (This is often seen as our main theme but this is simply because it is the place to begin and contemporary Christians have neglected it...)
REPENTANCE:
Turning from unloving to loving actions.
RECONCILIATION:
Expressing and receiving forgiveness, and pursuing intimate fellowship with previous enemies.
RESTITUTION:
Attempting to restore that which has been damaged or destroyed, and seeking justice wherever we have power to act or to influence those in authority to act.
Click on Articles under resources and then "What is God Requiring" for an excellent treatise on the subject.
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You’ve heard of the Seven Promises, but did you know that there are also eight principles of reconciliation taught in the Bible? In honor and memory of Martin Luther King, Jr., whose birthday we celebrate on January 17, we thought we would share those principles with you:
The Call:
We are all called to be involved in the ministry of reconciliation, but some have a special call to minister in diverse situations.
Key issue Reconciliation is Mandatory. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Commitment to Relationship:
Reconciliation is built upon the foundation of committed relationships.
Key issue Reconciliation involves Conflict Resolution. Ruth 1:16, 17
Intentionality:
Intentionality is the purposeful, positive and planned activity that facilitates reconciliation.
Key issue Reconciliation requires Perseverance. Ephesians 2:14, 15
Sincerity:
Sincerity is the willingness to be vulnerable, including self- disclosure of feelings, attitudes, differences and perceptions, with the goal of resolution and building trust.
Key issue Reconciliation involves Trust and Transparency John 15:15
Sensitivity:
Sensitivity is the intentional acquisition of knowledge in order to relate empathetically to any diverse situation, person, place or organization.
Key issue Reconciliation involves Knowledge and Understanding. Ephesians 4:15, 16
Sacrifice:
Sacrifice is the willingness to relinquish an established status or position to genuinely adopt a lesser position in order to facilitate diverse relationships.
Key issue Reconciliation will Cost Philippians 2:3, 4
Empowerment:
Empowerment is the use of repentance and forgiveness to create complete freedom in diverse relationships.
Key issue Reconciliation involves Repentance and Forgiveness. 2 Corinthians 8:9
Interdependence:
Interdependence recognizes differences but realizes that each offers something that the other needs, resulting in equality in the relationship.
Key issue Reconciliation involves Equality 2 Corinthians 8:13, 14
Posted from internet mailing sent by Promise Keepers
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