Reconciliation

So, here is a tentative draft of an article I am working on which is designed to discuss what I feel will need to be the main focus of my generation's theological reflection if we are committed to being faithful to the call of Christ in our particular context. There are six points which I will eventually highlight, with an attempt to lay a ground work for later theological reflection and introduce a rudimentary element of praxis. 

This first section is concerning the Theology of Reconciliation.

 

I believe that the work of Christ is primarily that of a reconciler [1], in that through the shedding of his blood, the dying of his death, and his subsequent resurrection into new life, Christ has reconciled humanity to G-D [2]. I must conclude then that Christ is a bridge-builder, while at the same time being himself the bridge, and as Christian's, we are called to share in his death and resurrection through the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Baptism, which enable us to put on the nature of Christ in a very real and tangible way. In light of this, I find it necessary to affirm that since Christ was a bridge-builder, we also are to be people who build bridges.

We must recognize that our world is a very polarizing place, and that the language of "us" and "them"[3] is particularly prevalent in our western culture. I see a world made up of "individuals" trying to live as though they were "islands," disconnected from "them" and content in their "us-ness."[3] I unequivocally affirm that this is not the way of Christ. The call of Christ is the call to the deepest level of community possible, both with G-D and with others.[4] It is a call to participation in a community of people who have been redeemed by G-D and commissioned with the task of helping to incarnate the kingdom of our LORD.[4] The call of Christ is the call to membership in the Beloved Community. 

I believe that the gaps that separate us can take many and varied forms, whether they be racial, cultural, economic, theological/philosophical, political, just to name a few. Regardless of what forms these gaps might take, I believe that it is our job to creatively and lovingly build bridges between "us" and "them"[3] and to point others towards the bridge that has been built between G-D and us. 

 

[1] It would be terribly detrimental to the state of theological reflection and the life of the Church if this were the only way in which the nature of Christ's work on our behalf were to be viewed. So, while I think Christ's work on our behalf is primarily that of initiating and completing the reconciliation of humanity and G-D, I would never claim that this captures, or even comes close to understanding, the totality of Christ's work.

[2] Romans 5.10-11; 2 Corinthians 5.17-19,21; Colossians 1.21-22

[3] For a far more detailed discussion on this idea of "us" and "them," see Miroslav Volf's book Exclusion and Embrace: A theological Exploration on Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation. Volf's ideas have been enormously helpful for me in developing a theological framework through which I might make sense of what it means to be created in the image of God.

[4] If you are interested in delving deeper into this idea, I would suggest reading Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together. Bonhoeffer does a masterful job of illustrating humanities need for community as a foundation upon which to build, express and enact faith. He also speaks in detail about the praxis of community, which I have found to be most helpful and insightful.

P.S. 

Sorry for the awkward footnote indicators in the paper, I couldn't figure out how to make them a superscript. 

May the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, the love of G-D the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you!

Mike G.