Thursday, July 16, 2009

No Reconciliation Without Conversion

"There is no reconciliation without conversion, the constant journey with God into a future of new people and new loyalties.  Broken by sin, we do not long for what God wants.  The world and its dividing lines such as nation, ethnicity, race, sex, power, and caste resist the new creation of God's beloved community where there is 'neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female' (Galatians 3:28).  Self-interest easily becomes the goal of relationships, and loyalty to one's own group easily becomes the aim of politics.  Reconciliation thus requires a transformation of desire, habits, and loyalties.  This is a long and costly journey which is impossible without God's forgiveness and grace.  But there is reason to hope:  God has promised to give us everything we need for this transformation."

-- Emmanuel Katongale and Chris Rice, Reconciliation as the Mission of God

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