Who Can Heal the Wounds?
Greg Howse
Jeanette is an African-American, single parent who attends Cornerstone Christian Center. Not too long ago, she
purchased a house in Forest Park, a nearby racially-mixed village. Every day she felt like pinching herself to
see if this pretty little house was a dream. Then the anonymous letter from a neighbor appeared in her mailbox.
“Your kind will only depreciate the value of our property.”
Instantly, a cloud blocked the sun of Jeanette's joy. She could have withdrawn into her house behind locked
doors. She could have withdrawn into herself behind locked doors of anger and bitterness. Instead Jeanette approached
her problem as a spiritual challenge. She prayed for her neighbor—whichever one it was—so that her heart would
stay pure and forgiving. She also set out to make her house and yard the best on her block.
First some elderly Caucasian neighbors complimented her for keeping such a beautiful home. They were glad to
see her house brighten theirs. Finally Jeanette met the neighbor who wrote the letter when he came over and apologized
to her. The cloud lifted. Her new neighborhood was a joy again.
The Need for Reconciliation
Jeanette's experience is exceptional—exceptional because she refused to respond to hatred with hatred. She overcame
evil with good (Rom. 12:21). Even if her hostile neighbor had never voiced his repentance, she would have heaped
“coals of fire on his head” (v. 20) and made him feel like a heel. Because he let go of his hostility, he and Jeanette
experienced a measure of reconciliation. At this time, only God knows how much.
Circle the letter of the response that best expresses your attitude toward what Jeanette did.
a. Jeanette is an exception. Nobody should change their opinions based on exceptions.
b. Jeanette was a good neighbor, but you have to make property decisions based on cold, hard realities.
c. I would like to do the right thing about interracial neighborhoods, but I'm afraid of losing my investment.
d. I admire Jeanette. I'd live in an interracial neighborhood with neighbors like that.
e. Jeanette shouldn't have to be a saint and a martyr to buy a house and have friends.
f. I don't think Jeanette should have forgiven the letter writer so quickly.
What responsibilities do you think Christians have to be peacemakers in neighborhoods having their first experiences
with racial integration?
Faith Alive
Most of our racial attitudes spring from our childhood experiences with our parents, church leaders, teachers,
and other key adults. Think for a minute about the way you were raised from childhood to adulthood. Consider the
experiences you had with people from other ethnic groups or cultures. How does your background cause you to react
to these key concepts of racial alienation?
• Prejudice
• Fear
• Ignorance
• Acceptance
• Trust
Reconciliation Through Jesus Christ
Second Corinthians 5:14–21 teaches us that God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto Himself. The Lord
Himself is the supreme example of reconciliation. We were fearful of exposure to His presence. We were ignorant
of His purpose in the earth. We were alienated from Him by our sin. We refused to accept Him because of our rebellion
against Him. We refused to trust Him. We were suspicious of Him.
But He loved us unconditionally, and His love motivated Him to make a move toward us. He came to us as a man,
full of grace and truth. We need to be confronted with His truth. We need to be supported and empowered by His
grace.
Now it is up to us to imitate our Lord and make a radical move toward those who are alienated from us. As we
are reconciled we overcome fear, ignorance, alienation, and hostility through the power of relationship. The love
of Christ compels us to make this move.
How will our racial relations be affected if “we regard no one according to the flesh”—that is, refuse to judge
by worldly, human standards? (2 Cor. 5:16)
What aspects of racial hostility do you think are among the “old things” that pass away when we are reconciled
to Christ? (2 Cor. 5:17)
If we are ambassadors urging people to be reconciled to God through Christ, how should our ministry of reconciliation
affect relationships between Christians of different races? (2 Cor. 5:18–21)
Word Wealth
Compels (2 Cor. 5:14) translates a compound Greek verb meaning “to hold together,” or “to grip tightly.”
In every use of the word, there is a sense of constraint, a tight grip that prevents escape. The love of Christ
leaves us no choice except to live our lives for Him. That love gets downright pushy when its compulsion involves
reconciling alienated people. [Spirit-Filled Life® Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991),
1758, “Word Wealth: 2 Cor. 5:14, compels.”]
When have you felt compelled by the love of Christ to reach out to someone you ordinarily would have ignored
or avoided?
If the love of Christ were going to compel you to be reconciled with a brother or sister of another race, what
would be the greatest barrier in the way of His love?
At a Glance
2 Cor. 5:14,15
What is the radical concept ?
—A radical love
How does this concept apply to you ?
—He died for us so we live for him
2 Cor. 5:16
What is the radical concept ?
—A radical perception
How does this concept apply to you ?
—We regard no one according to the flesh
2 Cor. 5:17
What is the radical concept ?
—A radical change
How does this concept apply to you ?
—Old things have passed away; all things have become new.
2 Cor. 5:18
What is the radical concept ?
—A radical ministry
How does this concept apply to you ?
—The ministry of reconciliation.
2 Cor. 5:19
What is the radical concept ?
—Radical ambassadors
How does this concept apply to you ?
—The word of reconciliation is committed to us.
When we were reconciled to God, He didn't change. Only we did. What had to change for us to be reconciled to
Him?
When we are reconciled to other people, usually both human parties have to change. Neither is perfect. What
do you think has to change for people of different races or cultures to be reconciled to one another?
When both parties need to change in order for reconciliation to occur, often each waits for the other to change
first. Who do you think the Lord expects to take the initiative in racial reconciliation? Why?
Probing the Depths
“But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought
us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim
to bring others into harmony with Him].”
(2 Cor. 5:18 AMPLIFIED)
Reconciliation has a twofold reality.
1. It has already happened (with God). God has already brought us into favor and harmony with Himself.
2. It is still in progress (with us). We aim to bring others into favor and harmony with the Lord. We illustrate
this by the favor and harmony we have with one another as fellow Christians.
How has God changed you so you can enjoy greater favor and harmony with Him?
How does God need to change you so you can enjoy greater favor and harmony with brothers and sisters in Christ
from other racial and cultural groups?
Word Wealth
Reconciled (1 Cor. 7:11) is the past participle of a verb meaning “to change,” “to restore a relationship,”
or “to make things right.” This word describes the reestablishing of a proper, loving, interpersonal relationship,
which has been broken or disrupted. [Ibid., 172, “Word Wealth: 1 Cor. 7:11, reconciled.”]
We are Called to Be Reconcilers
Second Corinthians 5:20 tells us that we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us.
God, who reconciled the world to Himself through the death of His Son, is now inviting the world, through His ambassadors,
to be reconciled to Him. To be ambassadors for Christ is to be reconcilers wherever relationships are broken.
The apostle Paul worked for years to promote reconciliation in Christ between Jews and Gentiles. Until recently,
there hasn't been much organized concern among Bible-believing Christians about racial separation in the church.
Why do you think we have been slow to promote reconciliation among Christians of different races and cultures?
Why do you think God has been impressing the need for racial reconciliation on the hearts of so many conservative
church leaders and laypeople?
What do you think Bible-centered and Spirit-centered racial reconciliation has to offer our divided communities
that liberal Christianity never can?
Word Wealth
Ambassador (Eph. 6:20) literally meant “to be an elder.” Later it took on the governmental sense of a
representative of the ruling authority. Ambassadors were chosen from the ranks of mature, experienced men. To be
an ambassador for Christ, representing Him on the mission of reconciliation in all of its dimensions, necessitates
advanced spiritual maturity. [Ibid., 1797, “Word Wealth: Eph. 6:20, ambassador.”]
This work of reconciliation is centered in Jesus Himself (Eph. 2:14, 15). He is our peace and He is also our
peacemaker. There are not many people groups in Christ, there is only one—those who have been washed in the blood
of Jesus. Through His cross He brought us all together, destroying hostility, recreating us as one new man. He
did not bring other ethnic groups up to the level of the best group. That would lead to one race claiming to be
the super-ethnic group. Instead He produced a supra-ethnic group—His church!
What do you think are the factors that lead to feelings of racial enmity in your community?
How does the cross of Jesus Christ address those factors and provide a basis for peace between the races?
What do you think churches and individual Christians will have to do in your community to deal with racial enmity
there?
Bible Extra
Josephus used the term “middle wall” (Eph. 2:14) to describe the partition that separated the court of the Gentiles
from the main part of the temple in Jerusalem. The inscription on the partition said, “No Foreigner may enter within
the barricade which surrounds the sanctuary and enclosure. Anyone caught doing so will have himself to blame for
his ensuing death.” [A. Skevington Woods, “Ephesians,” The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Vol. 11 (Grand
Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1978), 40.]
Even though Ephesians 2:14 is focusing on Jew and Gentile, give consideration to current people groups which
have a middle wall of separation. How can the principle “He Himself is our peace” work for these groups also?
The Lord aims to create in Himself one new man from two, thus making peace. How can this be facilitated between
hostile, alienated ethnic groups today?
When Paul tried to capture the ferocity of the mutual racial hostility between Jews and Gentiles, he said they
looked at one another as “strangers” and “foreigners” (Eph. 2:19). These labels identified people of inferior status.
Paul stated, in no uncertain terms, that these who were thought of as inferior had all the privileges of the household
of God through union with Christ.
What are some practical ways we can remind ourselves that Christians from other ethnic groups are full citizens
of the same kingdom we belong to?
We are being built together to become a dwelling place for God's presence (Eph. 2:22). This building consists
of every kind of people on planet earth. The key is that we are “being built together.” We are aligned with the
cornerstone, Christ Jesus.
• Write down the words in Ephesians 2:19 which are exclusionary.
• Write down the words in this Scripture which are inclusionary.
• What are some of the things we do that exclude Christians of other races from our fellowship?
• What do we need to do to include Christians of other races in our fellowship?
“There is no distinction between Greek and Jew [or any other diverse groups which would tend to be divided by
hostility], … but Christ is all, and in all” (Col. 3:11, NASB).
We like to make distinctions between groups of people, especially when our group feels hostile to the other.
But there is no distinction when we are in Christ. Certainly there is, and always will be, diversity in the body
of Christ. But this diversity is never to serve as a barrier to fellowship; it is never to be an instrument of
threat or intimidation. Our diversity should serve as a complimenting factor for an example to the world. Jesus
Christ is the great principle of all true unity. Loyalty to Jesus must be our priority over all natural earthly
ties.
If you could suggest one activity this year for your church to promote greater harmony and cooperation among
Christians of different races, what would you like to see happen?
What could you do to increase the likelihood that this will happen?
From Race & Reconciliation: Healing the Wounds, Winning the
Harvest by Jack W. Hayford with Greg Howse and Michael Posey. Copyright 1996 by Jack W.
Hayford.
