The Path to Reconciliation

My friend Asana gave me the script of a short play from when she was involved in the UN’s Reconciliation of the Dagomba and Konkomba tribes in Yendi. I’m glad I saved it, because our world needs reconciliation now, more than ever. The four players in Reconciliation are Mercy, Truth, Justice, and Peace.

Who does Peace fear most? Not uncompromising Truth, but Mercy! The reason is that Mercy is often too quick to insist that everyone forgive and move on, without allowing Truth to tell her story. When Truth is sidelined, Justice is circumvented as well. This attempt at a quick fix to the problem can bring temporary Peace, but that Peace is fragile, because it is not founded upon Reconciliation. Reconciliation comes only from both parties acknowledging what they did and what the other party did and agreeing to relationship anyway, which sometimes requires that Justice step in as well.

People are often told to forgive quickly and to move along – as if that will bring Peace. This can work for minor troubles, but for serious wrongs, it is not enough. Mercy, without Truth and Justice, provides an empty promise of Peace. Without Truth and Justice, the feelings of hurt and injustice are not resolved, and bitterness and resentment, rather than lasting Peace and Reconciliation, are fostered. When Mercy-filled conflict avoiders create an atmosphere in which discussing Truth verbally is taboo, violent confrontations can be the result, because eventually pent up feelings of injustice explode. Of course, ruminating over Truth and demanding absolute Justice, silencing Mercy, blocks Peace as well. Truth, Mercy, Justice, and Peace must act together to bring Reconciliation.

The script did not mention that the ideas in it come from the Bible, but clearly they do. Psalm 85 discusses God reconciling himself to his disobedient children, the nation of Israel, who have committed unspeakable sins against him. Verse 10 says, “Mercy and truth have met each other: justice and peace have kissed.”

In modern Christianity, people often disagree over the idea of “cheap grace.” One side says that of course, grace should be given freely, because grace from God is free. The other side urges that grace not be trivialized. Christ spoke of generous forgiveness (Luke 17:3-4, Matt 18:22) but immediately prior to that He also spoke of truth and reconciliation. We are to go to our brother who has wronged us, urgently (Matt 5:23-4), first alone (Matt 18:15) and if that is unsuccessful, with others (Matt 18:16-17). This is not a depiction of a quick mental assent to “forgive and forget” but rather, doing the WORK of talking it out – getting to the Truth – admitting guilt (and if appropriate, repenting) so that Justice and Mercy can be balanced and true Peace – Reconciliation – can be achieved. Resentment can eat away at our souls. Lev 19:17 warns, “Don’t secretly hate your neighbor. If you have something against him, get it out into the open; otherwise you are an accomplice in his guilt.” Forgiveness is a personal, private act (Mark 11:25); we can forgive and leave Justice to God. However, it is only when we are reconciled that our relationship is restored (Col 1:20). And really, that is what the Gospel is all about: reconciling each person to God (II Cor 5:18-20).