All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. – 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
Bear with me a moment while I tie the following analogy into the above scriptural application for use today in heading off a potential fire storm.
We have all seen the pictures and a few reading this have even been near an actual forest fire. Once out of control, the worst ones can consume millions of acres and potentially residential areas. As I talk with friends old and new, watch conversation on social media, and see the outcome of racially divided, religiously ignited, and ethnically charged engagements I am reminded of the precursor to every civil war in the history of the world. If you go back and read about any civil war in world history as we know it, you will find that ALL of them started as a result of Racial, Religious, or Ethnic fire storms. This is not to say that religion is the cause for all war. History has proven that assumption false but what it affirms is it is a major contributor to civil war action through the time of man to the present.
Aside from the spiritual implications which I have already written about extensively, it is paramount that I write on the social science of all of that is happening in America today.
Imagine a forest so dry from lack of rain that something as simple as a reflection of light off of a piece of metal could set the forest ablaze. Now imagine that American society today is that forest. It is possible that things are not as bad as I am making them out to be but I wager that beyond what is possible, it is highly probable that Sunday is today exactly and if not more so the most racially divided day we Christians experience all week. It is true that such an observation is nothing new. However, what is new is the current state of affairs in America. Never before in our history as a nation has our forest been so dry and in need of reconciliation. As Christians and according to the verses above, we are to be about “the ministry of reconciliation”.
Therefore, I am using my platform here on Veterans to Christ to shout from the roof tops a message of reconciliation and an ultimatum. The message is taken from above: BE RECONCILED TO GOD, and the ultimatum: TEAR DOWN THIS NON-CHRISTIAN WALL CALLED DIVIDED SUNDAY WORSHIP! With the confidence of Ronald Reagan to challenge the leaders of the Cold War to “Tear Down This Wall”, I demand as a fellow Ambassador for Christ that the wall dividing worship on Sunday has stood entirely too long.
So why now, why the demand? It is simple. The best way to put out a fire, control a fire or manage the direction of a fire is with “Fire Suppression”. According to www.fireparadox.org, one method of Fire Suppression is called a “Backfire”. A backfire is set along the inner edge of a fire line to consume the fuel in the path of a wild fire or change the direction of force of the fires conventional column. To master this method it is necessary to work in a co-coordinated manner using experienced acquired by present day operators, backed by the necessary research.
American society needs this backfire of reconciliation in order to put out the current fires of deadly division that have already started and control or manage any new fires that may crop up. In order to be successful, it will require experienced Ambassadors for Christ on both sides of the Sunday Wall to demonstrate HOW to be reconciled. The reconciliation I am calling for is Godward. In other words, the only successful backfire of reconciliation will be to intentionally and publicly worship together as it is intended to be and as it will be in Heaven. We may not agree with each other on worship methods, techniques, times and what we wear but these are NOT the issue. What is the issue is that America since her beginning has not seen the Christian church within her worship together with any kind of longevity and in less than a handful of attempts. Thus, the ultimatum!
The “How to” is very simple, as well. Any local church can start the ministry or backfire of reconciliation but in order to be successful, it must be documented and advertised. Not for self-glorification but Godward. If this direction is wrong the backfire will fail and the wild fire will spread to deadlier levels. It is imperative that these efforts not be fake and not be labeled as fake. If there ever were a time to standup and be counted as a Christian who practices the ministry of reconciliation, the time is NOW.
We need the healing rain of the Holy Spirit and until we collectively tear down this wall, it will not rain. The drought will continue and more people will die at the hands of the fastest moving wild fire you and I and history have ever witnessed. Please, Please, Please start now practicing the ministry of reconciliation.
We may not agree on the content of our worship but I am certain we can agree on the process, GODWARD!!!
The purpose of a backfire according to science, is to take away the source of what the fire uses for fuel to continue to burn. The church in America today is more equipped than any other to manage this form of Fire Suppression. No other entity or organization can change the course of the fire that has started except God Himself and it just may be that He is calling us to be reconciled in order to demonstrate to society at large exactly what reconciliation looks likes and how it is done correctly. I am NOT calling for an “Ice Bucket” method, I am shouting for us as Christians to stand up and be counted in regard to reconciliation. Even if we are not successful, we will stand free from accusation because we made the effort. That said, I serve a RISEN Savior and He will bless the fruit of our labor as His Ambassadors.
WHO IS WITH ME?
