Are You Ready to Reconcile?
Written by: Linda Leigh Hargrove
I’m saddened each time I hear a church group say something like this: “We tried a racial reconciliation program and it didn’t work, so we just stopped it.”
To those in this predicament, I offer the list below.
You are not ready to reconcile …
- if you seek to build a racial reconciliation “program”.
- if you have not prayed for God’s direction about who you should get to know, how you should do it, and when to start the relationship.
- if you are not willing to share common experiences with someone of a different culture, for an extended period of time; perhaps for the rest of your life.
- if you are not willing or able to hear their pain; to let God transform bitterness and distrust into humility, sensitivity, and love.
- if you are not going to visit each other’s homes and churches, as you seek to restore respect and repent and forgive
- if you are going to continue being an undercover Christian to the world around you*
True biblical racial reconciliation is a commitment to someone of another race. It involves being prayerful, committed, intentional, humble, and respectful. True reconciliation is not a program. It is a relationship.
If you enter racial reconciliation thinking “program” expect it to fail. People of color in America have been in a “program” relationship with whites since the signing of the Declaration of Independence (maybe even before that). Programs start and end. They come and go. Reconciliation, if it is a deep and integral part of your fabric, can not end. If you’re not there yet … keep praying.
At this point, some of you may be asking “Why reconcile?” Well, that’s a whole other post.
I’d love to hear your take on this? Have you experienced reconciliation burnout or had a bumpy start? I’d love to hear from you. Leave a comment or email me Linda at LLHargrove.com.
Thanks for your willingness to listen, learn, and love.
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*This list was adapted from one I found at Ethnic Harvest.
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