It's more accurate to describe our current era as one of chaos rather than cosmos. The world around us is rife with conflict and discord. We witness racial strife, class divisions, international disputes, regional tensions, generational gaps, and countless other forms of conflict, all of which bring great sorrow. It is in such a time that we yearn for Jesus Christ, the one who reconciled God and humanity and shattered all other divisions.
As Christians awaiting the second coming, we long for the day when the Prince of Peace returns and ushers us into a world of perfect harmony. Many of us live in anticipation of that day. However, while it is essential to hope for future reconciliation, we must not neglect the present. Christians and our churches should be actively embodying Christ's spirit of reconciliation today, preparing for the day of His return.
Yet, there are instances where some Christians seem to disregard the present and focus solely on the future, neglecting societal ethics and common sense. While it's true that a short-sighted focus on the present is detrimental, an excessive fixation on the future is equally problematic. Believers must affirm the reality of the present while looking forward to the future. Just as a pearl maintains its radiant beauty even when submerged in murky waters, so too must Christians radiate the spirit of reconciliation in a world plagued by conflict.
How can we be certain of a heavenly future if we neglect reconciliation in the present? Faith without reconciliation is not true faith. Just as Christ became the sacrificial lamb to reconcile humanity with God, reconciliation is a tangible outward expression of Christian faith. To cultivate the spirit of reconciliation, Christians must develop a keen sense of ethics. True faith cannot flourish when ethics are neglected.
Unfortunately, some people associate the term "Christian" with hypocrisy. Many churches and individuals have lost the world's trust. This is often due to the unethical behavior of some who claim to be Christians. When Christians disregard their social responsibilities and act immorally, they undermine the credibility of the faith. Ethics serve as a bridge between Christians and society, and to dismiss ethics as mere human morality is to jeopardize our ability to gain the trust of non-believers.
There are stories of churches where believers engage in heated arguments and even physical altercations over who gets to board the bus first after a service. Such disorderly conduct erodes the public's trust in Christians. Additionally, there have been cases where churches have avoided paying property taxes by claiming ownership of donated buildings, only to give a portion of the money back to the original owners. God does not approve of such practices, which separate faith from ethics. Christians should be more ethical than non-believers.
When faith becomes excessively detached from ethics, it may become a means of justifying unethical behavior. No matter how gifted or talented a believer or leader may be, ethical shortcomings will be displeasing to God. While we must have a deep faith in God, we must also respect human ethics in our daily lives.
While believers should have a divine self-esteem as children of God, they must also view other believers and non-believers as individuals worthy of respect. Just as the pillars of a temple are slightly spaced apart, and even the most affectionate dogs will fight over a single bowl of food, so too must individuals within the Christian community maintain their distinct identities while respecting each other. Ethics are based on the fundamental principle of respecting the individuality of each member of society. Those who honor these social agreements while nurturing their own faith are the true embodiments of the spirit of reconciliation.
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