Sermonette: Sept. 25, 2023

I wrote this sermonette years ago; but in memory of Gary Mackrill who passed away last week, I’m sharing it again.

This week I was reading 2 Corinthians 5:11-21. For those who don’t have this passage memorized, this is where Paul talks about Christians having the "ministry of reconciliation." Now I won’t lie, I was a bit intimidated by this phrase. It sounds extremely burdensome and religious. "Ministry of reconciliation." Then, I look at the passage, and that didn’t help my fear. The passage is a mess. Paul’s words spin around, and back and forth, and touch on huge concepts. The chapter is just confusing and tough to understand. Even my commentaries make it clear that this is their best effort at translating the Greek, which is even more complex. Nevertheless, as a distance runner, I consider myself a glutton for punishment and made myself read it over and over again. As I reread it, something became clear: this concept is much simpler than I initially thought.

See, for whatever reason, Paul makes this passage very complex and gives it this very burdensome name of "ministry of reconciliation." He does this, but the concept itself is fairly simple: since we know God, we need to show other people God. Ever since the fall of man, mankind has been separated from God. We do things that anger God and live our lives without the hope and life that God wants to give us all. And yet, we all search for God. Every human being I’ve ever run into has been quietly or loudly searching for "something else." Something to fill them. Something to give them hope.

Something to give them a reason for being. If they’re not looking, then they’re living their life in such dysfunction that it’s obvious to everyone around them that something is missing. Humanity is looking for something more. The "ministry of reconciliation" is simply Christians answering the question. It’s kinda silly, but I picture in my head most of the world screaming to the heavens “why?” and Christians walking up saying, “hey, I know that answer!” That’s the "ministry of reconciliation."

It’s like bees. When bees leave the hive, they search for nectar – the building block of honey and thing that keeps the hive alive. Nectar is found in many flowers, but the trouble with flowers is they wilt. Over the summer, different flowers in different places bloom, and then wilt. So, for the bees who don’t know where you planted what, it’s a life and death struggle to stay up to date on where flowers are blooming. But bees have one trick up their sleeves: dancing. When a bee returns to the hive after finding a new area she dances. This dance tells the other bees where the life-giving nectar is. Experts suggest that the dance also tells distance away, direction, and the type of flower. Thus, all the other bees can find this new stockpile of flowers that could be as far as two miles away. All thanks to the one bee who danced for them. This is the "ministry of reconciliation." One bee, telling the other bees where they can find the life they’re searching for.

So, I guess the application is simply simplification. Don’t overthink your job as a Christian. Jesus doesn’t call us to massive services, handy handouts or a smooth tongue. Just to tell people about the life you have found. Remind them (and yourself) of how hopeless you were before and how fulfilled you are now. And then make sure your actions reflect your change of heart.