As I pen these words, today is Oct. 31, snow is gently falling and Halloween preparations are in place. Today is also Reformation Day. The day when Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk and professor at Wittenberg University posted his 95 theses on the Castle Church door. This posting of theses on the day before All Saint’s Day (Nov. 1) when all the university would be in the church for worship was typical of Medieval academics as an invitation for debate. It changed the world.
In addition, as you read these words, the election is over. We might not yet know who won given all the concerns over voter integrity and then again, we might. Regardless, our country will move forward, not as smoothly as we like or as it should but move forward it will. So, the question might be, how shall we heal regardless of the election outcome?
We are so torn and at each other’s throats. For me the last straw was pitting veteran against veteran. First, they went after Gov. Walz’s service and then the ads attacking Tim Sheehy’s service. Really? Ought we not be ashamed of ourselves? How shall we heal?
Scripture is quite clear: 2 Chronicles 7:14,
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
The keys to this prescription are humility and turning. The healing of our relationship begins with humility. Humility is a virtue and involves having a balanced perspective on oneself and others. “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Rom 12:3 ESV) In antiquity, humility was often considered to be the root of other virtues. In other words, humility is important for social harmony. Hence, true humility recognizes our part in the problem. No more finger pointing.
The second key is turning. The scriptural notion of repentance is that of turning. Turning is a change of behavior as well as one’s mind. As Jesus forgave the woman caught in adultery he said, “Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11). In other words, turn away from your past life. The essence of the Gospel is that God comes to us and calls us to amend life, to take up the cross and follow him. (Mark 8:34) If change is to come, it begins with us. Each and every one of us.
We know something about the election. We are not out of the woods, however, because the seeds of social discord are planted. These seeds must not take root. We must tend to the vineyards, which are our friends and family. We are called to love one another. (John 13:34) Let the healing begin with us.
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