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The Church's Ministry of Reconciliation: A Service to Humanity Throughout the Ages

Reconciliation is one of the great words of the New Testament. In the linguistic usage of the apostle Paul, it stems for the ancient lawof diplomacy. When two parties are in conflict, a mediator is often needed. Such an ambassador is the apostle. Paul himself, however, has nothing left to settle; but as the prophets of the Old Testament had proclaimed God's law and promises to the people and the whole world, so the apostle Paul, with the other apostles, announces the message of the reconciliation already accomplished by God through the cross of Christ. Simultaneously this message is also a request, an invitation to enter into this event of reconciliation. The proclamation is a call to faith: God has through Christ reconciled us to himself and given us the ministry of reconciliation. For God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ: be reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:18-20).