Editor's Note: Doug Ezell is director of The Methodist Home for Children in New Orleans, former Professor of New Testament and Christian Ethics Professor at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Sometimes, maybe most of the time, it does not register with us what an incredible gift of grace God has given us in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. In II Corinthians 5:18, Paul declares that God reconciled us to Himself through Christ and has given us a ministry of reconciliation.
This is an astounding declaration, especially if you read history or the daily news where humankind's utter failure at living in peace with each other is documented.
Yet, Paul says not only are we reconciled to God in Christ but we who accept this gift are even trusted with being agents of reconciliation. That is a high compliment from God and a tall order to carry out, especially when you factor in our propensity for war, violence, party spirit and alienation. This reconciliation by God means He has accepted the unacceptable and blessed the unblessable in all of us.
Remember Jesus' statement in the Garden, "Not my will but Thine be done." With this statement Jesus accepted the unacceptable -- His death -- which he did not deserve. He accepted it for us who really had done plenty to deserve to die.
Then on the cross He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." With this statement, Jesus blessed the unblessable as they stood around the cross watching Him die. Jesus' death occurred because of trumped up charges growing out of humankind's resistance to truth and rejection of love. Still He blessed us all.
Because of God's great love, we are reconciled to Him and each other in Christ. What a concept! What does it mean in our daily lives? How do we live it out effectively with each other?
Tom Blackmon, the late gifted psychologist, once told me that every war or conflict that we see in the world goes on inside each of us as well. This rang true to me when I heard him say it. It is not a strange idea that we project out into the environment the unresolved conflict in our own psyche. This is in line with one of our strongest, though often most destructive, defense mechanisms which we call projection.
It follows for me that, if these conflicts find their origin inside of us, then the hardest place to initiate reconciliation is within ourselves. The process of healing begins with us accepting the unacceptable features and characteristics in ourselves. But rather than accept, we often hope that we can get rid of such unwanted parts of ourselves. However, somewhere along the journey we finally realize that the negative stuff, as well as whatever we think is positive, will be with us for life.
What then can we do with all of this unwanted baggage? Accept the baggage as part of ourselves. See it as integral and useful. We can learn from the unacceptable and use it for our growth and the good of others. This process is the blessing of the unblessable in each of us.
We know that these traits, addictions, attitudes and behaviors can not be labeled good. But they are there and they will not go away any more than did Paul's "thorn in the flesh." These "dark spots" in our lives are our ways of understanding and having compassion with our fellow travelers. Through these unacceptable attributes we become compassionately aware that others can't get their lives perfect any more than we can.
Paul also says that because of these flaws, we have the choice to comfort others with the comfort with which we have been comforted (II Corinthians 1:3-4). However, if we don't accept our own unacceptable attitudes and bless our own unblessable behaviors, we sure won't do it for others. How will we accept another person's frail and fragile humanity if we won't accept our own?
When we reject parts of ourselves, and see the same in others, we become self-righteous and crucify others for behaviors or attitudes we don't like in ourselves. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they laid burdens on people too heavy to bear, yet they wouldn't touch them with their little fingers. This is too often our way, but it is not God's way. He always accepts the acceptable and blesses the unblessable. Maybe one of those "once upon a time" stories can help us better grasp this concept.
Once upon a time in a small village, a young man named Nesrud gained quite a reputation as a delinquent, in and out of one scrape after another. Always his father, a leader in the village, could get him a reprieve from the customary consequences of his misdeeds. One day, however, Nesrud crossed over the boundary of propriety so heinously that even his father could not prevent the town council from expelling Nesrud from the village.
On the day set for him to leave forever, Nesrud stopped at the outskirts of the village to say good-bye to an old man who had always stood by him. Nesrud thanked his friend for all his kindness and generosity, acknowledging how much he would miss this accepting and safe haven.
As Nesrud rose to leave, the old man said, " You know, Nesrud, I have always accepted you and loved you, no matter what you did. No matter what the others said, I have believed in you. This will not change, Nesrud. No matter where you go, no matter whether you change or not, I will always accept and love you. I count you as my friend; you do not have to change for this to be so." And Nesrud changed!
It is the acceptance of us "as is" that gives us the freedom and the strength to change. Without such grace bestowed upon us, we remain trapped in our defense mechanisms and have no sense of being accepted "just as we are without one plea." God in Christ is the author of such acceptance.
So accept yourself, warts and all. Know you are accepted, even your unacceptable parts. More than that, God has blessed the unblessable in you.
Now that this is so, God tells us, "OK, it's your turn to be reconcilers. Go and accept the unacceptable, bless the unblessable. I did and it transformed individual's lives. You can do the same in My name. It is a good way and makes your way easy and your burdens light. I give you My word on it (Matthew 11:29-30). So be gentle with yourself and kind to one another.