Proclaim Repentance and Forgiveness
Barbara Carter, Council of Twelve Apostles
Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” -Luke 24:45-48
Growing up in Community of Christ (RLDS), my experience was one of being in a cocoon. I was loved, accepted, engaged, and knew that I belonged. My congregation was mainly my family: aunts, cousins, and uncles. I remember being very young and asking my mother if an unknown person who just had walked into the church was my uncle.
Such was my frame of reference. Because of experiencing church in this way, I saw my congregation as a group of like-minded people. We agreed on most things, and if there was a disagreement, it disappeared quickly. I assumed that was part of our faith. We all believed the same things and acted accordingly. This understanding wasn’t challenged until I was in my teens.
I was sitting at the kitchen table with some church friends that I had just been with at senior high camp.
We were experiencing the afterglow of a week of being together and didn\’t want that bond to break. The conversation turned to the news that several church families who lived in our jurisdiction had decided to move to Independence. They believed it was time to begin gathering to Zion. Those of us around the table had different thoughts and opinions. Some were very strong. The conversation didn’t get heated. Spoken words did not wound. But this was the first time I recognized that we all didn’t respond to scripture with the same belief.
This was my first experience of faithful disagreement. We did not come to the same understanding of scripture, but that did not disturb our peace. Our love for each other, built on the foundation of Christ’s love for us all, created space for all to belong.
We were young and, in many ways, na\xc3\xafve. But this experience of acceptance, unconditional love, and Unity in Diversity was-and continues to be-foundational if I am to practice peace and proclaim repentance and forgiveness.
Prayer Phrase
“Practice Resurrection” (Wendell Berry).
Spiritual Practice
Breath Prayer
During this Easter season, we invite you daily into a breath prayer focused on resurrection. With each exhale, respond in a word or phrase to the question, “What is dying?” (fear, anger, assumptions, etc.) With each inhale, notice a response in a word or phrase to the question “What is rising?” (love, courage, trust, etc.) You may choose to use the same word or phrase throughout this season, or let each day bring its own unique response to this sacred pattern of dying and rising that is central to our faith.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
