Working for reconciliation

The importance of the worldwide Church including working for reconciliation

Reconciliation is bringing people who disagree back together without seeking revenge. It requires forgiveness.

When there has been persecution, Christians want to bring about reconciliation rather than seeking revenge. An example is:

Archbishop Desmond Tutu who helped to overthrow the racist apartheid system in South Africa without seeking revenge on the racist white South Africans. Instead Tutu wanted the country to move forward together - whites and non-whites together in reconciliation.

Christians want to develop reconciliation because:

In the Bible Jesus taught that forgiveness is important - we should forgive not seven times, but seventy times seven times (i.e., we just keep on forgiving),
In the Bible forgave the Roman soldiers who crucified them. Christians should use Jesus as a role model and try to act like him in life.

Jesus said, 'Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing.' (Luke 23:34).

Archbishop Tutu