What is the relationship between peacemaking and reconciliation?<\/p>\n
TB: “I do believe that peacemaking is a precursor to reconciliation. It takes two to reconcile. And that doesn\u2019t always happen, but that\u2019s not a reason not to pursue the things that make for peace; as Jesus says as he approaches Jerusalem he realizes they haven\u2019t done that and therefore desolation is coming to their house \u201d\u201c and that\u2019s the whole travel narrative in Luke, it\u2019s built around the things that make for peace. And what I like to say, because I believe it, is that peacemaking is a gospel imperative. We\u2019ve been made ambassadors of reconciliation. I actually say that peacemaking is not adiaphra (\u201d\u02dcindifferent things\u2019, non-essentials) and we can just agree to disagree about\u201d\u00a6 to treat peacemaking as adiaphra is in fact itself a false teaching, and creates over time a fictitious gospel. So I feel quite strongly that this is matter of faithfulness to Jesus Christ, and to dismiss it or kind of make it a luxury item, is to fundamentally misunderstand what the gospel is about.”<\/p>\n
Are there limits to reconciliation?<\/p>\n
TB: “I think it takes two to reconcile. I think it takes one to forgive. So the limits of reconciliation are the limits that the two parties put upon themselves. I don\u2019t think you can reconcile unilaterally. I think you can forgive unilaterally. I think in some ways you can do peacemaking almost unilaterally. But until the other side, estranged party, wants to reciprocate, you\u2019re not going to get real far down the road. And I think that\u2019s been the real story of my story with Shannon is that I did reach out in a peacemaking gesture, and he did reciprocate, and that\u2019s why we are walking together in peace at some level.”<\/p>\n