Standing in the Gap

As Christians, our journey of faith always happens within a specific place and context. In Canada, this journey involves recognizing the painful legacy of Indigenous relations and embracing the call to reconciliation. This call is not about assigning blame, but rather about acknowledging our shared responsibility to heal and restore.

One of my first main engagements in Indigenous reconciliation happened when I was pastoring in Thunder Bay, Ont. Christian Reformed churches had been invited to participate in an Indigenous art tour called “Kisemanito Pakitinasuwin / Creator’s Sacrifice.” I had the chance to be part of an organizing committee to prepare for our congregation’s participation in the event. We intentionally formed a committee that included CRC leaders and local Christian Indigenous leaders, which sparked important conversations about fault, responsibility, and reconciliation.

These conversations often centered around the question of whether it is necessary to apologize for actions we did not personally commit. We found that this question, while valid, was not the most helpful in discerning our role as the church in Canada today.

It is similar to experiences within a family. We bear each other’s burdens all the time; just because I have not caused harm personally doesn’t mean I tell members of my family that I want nothing to do with their grief, brokenness, hurt, or healing. As a member of our family, I have a responsibility to be present with them in their pain, and I have a responsibility to seek out justice and wholeness with them.

Fault and blame are somewhat beside the point when it comes to discerning who has responsibility to bring reconciliation and healing. The gospel of Jesus Christ points to how responsibility for reconciliation is different from admitting personal guilt. Jesus was guiltless and yet took reconciliation upon himself.

Similarly, our churches have a responsibility in Canada (and around the world) that crosses denominational lines. To be a church that is part of the fabric of our Canadian society means to bear the collective harm that our brothers and sisters in Christ caused and to bear the collective responsibility for healing and reconciliation. This is not just about being the Christian Reformed Church; this is about being part of the church universal.

All of us also have a responsibility as individuals to be agents of reconciliation—encouraging people who are far from God to be reconciled to God through Christ, and bringing reconciliation and healing to relationships in a way that reflects our own reconciliation to God in Christ.

I'm grateful for all the ways that the CRC is living into this reconciliation journey, taking up the responsibility to seek the wholeness of all those in our local, regional, and national communities. I’m thankful for all the ways that we can continue to live into this kind of reconciliation.

On the other pages of Our Shared Ministry in this issue of The Banner, you’ll see some of the ways we’ve been living into this commitment. They are all key to our public witness as a church. In particular, I’d like to highlight Hearts Exchanged, a learning opportunity that many members of the CRC across Canada have participated in. It is well regarded not just within our congregations, but in wider circles as well. A version of it is even being used as a for-credit course at Calvin Theological Seminary. If you are Canadian and haven’t heard of Hearts Exchanged yet, now is a great time to jump in! I’ve seen churches transformed as they wonder what reconciliation looks like for them as a community.

The CRC has a reputation for taking responsibility for growing justice and wholeness not just within our churches, but within our larger communities. My hope is that this reputation paired with action continues to bear fruit.