“For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, (then how) much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life!” ~ Romans 5.10

We can agree to disagree but seem unable to agree on the commonality that we share as human beings.  We all need the same air to breathe, the same water to drink and we draw upon the same sources for food though we may prepare them differently.  We all share the same desires for belonging and acceptance in our family and community.  We all want to be loved and we are all worthy of love.  We all share in a common birth experience and we will all die.  We all share in occasions for rejoicing and mourning.  And we are all human beings despite the attempts of race to make our skin strange. 

No human being is an animal neither did we begin as such. We have always been human beings and despite the horrific conditions that we create for others and for our own selfish purposes, no human being should ever be treated as if a beast of the field.  No human being should be deprived of experiences that are the common purpose of all human beings.  No human being should have to march for, sit- in protest against, boycott in response to laws that are unnatural.  No human being should have to depend on a law or an amendment to be considered what they have always been: human.  No human being should be born into a world where they have to choose between oppressor or master, enemy or ally, friend or foe. Oh, the limitations of race and of a life lived racially!

Reconciliation requires that we come together despite our differences.  Our hands don’t need to “match” in order for them to come together in a handshake or as a sign of unity.  Matching is not a requirement for embracing.  Matching is not required for high- fives or an encouraging pat on the back.  Our ability to come together is not based on our shared past, appearance or social approval but it is a part of the ministry of reconciliation.  And our lives did not match the requirements needed for salvation.  Surely, Christ’s life and the results of His ministry did not match the suffering that He endured on the cross.

We were all enemies– enemies of God.  Still, God reconciled us to Himself before we desired a relationship with Him, before we saw our faults, before we admitted that we were wrong, before we asked for forgiveness.  Talk about a preemptive response!  And not only before but “while we were enemies.” God was reconciling us to Him while we were still on opposing sides.  In the midst of the battle for our souls, God was preparing for reconciliation.  How then can we not be reconciled to each other?  Race is not reconciling us but God is.  “Be ye reconciled.”