MUSINGS ON CHRISTIAN HARMONY, #6: The sins of the past

On occasion, God spotlights bright examples of faithfulness. The prophet Daniel was one of those. During the years of Judah’s captivity, the Lord contrasted Daniel’s personal righteousness with the overflowing wickedness of an unfaithful land (Ezekiel 14:13, 14, 20).

Yet when we read Daniel’s own prayer, we hear a brokenhearted cry of confession and repentance. In summary, he says: “O Lord, we have sinned, rebelling against Your precepts and ignoring Your prophets. We are so ashamed! You delivered us from the land of Egypt and made us Your people, but we did terrible things! We come to You not because of our righteous deeds but because of Your great mercies. Forgive us!” (Daniel 9:4-20).

Why would God commend such a wicked man? The answer is that Daniel had not personally rebelled, but he identified himself with the people who had. Instead of saying, “Stay away from me, I am holier than thou” (did you know that’s a Bible expression? See Isaiah 65:5 in the King James Version), Daniel acknowledged his part in the failures of his nation as he confessed the sins of their past. Later, in the times of Ezra and Nehemiah, similar prayers are recorded (interestingly, each again in chapter 9).

The Church today is divided into many denominations and factions. God had intended His people to gather simply as Christians, meeting together on the principle that there is one Body of Christ. Applying the attitude of Daniel, it is sometimes remarked that we believers must acknowledge our collective failure in this regard if we are going to embrace God’s design.

How true! But are we willing to apply that perspective to every aspect of Christian harmony? Are we willing to acknowledge the sins of the past even if we have not participated in them?

In the history of our Christian gatherings, have brothers and sisters ever been slighted, disrespected, or treated as second-class Christians because of their skin? Have Christian parents ever told their children not to play with boys and girls of other families because of their ethnicity? Have Christian young people ever been told not to come home from college with a boyfriend or girlfriend of a different color? Have we ever heard Christians express discomfort about fellowshipping with believers who look different from themselves?

In reality, these things are current, not merely historical. But even if you feel they only happened long ago, or even if you feel you have never personally participated in them, are we at least willing to admit their existence? Are we willing to cry to the Lord, asking His forgiveness for these shameful displays of disunity? Christians have been divided, and we are part of the failure.

Let’s not say, “It wasn’t me.” Let’s join with righteous Daniel, whose anguished cry still echoes now: “O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! …for Your city and Your people are called by Your name.”