Table Conversations

So, we were sitting around the table eating breakfast this morning when, I’m not sure how, the word "reconciliation" came up in our conversation.

Emily tried to put that big word into smaller words the kids might understand. "It’s kind of like when one person admits they did something wrong and the other person forgives them. They’ve reconciled."

I was incensed. Why didn’t she quote II Corinthians 5:20? "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God."

Then Jacob mentioned that the word reconciliation is in one of the Christmas carols. "Peace on earth and mercy mild–God and sinners reconciled."

Trying to explain biblical truth using familiar songs? That’s heresy. Oh wait, that’s a hymn, so it’s acceptable. Or maybe it isn’t… The words to the hymn, written by Charles Wesley, were put together with a melody not intended for sacred music that was written by Felix Mendelssohn–who also wrote quite a bit of "secular" music that’s closely associated with Victorian culture. Does that make it a Christian song or a secular song? (Life was so much easier before Amy Grant crossed over to pop music.)

Why didn’t Jacob just quote Hebrews 2:17? "Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation  for the sins of the people."

Then Emily, of all things, tried to explain how we reconcile our checkbook every month–making sure our balance and the balance the bank statement indicates are in harmony.

What does she think she’s doing? People don’t need to hear personal stories about how biblical doctrine applies to everyday life. They need to hear Leviticus 8:15, "And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it."

Or, maybe one of the kids could have offered some Charles Spurgeon quote on reconciliation–that, of course, is also acceptable.

I hate it when my family waters down the Word of God.