Lesson video

Hi, I'm Ms. Minton, and welcome to this Christianity Practises lesson on Working for Reconciliation.

Now, by the end of this lesson, you'll be able to explain the role of the worldwide Church in working for reconciliation.

Now, lots of our learning today will be new to you, but please don't worry because I'm here guide you through each step of our lesson, and I'm confident that by the end, you'll achieve the outcome.

So let's get started by taking a look at our keywords.

We have Church, ecumenical and reconciliation.

Now, the word Church, beginning with a capital C, refers to the people of God or the body of Christ, among whom Christ is present and active.

The word also refers to members of a particular Christian denomination or tradition, so for example, the Roman Catholic Church.

Ecumenical refers to the efforts by Christians of different church traditions to develop closer relationships and better understandings.

And reconciliation refers to making up and rebuilding relationships between two groups or sides after a disagreement.

Now our lesson today will have two parts.

We'll start by looking at Christian beliefs about reconciliation, and we'll then move on to looking at working for reconciliation.

So let's take a look at Christian beliefs about reconciliation.

Now to start off, I would like you to imagine a bridge that's been broken, and this bridge can no longer be used to walk across and reach the other side.

I'd like you to consider what's needed to repair the bridge.

And what might get in the way of the bridge being repaired? So pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself.

Off you go.

So to repair the bridge, not only would you need the correct materials, but you'd also need people who were willing to carry out the repairs and people who were willing to work together to do so.

Problems might occur if people aren't willing to help repair the bridge or they're not willing to work as part of a team to do so.

Now, the word reconciliation refers to mending a relationship that's been broken down.

And reconciliation can actually be compared to a broken bridge.

And this is because the broken bridge represents the broken relationship.

Like the bridge, the relationship needs to be repaired.

But the relationship can only be fixed if individuals are willing to repair the damage and work together in order to do so.

So let's check your understanding so far.

Which key term refers to repairing a broken relationship: A, reformation; B, reconciliation; C, restoration; or D, rehabilitation? Fantastic.

The correct answer is B.

Reconciliation is the word that refers to repairing a broken relationship.

Well done.

Now, for most Christians, reconciliation is necessary because humans' relationship with God has been damaged because of sin.

And many Christians believe that throughout the Bible, God has provided opportunities for reconciliation.

So for example, through animal sacrifices, through making covenants like the Abrahamic or Mosaic covenant, through sending prophets with messages and warnings, and finally in the New Testament, God sends Jesus.

Now the Bible describes Jesus' death as an act of reconciliation.

And 2 Corinthians 5:18 says this, "All this is from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ." Now, I'd like you to pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself.

How might Christians interpret this passage? Off you go.

So many Christians interpret this passage as stating that Jesus' death was a sacrifice that restored the relationship between God and humans.

So it reconciled the relationship between God and humans.

Now this verse from 2 Corinthians then goes on to say that the duty to reconcile and restore relationships has been passed on to Christians.

Now, for many Christians, this means that the worldwide Church has a duty to promote reconciliation with God and with other people.

And reconciliation with God can involve a number of things.

It can involve Christians improving their own individual and personal relationship with God, it can involve Christians improving their relationship with other Christians, and it can also involve Christians bringing the message of reconciliation to non-Christians through evangelism.

So let's check your understanding, true or false: many Christians believe that only Jesus have the duty to promote reconciliation? Fantastic.

That statement is false.

But why is that statement false? Well, it's because many Christians believe that they have a duty to promote reconciliation with their own relationship with God and also improve their relationships with other Christians and non-Christians through evangelism as well.

So well done for identifying that the statement is false and for identifying the reason why.

It's now time to have a go at task.

Laura is explaining Christian beliefs about reconciliation.

She says, "Reconciliation refers to repairing a relationship that has broken down.

One Christian belief about reconciliation is that it's necessary because humans relationship with God has been damaged due to sin.

The Bible makes it evident that reconciliation is important as God offers reconciliation on many occasions, including through animal sacrifice and covenants." Now, I would like you to write a second paragraph explaining another belief about reconciliation.

But in your paragraph, you must include a source of authority.

So pause the video and have a go.

Well done for your work on that task.

So you were asked to write a second paragraph explaining another Christian belief about reconciliation, and you were asked to include a source of authority in your response.

So let's take a look at what your answer might look like.

So you may have said that "Another Christian belief about reconciliation is that Jesus' death repaired the damaged relationship between God and humans.

This is evident in 2 Corinthians which states that God reconciled himself to us through Christ, and because of this, Christians have a duty to promote reconciliation.

This shows that Christians should work to repair the relationship between themselves, God and others." So well done again for working on that task, and particularly for making sure you included a source of authority.

We're now moving on to the second part of our lesson, which is to look at working for reconciliation.

Now to start off, I would like you to consider, if you'd fallen out with a friend and you needed to repair that relationship, what would you do? So pause the video and either talk to a partner, talk to me, or have a think to yourself.

Off you go.

So when considering how you would repair a broken relationship with a friend, you may have considered that you would talk to them about the issue and what had happened, that you would try to see their point of view and understand where they were coming from, that you'd be willing to listen to them and understand how they felt about the situation, that you'd apologise for the role that you played in the falling out and anything that you did wrong, or that you'd come to an agreement about how to avoid similar issues in the future.

Now actually, for many Christians, reconciliation with God and with other Christians involves similar methods.

So for many Christians, reconciliation first begins individually.

Now, Danielle is a Roman Catholic Christian, and she explains how she attempts to reconcile with God.

Danielle says, "In the Roman Catholic Church, reconciliation is one of the Seven Sacraments.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is often referred to as confession, and it involves owning up to any sins you've committed, expressing your regret and your desire to improve your behaviour and receiving forgiveness from God.

I attend confession regularly to improve my relationship with God." So what we can see here is that reconciliation for Danielle first begins on an individual basis.

And through confession, she owns up to her sins and apologises and seeks forgiveness from God to try and mend that relationship that's been broken.

So let's check your understanding.

This sentence contains a missing word.

"Some Christians take part in the blank of reconciliation as a way of repairing their relationship with God." Is the missing word A, service; B, celebration; C, sacrament; or D, ceremony? Fantastic.

The missing word is sacrament.

So some Christians take part in the sacrament of reconciliation as a way of repairing their relationship with God; well done.

Now as well as reconciliation being important between an individual and God, reconciliation is also important among Christian groups.

Now throughout history, Christianity has separated into different traditions and denominations.

And although most denominations agree on core Christian beliefs, so the belief in one God and Jesus as the saviour, there have been disagreements throughout history surrounding other beliefs and practises.

Now at times, this has actually led to hostility between some denominations, so disagreements that have caused negative feelings between these denominations.

Now, the ecumenical Movement is an example of a way that Christians can try and deal with this hostility and try to work for reconciliation.

The Ecumenical Movement is a movement that began in 1910 as an effort to promote unity among divided Christian denominations, so as a way to bring those denominations back together and unite them so that they could work together as one.

The ecumenical movement aims to do the following things: promote Christian unity through conferences and councils, so opportunities for members of different Christian denominations to meet together, encourage cooperation between Christian churches by having shared buildings, encourage joint work on common concerns, so for example, working together to tackle poverty, and to promote dialogue between denominations, so to promote conversations between Christians of different denominations.

Now, the Ecumenical Movement actually led to the formation of an organisation that's called the World Council of Churches.

And the World Council of Churches officially formed in 1948, and its aim was to foster unity among different Christian denominations and encouraged them to work together on spiritual, social, and humanitarian issues.

The World Council of Churches actually includes over 350 churches who are members, and this includes Methodist churches, Orthodox churches, Anglican churches, and many more.

Now, as well as the World Council of Churches bringing together over 350 churches, they also work in over 110 countries around the world.

And the work of the World Council of Churches includes bringing Christians together through events like the week of Prayer for Christian Unity, advocating for human rights, equality, peace and justice, and supporting mission, interdenominational and interfaith dialogue, so supporting communication between Christians of different denominations and communication between Christians and people of other religions.

So now we've seen that there are a number of ways that Christians can work for reconciliation.

Let's imagine that I've been asked to give just one way that Christians can work for reconciliation.

My response is that Christians can take part in the week of prayer for Christian unity.

Now I'm gonna ask you the same question, and I would also like you to give one way that Christians can work for reconciliation.

So pause the Video and have a go.

So you may have said that Christians can work for reconciliation through the Ecumenical Movement, through organisations such as the World Council of Churches, and through interdenominational dialogue.

So well done if you've got one of those answers or something similar.

Now for many Christians, reconciliation is an important part of everyday life.

But actually reconciliation becomes particularly important following war and conflict.

And an example of this is during the Second World War when the city of Coventry in England was heavily bombed and Coventry Cathedral was destroyed.

Now as a response, the local Christian community actually showed forgiveness to those who were responsible rather than responding with conflict and retaliation.

Now today, a new cathedral sits alongside the ruins of the original cathedral, and it's actually become a centre of reconciliation.

Now in the new cathedral today, the Cross of Nails is displayed.

And the Cross of Nails is a cross that was created using three nails that were gathered from the rubble after the cathedral was destroyed.

Today, Coventry Cathedral is actually home to the Community of the Cross of Nails, which is a worldwide network of churches, peace organisations, and communities that committed to reconciliation, peace-building and healing after conflict.

Now, as well as the Cross of Nails, there is also a sculpture outside Coventry Cathedral that represents reconciliation.

Now, the example of Coventry Cathedral shows that after war and conflict, it's important for Christians to respond with reconciliation rather than anger and retaliation.

So let's check your understanding, true or false: reconciliation is particularly important after conflict? Fantastic.

That statement is true.

But why is that statement true? Well, if we take the example of Coventry Cathedral, which was bombed and destroyed during the Second World War, we can see that the local Christian community responded with forgiveness and reconciliation, which shows that reconciliation is really important after war and conflict.

So well done for identifying that the statement is true and for identifying the reason why.

It's now time for you to have a go at a task.

Alex and Aisha are explaining different ways that the worldwide Church works for reconciliation.

But unfortunately they've not been able to complete their paragraphs.

Alex has said, "One way that the worldwide Church works for reconciliation is by promoting unity between Christian denominations.

For example, this promotes reconciliation because." Aisha has said, "Another way that the worldwide Church works for reconciliation is through organisations such as, this organisation works for reconciliation by, and this supports reconciliation because." Now I'd like you to help Alex and Aisha complete their paragraphs by filling in the gaps.

So pause the video and have a go.

Well done for your work on that task.

So you were asked to help Alex and Aisha complete their paragraphs by filling in the gaps.

So for Alex, your completed paragraph might look like this.

"One way that the worldwide Church works for reconciliation is by promoting unity between Christian denominations.

For example, the Ecumenical Movement is a movement that aims to promote ecumenism, which refers to efforts by Christians of different church traditions to develop closer relationships.

This promotes reconciliation because it encourages Christians from different denominations to engage with each other and build positive relationships." For your completed paragraph for Aisha, you may have said, "Another way that the worldwide Church works for reconciliation is through organisations such as the World Council of Churches.

This organisation works for reconciliation by joining together over 350 churches to work on events and world issues such as peace and justice.

This supports reconciliation because it encourages different Christian denominations to unite in their shared mission." So well done again for helping Alex and Aisha complete their paragraphs.

We've now reached the end of our lesson, but before we finish, let's take a look at some of the key things that we've learned today.

So we've learned that reconciliation refers to making up and repairing relationships after they've been damaged, and that reconciliation is an important belief for many Christians, with most Christians agreeing that humans' relationship with God has been damaged due to sin and therefore needs to be repaired.

We've also looked at how the Bible teaches that Jesus's death allowed the relationship between God and humans to be restored, and that many Christians believe that Jesus' mission of reconciliation extends to Christians today.

We've looked at how today the worldwide Church works for reconciliation by promoting peace and unity, and that the work of the worldwide Church includes the Ecumenical Movement and the World Council of Churches.

So a huge well done again for all of your work this lesson.

It's been wonderful learning with you today.