What do you think?

Well, this past Sunday I preached on reconciliation. I told the story of Miroslav and his family sharing a common meal with a person who only came to their church to celebrate communion. I said that reconciliation was the embrace, the befriending of an enemy (perhaps once a friend, now an enemy, too). Reconciliation, however, takes two people, and may not be possible. One person may not "own" the wrong they have done, perhaps not admitting a breach in relationship and refusing to engage in repentance.

Afterwards, one woman, a married mother of one, asked about the application in the real life situation of her family. How does one love, she asked, when a former sexual offender is now brought back into her family? How does one love, she asked, when they have hosted a homeless person for meals, but she cannot shake the feeling that he intends harm to her family? That is almost verbatim her question--a profound one; one that shows the depth to which she takes seriously her faith.

Believing that God speaks in the wisdom of his people in dialogue as they seek his Spirit, I would like to hear different thoughts on the situation where hopefully God's wisdom and gospel can shine in the darkness of this penetrating question.