Truth, Reconciliation, & Kris Kristofferson
Today, I find myself with a day off from work. As I was doing my devotions, I caught myself reflecting on things that seem completely disconnected but are tied together in my neurodivergent brain: Truth and Reconciliation Day and the death of Kris Kristofferson. As a Canadian, a Reformed Christian, and an avid consumer of outlaw country music, these two things happened to converge, causing me to contemplate and as it so happens…to write about those contemplations.
So, what is Truth and Reconciliation Day? In a tiny nutshell, it is about acknowledging the dark history of residential schools in Canada and their terrible impact on Indigenous peoples.
Skepticism in a Media-Driven World
But if we’re honest, some of us – myself included – are skeptical about what we hear in the media. Maybe you’ve seen headlines, like I have, questioning the number of graves discovered at these schools, or heard claims that mainstream media has a bias against Christians and they are using it as antireligious propaganda. It’s easy to get caught up in that skepticism, to wonder, “How do I know if what they’re saying is true?”
I get it.
We live in a time where skepticism toward the media is widespread. I have basically turned off all news media.
It’s not just Christians or conservatives questioning what they see; people from all walks of life and every corner of the ideological spectrum are increasingly doubtful of what’s being reported. Trust in the media has eroded, and many are left wondering how much of the information we consume is influenced by bias, agendas, or simply incomplete narratives.
Headlines are sensationalized for ‘clickbait’.
It’s hard to discern fact from spin.
But whether the exact numbers are right or wrong, whether bias exists in reporting or not, it doesn’t change the fact that real harm was done. Generations of Indigenous peoples were harmed by the residential school system. Children were taken from their families, stripped of their culture, abused, beaten, and many never returned home. The negative effects of this sin, whether exaggerated by media or not, are undeniable.
Sin Is More Than Personal
The Belgic Confession in Article 15, speaks about how the fall into sin has corrupted all of creation:
“We believe that by the disobedience of Adam, original sin has been spread through the whole human race. It is a corruption of the entire nature of man and a hereditary evil which infects even infants in their mother’s womb.”
Sin isn’t just about individuals doing wrong; it’s about systems of power and authority – literally everything – being tainted by the effects of the fall. Residential schools were a system built on the sinful belief that one culture was superior to another, that Indigenous people were savages who needed to be “civilized” and forcefully converted to Christianity.
As Reformed Christians we are reminded that while we believe in God’s predestining grace, our role is to reflect the heart of Jesus in extending the message of salvation with compassion and humility, not with force. Jesus never forced anyone to follow him.
Kris Kristofferson and the Cry for Grace
But the story of sin isn’t just something we see in history; it’s something we all live with personally. We’re all affected by sin, both in the world around us and in our own hearts. That’s where Kris Kristofferson comes in. (Yes I am doing my best to fit him into this article!) While he rarely publicly spoke of his coming to faith, his songs were filled with this profound sense of brokenness and the deep need for grace. One of my favorite songs of his is Why Me, Lord?. In it, Kristofferson asks,
“Why me Lord, what have I ever done
To deserve even one
Of the pleasures I’ve known
Tell me Lord, what did I ever do
That was worth loving You
Or the kindness You’ve shown?”
That lyric is a reminder of our own unworthiness and God’s overwhelming grace.
I often ask myself the same thing. Why me Lord?
How is it that I’ve been so blessed, even though I know the depths of my own sin and unworthiness.
It’s easy to point fingers at the past and the failures of others, but when I look at myself, I see that I need God’s grace just as much as anyone else. The Heidelberg Catechism, in its very first question and answer, reminds us of the foundation of our faith:
“What is your only comfort in life and in death? That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.”
I belong to Jesus not because of anything I’ve done, but because He paid the price for my sin.
Agents of Reconciliation: Our Christian Calling
On Truth and Reconciliation Day, it’s tempting to fall into one of two extremes.
We can either dismiss the narratives we hear in the media because of distrust, or we can believe them without any discernment.
But as Christians, we’re called to walk in both truth and grace. We must be willing to listen, even when it’s uncomfortable, and to acknowledge the pain of others, even when we don’t fully understand it. 2 Corinthians 5:18 says: “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” We’re not just passive observers; we’re called to be agents of reconciliation.
Please don’t get me wrong.
That doesn’t mean we have to believe everything we hear without question. But it does mean we need to approach these conversations with humility and grace. Maybe the exact numbers of graves are wrong. Maybe mainstream media does have biases against conservatives and Christians. But that doesn’t erase the reality of generational trauma. It doesn’t erase the devastation inflicted by a sinful system. It doesn’t negate our responsibility to seek justice.
God’s Irresistible Grace: A Hope for Healing
The Canons of Dort remind us that God’s grace is not only irresistible but sovereign over all our sin and brokenness. In the First Head of Doctrine, Article 7, it declares that: “God’s purpose in Himself is to save from among every people, tribe, nation, and language all those who have been chosen from eternity to salvation in Christ.” This is a beautiful truth: God’s grace, rooted in His eternal purpose, cannot be thwarted by human failure or sin, no matter how terrible.
This truth gives me hope. Hope, not only for myself but for our nation as well.
We live in a world full of brokenness, whether it’s the personal struggles we face or the sins of a nation. Reconciliation, whether between individuals at church or at home, or in a national context like Truth and Reconciliation Day, is hard work. It requires more than words. It demands true repentance, humility, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable things.
Finding Comfort in Christ’s Redemptive Power
The Bible reminds us that the grace of God is more powerful than any sin we face. His grace transforms hearts and heals wounds. Anecdotally, I know this is true because I have experienced it in my own life and relationships. Through the power of Christ, I believe that healing and reconciliation are possible, even in situations that seem beyond repair. The gospel teaches us that we are all sinful and broken, every single one of us has sinned and fallen short, and yet through Christ, we are offered redemption. To quote 2 Corinthians 5:18 again, “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” It is through His grace and power, not our own efforts, that true restoration can take place–personally and as a nation.
As we remember Kris Kristofferson and his raw, heartfelt cries for grace, and as we confront the deep wounds of our national history, let us cling to the hope that only Christ can provide. Whether we’re wrestling with the weight of personal sin or the collective brokenness of a nation, the answer remains the same: Christ’s grace is more than enough. In this journey of reconciliation, we are called not just to reflect but to act. Let’s seek out the uncomfortable truths, engage in hard conversations, and advocate for justice in our communities. And above all, let’s be ministers of grace, offering healing and hope to those who need it most. Because in the end, it’s not our strength or understanding that brings reconciliation—it’s Christ’s irresistible grace working through us. Will you step into that calling?
