A new species of human

Between noon and 12:30 every Monday a group of us meet on the corner of the Lake County Courthouse to "Stand for Peace".  We're a mixed bag of people (including Sophie the Peace Dog) that come from diverse backgrounds but with the common belief that conflict can be resolved by peaceful means.  So rain or shine we gather with our placards and smiles, waving to the  people passing by . We get horn honks and waves back, some show us the peace sign; some times they forget to use both fingers but that's okay. 

A few weeks ago when we had finished some of us went to "Soups on" at the Journey Be Church for lunch where we got into a conversation about our "Stand". A statement was made by a non-participant that peace was an unattainable goal because it would take "a new species of human to make it happen.".

I mused on that for awhile and realized that was totally true. Not that peace is unattainable but that it would take a new species; or rather a new creature ."Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold, all things are become new.". (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Jesus wants us to example His life as we live ours; to reach out to those around us in love and forgiveness. He wants us to be the ambassadors of peace for His Kingdom. A Kingdom, by the way, that you can not even be aware of unless you are born again; "a new creature" (John 3:3)

The Way of Love

Tom Robbins wrote in "Jitterbug Perfume" that "the highest function of love is that the loved one becomes a unique and irreplaceable being". And while the context of  the book deals with the love between men and women is it not also true of God's love for us. That while we are trapped in our sin nature; unlovable, God expressed an unfathomable love for us. We are unique and irreplaceable in his eyes.

This love that God expressed toward us, this grace, is unearned and undeserved. It is not given because of anything we have done. So if we receive it, accept it, should not our lives be changed?  "This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did" (1 John 2:5,6) "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2). Our lives are to be expressions of the love God has shown us.  "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." (Philipians 4:8-9).

Jesus calls us to a way of life, not an adherence to the bondage of a strict belief system. He calls us to experience the Kingdom of God in our daily lives by copying his life and the love and compassion he offers. The evidence that we walk with Jesus is that we demonstrate his humility, love, acceptance and forgiveness towards others at all times, never reacting in a condemning and condescending way.

Unfortunately the largest misrepresentation of what Jesus teaches comes from those most prominent in the public eye. Too many people use the name of Jesus to forward their own selfish agendas. Preachers and politicians using modern media to spread the "Word" but in truth only spreading mistrust,t division,and hate; using the power they garner to feed their own greed and lust. All they do is widen the gap between the camps they have chosen to define as"Us and Them" Them" are usually painted as an enemy.

Jesus teaches us to love our enemies. If we love our enemy, are they still our enemy? The way of love that Jesus guides us to is to be a way of life; a way of  life that becomes a sacred expression of our worship of him. We will find it hard to lift a hand in anger toward someone when our holy hands are lifted in praise.

One Way

  Over the years I have heard so many sermons and teachings based in John 3-16 that it would lead one to believe it is the foundational passage in the whole bible. But recently I have been continually drawn to Jesus's words in John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me." and while John 3:16 is one of the most foundational teachings in scripture, 14:6 becomes cornerstone.
  In this statement Jesus only gives us two choices of what to think of him. We can regard his words as the most profound statement of all time or the rantings of a madman. We are not even given the option to think of Jesus as a great teacher or at best a prophet.
  So the question for the day: Who do you say he is?

The Peace of God

Philippians 4:2-9

4:2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.
4:3 And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.
4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
4:5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

What an amazing passage of scripture. In this short and in someways seemingly out of place passage Paul not only gives a teaching that shows the depth of peace we as Christians can have but also how we can achieve it. He shows us how we can have peace with those around us, peace with ourselves, and peace with God.

Peace With Others

Paul, in the letter to the Philippians, focuses on how even in the presence of adversity, even to the point of death, we can have assurance of Christ's ability to impact our lives with a joyful, God given, peace. He then he turns to what seems like a minor civil matter within the Philippian congregation dealing with an un-named friction between two members of the Philippian church.
Every day we will most likely find conflict to some degree with the people around us. The key to dealing with these situations is to recognize the difference between re-acting and responding. In re-acting the conflict most likely escalate to anger, division, mistrust, and maybe even violence. On the other hand if we respond in an imitation of Christ, seeing the big picture of who the other person really is; someone who God loves and only wishes peace and happiness for, then we can move forward toward peace. In the Philippian text Paul encourages these two Christians to find common ground where they can agree, and writes, "I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord".When we are "of the same mind in the Lord": when we follow Jesus, imitate Jesus, dedicate our lives to Jesus, and doing this together, we will be at peace with one another.
But what if the conflict is with someone without an understanding of these spiritual concepts? Then it becomes even more important that we "respond" in a Christ-like manner. Paul wrote in Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." As in all situations in life this is a chance to reveal Christ to the world through your actions. 

Peace With Yourself

One of the hardest things it seems for people to do is find peace with ourselves. So many people walk around carrying the baggage of life; worries over family, finances, past sins. burdens that weigh us down, crush us, bury us, but Paul encourages us by writing, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus".
Think about where Paul is as he writes this. He is in prison in Rome awaiting trial; tomorrow could be his last. But in this letter he tells us of his peace. He lets us know that no matter what life throws at us we can have peace with ourselves because Jesus is in our life, we can be in communion with him. We can have fellowship with him no matter what our situation. We have "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding"

Peace With God

 So how do we find peace with God. How do we, when we struggle with finding peace with those around us and war with ourselves to find peace within, find peace with The Almighty God; Paul writes "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

Simply said: If it’s not true, then don’t invite it into you life. If it’s not honest, if it’s not just, or pure or lovely or you can' speak well of it or it has no virtue or it is not  praiseworthy, don’t let it take root in your heart. Run your actions, thoughts, and aspirations through this criteria you’ll have peace with God."

Is not, as a whole, this letter a teaching on how to not only find peace but how to live it.