For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Last month most everyone who follows Jesus took the time to remember the birth of the Prince of Peace. We sang songs that announced the incarnation of Christ and we re-read the scriptures that reminded us of the angels who sang of peace on earth and goodwill towards Men.
Jesus was a man of peace. He said that the peace makers would be called the Sons of God. (Matthew 5:9)
To be someone who loves peace and brings peace and makes peace is to be like the Son of God...it's to be like Jesus.
Never mind that the American Church today is alligned with a political machine that is pro-war. Never mind that Christians today are more notorious for their hatred of sinners than they are for their love of people who sin.
If you want to be a follower of Jesus, be one who makes peace - in your community, in your workplace, in your family and in your church. Promote peace. Stand up for peace. Become someone who brings the peace of God into the room with you.
As followers of Jesus we need to be experts on the subject of peace. We need to be known as people of peace.
If we cannot love another human being because they disagree with us on doctrine, or because they are from another race, or because they embrace a different faith, or because they choose a different lifestyle than us, we must seriously question whether or not the love of God is in us at all.
Our calling as followers of Jesus is to love people. Freely we have received His love, and freely we are commanded to give it away. The love He gives us is not for us to bury in the ground. It's not for keeping to ourselves. It's for sharing with a world who has never truly known what His love is all about.
In this world we will have trouble. That's one of the promises that Jesus made to us. Trouble will come. And people who dislike us will bring that trouble to our door. How then should we respond? Should we call down fire on them from heaven to consume them? Should we pray for God's judgment to fall on them? Hardly. Jesus condemned such responses in his own disciples. (Luke 9:54)
Instead, our response to this trouble and to hardship and to persecution and disagreement should be love and we should work for peace if at all possible.
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." (Romans 12:18)
"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." (1 Peter 3:9)
"Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else." (1 Thessalonians 5:15)
Start today. Let the love of Christ dwell in your heart. Pray for those who persecute you. Ask the Lord Jesus to fill you with His love for people. Learn to walk humbly with your God and to serve others, even (and especially) if they hate you.
How great would it be if a year from now people could see how your life has reflected the love of Christ?
That's my prayer for each of you, and for myself as well.
"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14)
Peace,
kg
1 comment:
Dear Keith,
Thank you for the courage to say what needs to be said. I am a Christian who has purposely chosen to neither align myself with the left or the right in America's current rancorous political debate. And I have been attacked as unholy for doing so (sadly, by Christians on the right).
As Christians, we need to view politics through a biblical lens, not the Bible through a political lens. We need to be graciously critical of all political paradigms. All will be based on the foundational principles of the world. In doing so, we need to firmly stand for the supernaturally empowered life Jesus gives us.
Your call to live and promote peace and love is one example of what this looks like. We need do this same thing by living and promoting lives which exemplify lack of greed, sexual morality, concern for the "least of these," etc. We need to lead with our lives then let our words match what we are already so obviously doing. I believe if we do that, in the power of the Spirit (and not only fall on one side of a false political dichotomy); God will honor it by giving us a chance to speak the love of Jesus to our neighbors.
Ross Rohde
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