PEACE

Introduction
Conflict is always sad, whether between nations, between friends, or within families. We may think it worse in times of war because of the loss of life. Yet people lose their life in a host of other ways every day because of conflict, and we hardly seem to notice. The children of divorce lose potential God intends. Brothers in Christ lose necessary support systems. Conflict is always sadder when peace seems so close and possible.

A little pre-school girl says, "I hope we don 't have war because people might get hurt." A young soldier showing four different crosses he is wearing constantly around his neck sent to him by different friends and relatives and then saying, "In foxholes, there are no atheists." Each of us have moving, poignant images etched into our hearts and minds. I do not desire sensationalism this morning, but we are concerned about peace. This is the elephant in the room. We need to grapple with this. We need spiritual light. We need peace.

Today I want us to think about three aspects of peace: peace with others, peace with self, and peace with God. But before we share that journey, I want to say a couple of things about the nature of our world, and to help us pray in truth and spirit today.

  • 1. Ours is a world which is SHRINKING. We are a global village.
  • 2. Ours is a world which is SIMILAR. There is more and more SAMENESS, commonality in culture, understanding, experiences. People are fundamentally the same in their differences. We are similar.
  • 3. Our is a world which needs a SAVIOR. Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace, he is the one who can provide what is lacking.

    Against these truths today, we think about peace. There are many texts to which we could turn, and this is not a complete study of what the Bible says, but we think in a narrow way about these three points.

    I. PEACE WITH OTHERS.
    Peace with others is a human impossibility. A bold statement! Human beings, by nature, will never find peace. Peace comes from superhuman sources and requires power beyond our typical humanity. Where there is love in the home, dignity and respect among neighbors, agape love binding brothers spiritually--these things are not of our doing, but are of God.

    The Bible supports this idea in Ephesians 2. (Read Eph. 2:15-21) Jesus Christ is our peace, he is the wrecking crew for the dividing wall, his work is reconciling. Always there are been differences, divisions, obvious external, not so obvious internal. Value systems, cultures, behaviors, beliefs, world views, preferences.

    How can you and I live in peace with one another? Some say ignore the differences, just say we are one regardless. That has been the approach of the ecumenical movement in Christianity over the last almost 50 years. Others have said we must reconcile every difference, regardless of how minute or insignificant. That has led to sectarianism, divided Christianity. Others have selfishly chosen to affirm the impossibility of improbability of reconciliation, and have protested by starting another religious group--Protestantism. There is a fourth way, it is the way of the cross, it is the way of Jesus. It is the way of Romans 14--accepting one another, not despising, understanding, uniting rather than separating. It is the way that unites us because of the common bond we have to the Master.

    War occurs because men do not, or cannot follow this way. We are in conflict today. We are in conflict over political differences, but we are, whether we like it or not, in conflict over culture and religion. We pray for the situation in our world, for God's hand in the affairs of our world. We pray for Iraqi refugees and citizens, we pray for innocent people, we pray for God's name to be glorified. We pray especially for the troops of our nation who are in harm's way.

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    II. PEACE WITH SELF.
    Peace with self is illusive. We do not like ourselves. Jesus said we should love our neighbor as ourselves. That is the second great commandment. I know of a man who says that is precisely the problem. People are loving their neighbors as they love themselves--they hate themselves and they hate their neighbors. Sore Kierkegaard, describes time when he went to a party, was life of party, went home, saw self as he really was, and was sick. Is there any sickness so sick as when you are sick of yourself. When you can't stand yourself. When you can't bear another day with self.

    The answer is peace, valuing self, reaffirming the image of God talk, seeing in ourselves what only God can see. Each of us valuable, and God cares. Paul encourages a peace like this in Philippians 4. (Read Phil. 4:4-9) This is not peace with God, but the peace of God. This is the belief that with God, all is well, regardless.

    It is not easy to find this kind of internal peace, the knowledge that God is in control, that we are on a spiritual journey that shall succeed because of him and not because of us, but it is the promise of God. It is our joy. Many today struggle within because of the situation in our world. Some are troubled by the dark days of despair, personal disappointments, unfulfilled dreams, and the challenges of life.

    We pray especially for the families separated from their loved ones, for those who struggle with internal peace as they are involved in a conflict ½ a world away.

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    III. PEACE WITH GOD.
    Perhaps most elusive of all is peace with God. If Phil. 4 is about the peace of God, that is the best kind of peace. The best kind of peace is peace with God as mentioned in Romans 5. (Read Rom. 5:1-8) Our fondest hope and dream today is for this peace with God to become the experience of all humanity.

    Sin has undone the fellowship and our peace with God. We were created in harmony with God, in his likeness, in full fellowship. But sin entered, and a great gulf has developed which separates us from God. It is not within us to direct our steps or to remedy the sin problem. But in Christ Jesus, peace is possible. He is our peace both horizontally and vertically. He is the demonstration of God's love. He is the power from the old Adam experience to the Christ experience. He is the one who provides the forgiving dynamic in baptism, the newness of life promised is based on his death, burial, and resurrection, and we become like him--the literal meaning of the word Christian--in our baptism. Further, if we have participated in his death, we can be assured of eternal peace, participation in his resurrection, and eternity with God.

    This is genuine peace. When all around the world gives way, when we are in the midst of storms, peace with God is the foundation of peace with self and peace with others.

    I hope you know this peace with God. If you do not, you can. You can begin, you can learn. I do not know your need. Perhaps is it to hear this good news personally, and we can arrange times for study, direct you to more scriptures, share faith or support on the journey. You can respond, we can set up a time for study. Perhaps you know the need to be restored to God, you formerly walked with Christ, but have walked away from him. His peace awaits. Perhaps you know your need to follow Christ in baptism, and you can accomplish that this very day. Perhaps you seek the fellowship of brothers and sisters who are supporting one another in the quest for peace--we would love to hear of your desire to be part of this spiritual family.

    May God bless us with peace. May we be people of peace--peacemakers. Jesus provides rest and peace, if you will come.


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    Last updated March 20, 2005.