Learning to Live in Peace

John 14:23-27, “23 Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

25 “I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

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May 3, 2015
John 14:23-27, Philippians 4:4-9, 2 Corinthians 13:11, Learning to Live in Peace
Pastor Doug Scalise, Brewster Baptist Church

Philippians 4:4-9, “4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

We’re in a series on The Elements of Healthy Relationships and today’s theme is learning to live in peace. Clearly this is something that millions of people struggle with – in our families – in our longest and closest relationships – there are so many cases of relationships that are not characterized by peace, wholeness, and health. For too many of us there is a relationship with a parent, sibling, spouse, child or other person that is marked more by hostility, contention, bitterness, alienation or anger.

Learning to live in peace with justice couldn’t be more relevant given that once again this past week in another American community, we’ve seen anger and frustration arise because an African American man, this time Freddie Gray, died as a result of an encounter with police. Once again, legitimate concerns about the use of power and a police department’s disconnection with the people it is called to serve led to anger, protest and disappointment. Once again, unfortunately, those legitimate concerns and peaceful protests including the one on Monday evening during which over a hundred Baltimore pastors and church members walked arm and arm in an attempt to calm the situation were overshadowed as other people with different agendas rioted. We have sisters and brothers in Christ whose skin color may be different than many of ours who live in communities racked by poverty, violence, disenfranchisement and a lack of opportunity. I thought about what I would say this morning if I was the pastor of an inner city church in Baltimore, or if we had the pastors and members of an inner city African-American Baptist Church from Baltimore here as our guests sitting next to us in worship.

One thing I know for certain is that our perspective on these situations should be shaped more by the Bible than by any television network we watch. In the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, the Lord says the prophets and priests should have been warning the people of God’s impending judgment and the need of repentance, but instead they say there is nothing to fear and that the people aren’t doing anything wrong in neglecting God’s path of peace and justice. Jeremiahs says of everyone, “They have treated the wound of my people carelessly, saying, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace. They acted shamefully, they committed abomination (the two abominations in Jeremiah 6:13 are, “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely”), yet they were not ashamed, they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown, says the LORD.” We need to learn to be ashamed at the conditions, the systems, the behavior, the attitudes that are not Christ-like or God-honoring in our relationships, in our communities, and in our nation. In so many American cities, lives are being cut short by violence, fear and despair.[1] Bishop Eugene Sutton, Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of Maryland, said, “the cycle of hopelessness and poverty and violence has been building up for years,” but “the church has a moral voice that it can use,” and “eventually justice has to be done in order for there to be peace.”[2]

In Ezekiel 13:10-11a in a similar way to Jeremiah God condemns the false prophets and priests, “Because, in truth, because they have misled my people, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace; and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear whitewash on it. Say to those who smear whitewash on it that it shall fall.” We can’t smear whitewash over a broken down wall of a relationship – whether that is a personal relationship or the relationship between races or groups of people or fellow citizens and pretend that everything is okay when it is not.

The dictionary has many definitions for peace including those describing agreements between nations, to public order, to harmony in personal relationships, to freedom from fear. Peace is a very significant word in the Bible. The Hebrew and Greek words for “peace” are “shalom” & “eirene” (eye-RAY-nay). These words are active, positive words, communicating much of what we all desire in life: health, security, long life, harmonious relationships with other people, and blessing. There are approximately 250 uses of shalom in the Old Testament. One of the favorite titles for Jesus comes from Isaiah 9:6, “And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Shalom.” Eirene appears about 90 times in the Greek New Testament. It’s more common than “gospel,” “joy” or “hope.” The angels use it to announce the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:14), “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth eirene among those with whom he is pleased.”

Eirene became part of the standard greeting and closing blessing of most letters in the New Testament. For example, Romans 1:7 is, “Grace to you and eirene from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” As part of his farewell to the Church in Corinth, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 13:11, “Live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” As followers of Jesus we’re called to live in peace. We cannot learn to live in peace with anyone else until and unless we’ve first learned to be at peace with ourselves and with God. Many years ago, a man named Thomas a Kempis wrote that we’ll never have peace in our life or our home, in our relationships or the world, if we are not at peace ourselves. “First keep the peace within yourself, then you can also bring peace to others. A peaceful and patient man is of more profit to himself and to others, too, than a learned man who has no peace.” If we’re not at peace with God and with ourselves, it shouldn’t surprise us if we’re not at peace with other people. We can’t share with others what we don’t possess ourselves. This is especially true of peace. If your relationships or your home isn’t peaceful the first question to ask is not, “What is wrong with everyone else?” The first question is, “Am I peace with myself? Am I at peace with God?”

Being at peace with ourselves involves at least a few things. First, we’re more likely to be at peace if we love Jesus and keep his word. That is what Jesus alludes to in John 14:27 when he says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you” after talking about the importance of loving him and keeping his word. Peace is what Jesus wishes to leave with and to give his friends. Passages in the New Testament frequently use peace as a virtual synonym for gospel, summing up all the benefits that the coming of Jesus brought to humanity. When Peter summed up the gospel in Acts 10, peace is at the heart of his proclamation. “You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ – he is Lord of all (10:36).” It’s through our full acceptance of and obedience to Jesus that we can have peace with God and ourselves. It’s interesting to note that surrounding Jesus there was almost constant turmoil: demanding crowds, supporters and opponents, demonic activity, and stormy seas. Within Jesus there was a peace and calm he projected which attracted others to him. Peace is both a gift of God and a fruit of the Spirit for us to cultivate. Jesus came to bring peace on earth and once we have received the peace of Christ, we have a responsibility for learning to live in peace and making peace with others. We’re more likely to be at peace if we love Jesus and keep his word. As the bumper sticker says: Know Jesus, Know Peace.

The second thing regarding learning to live in peace is in Philippians 4:4-6 which tells us to rejoice, be gentle, don’t worry and pray. When we do those things; then Philippians 4:7 states, “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” If we do the opposite of what Philippians says – if we complain, are harsh, worry and fret and never pray – we shouldn’t be surprised if there is little peace in our life. Remember Jesus said if you love me, you’ll keep my word – you’ll do what I and the rest of God’s word says. Paul also says the peace which the church can know, which we can know, the sense that all is well is found in God. Paul describes this peace with a military term. The peace of God “will stand sentry watch” over our hearts and minds. The peace of God is standing guard so there’s no need for nervous, anxious, doubt-filled worry or concern.

Catherine Marshall shared an experience her friend had aboard a plane bound for Cleveland, but still waiting for takeoff. As she settled into her seat, Marge noticed a strange phenomenon. On the other side of the airplane a sunset suffused the entire sky with glorious color. But out of the window next to her seat, all Marge could see was a dark and threatening sky, with no sign of the sunset. As the plane’s engines began to roar, a gentle voice spoke within her. “You’ve noticed the windows. Your life, too, will contain some happy beautiful times, but also some dark shadows. Here’s a lesson I want to teach you to save you some heartache and allow you to abide in me with continual peace and joy. You see it doesn’t matter which window you look through; this plane is still going to Cleveland. So it is in your life. You have a choice. You can dwell on the gloomy picture. Or you can focus on the bright things and leave the ominous situations to me. And the final destination is not influenced by what you see or feel along the way. Learn this, act on it and you will be released, able to experience the “peace that passes understanding.” That’s a good illustration of Philippians 4, rejoice, be gentle, don’t worry and pray and we’ll experience more peace in our life.

Thirdly, being at peace means being forgiving; we need to be able to forgive ourselves and others or we’ll never know peace. One reason so many people are lacking peace in a key relationship, especially with a family member, is that they have unresolved resentments. Even if your resentments are justified, you can still choose to forgive. Many people are reluctant to forgive others. It’s deeply painful to be betrayed or belittled by someone close to you. Many people hold back from forgiving, because they incorrectly assume that forgiveness means, they have to forget the painful things that happened to them. Some things we can’t forget and forgiving someone doesn’t mean they are free from the consequences of their actions. We can forgive others without down-playing the pain they caused. The word “forgive” implies three actions: to pardon or release from punishment for a fault or offence; to give up anger, resentment, or the need for revenge; to show mercy or compassion. In other words, forgiveness, allows us to build something positive in the present, while still making sure not to repeat what happened in the past. Part of why justice is so tied up with peace is because wrongs need to be addressed and corrected for there to be peace between people. When individuals can have compassion for one another and forgive one another for not being perfect, then the door opens for understanding and the possibility of a healthier more peaceful and harmonious relationship.

There is such a critical need in families, churches, communities, in our country and around the world for people to learn to live in peace. Paul wrote to the Christians Ephesus words that still have the power to change the world if millions of Christians took them to heart and put them into practice: “I beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, Making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” How different would your life or mine be in attitude, speech, and behavior if we seek to do these things with God’s help? How much bad behavior would be prevented by first asking ourselves these questions: “Is this worthy of Christ? Is it humble and gentle? Does this reflect patience and forbearance? Does it embody unity and peace?” Most of us would have avoided some painful or regretful moments or choices if we’d ask ourselves these questions before we acted or spoke. Jesus said, (Matthew 5:9), “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” There is a great need in the world for peacemakers.

Blessing: The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you shalom. Numbers 6:24-26

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in all ways. The Lord be with all of you.” Numbers 6:26, 2 Thessalonians 3:16.

 

Questions for Discussion or Reflection

1. In John 14:23-27, Jesus says that he gives his peace to his disciples. What connection do you see between the peace of Christ and troubles and fears (John 14:27)?
2. In Philippians 4:4-6, identify the things we are to do and then in verse 7 what will “the peace of God” do? What connection do you see between what we are to do and what God will do?
3. Philippians 4:8 instructs us to think about certain things, underline them in your Bible and/or write them out as a list. What difference would focusing our thinking on “these things” make? Why is what we think about so important?
4. What does Philippians 4:9 teach us about the power of having and being good role models or examples? What does Paul say is one benefit of following his example?
5. 2 Corinthians 13:11 makes a connection between our living in peace and the God of peace being with us – why do you think Paul believes those two things are linked?
6. What can you do this week to be a person of peace and to experience more of God’s peace in your life and in your relationships?

 

 See this story to read more about the conditions in Baltimore: http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/02/us/lord-of-the-flies-baltimore/index.html.

Weepinging for Baltimore, Weeping for Baltimore article.