Civil Wars
Pt. 4 - War and Peace
I. Introduction
The Civil War is an incredibly painful moment in the history of our country. The name is misleading. The war was not civil. It was bloody. It was brutal. Sons and fathers and brothers killed their own family members as battle lines were drawn. Sides were chose.
This war only revealed what we had already seen in the first war that took place in paradise. Paradise was destroyed by brother fighting brother. The truth we learned in these two wars was played out again a few days ago in the parking lot of a local Braums. A son and a father are unable to navigate relationship. A knife is drawn. Loved ones dead at the hands of a family member. Those closest to us can inflict the deepest and deadliest wounds. Jesus goes so far as to tell us it is impossible to go through life and avoid war/offenses. And yet He also talks to us about living in peace. It would seem to be a contradiction. You can't help it you will be involved in hand to hand, face to face conflict but when you are turn the other cheek. Resist the urge to hit back. When someone places unrealistic demands on you like requesting your shirt or that you carry their burden our response, according to Jesus, is to go above and beyond their demands. Jesus knew wars would come and yet He instructs and models a peaceful response. So Jesus is saying you will be at war but learn to be at peace.
Paul comes on the scene and it is instructions on peace that we will examine today. There are several things he says that are noteworthy.
TEXT: Romans 12:17-19
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
We must fight for peace.
Peace must be fought for! When we think of about peace I think we equate peace with easy. That isn't true. Listen to what Paul says . . . if it is possible. That statement infers effort. Peace is hard work. Peace must be won. Unfortunately peace unlike war is not inevitable. It requires concerted time, energy and effort. Honestly, I think many of us have come to the conclusion and rightfully so that peace is much harder than war. Notice I didn't say more costly just harder.
I am concerned that because of that truth that there are many who spend more energy on fights than they do on peace! They are willing to invest everything to fight but will do nothing to contend for peace. We are contentious but we don't contend for peace. Ever met someone like that? Chaos and conflict constantly surrounds them. They are swinging at everyone and everything. If they would just use the same energy they use in fighting and strife towards peace, then there would be change.
The underlying truth here is that peace is up to us until a point. What if the other person won't stop the fight? A couple of quick reminders and pointers before we move on.
a. Trust proven character.
They call it a track record for a reason. Again it goes back to knowing the difference between bad heart and bad day. That is why Paul told Timothy to continue in the things he had learned because he could trust those who taught him. Is Paul only addressing those who stand up and teach? No . . . trust those who teach daily. This requires you to guard against borrowing perceptions and going to the proven source of consistency for facts.
b. Exhaust every effort.
I think our biggest issue here is that we let ourselves off the hook too easily. We try but we haven't tried everything. It still amazes me how many people say they have tried everything but then when you say have you done this . . . well no. Then you haven't tried everything. Peach doesn't just happen. It requires effort and work. You have to go out of your way to make it happen. Peace isn't easy. Fighting is easy. Speaking your mind, flying off at the mouth, disparaging people, telling people off . . . that is easy. Peace is birthed out of work!
c. Dust off.
Paul uses an incredibly important word in these instructions. It is a small word but is crucial. He says "if" it is possible. He must have come to the conclusion that at times it may not be possible. Ever been there? He knows that it is possible to do everything within our power but peace remains unattainable. No possibility for restoration. No chance of reversal. That is a frustrating place. You want to sign a peace treaty but the other person keeps throwing twitter bombs, facebook jabs, and verbal assaults. Fortunately, Jesus tells us what to do if peace isn't possible.
In Luke 10, when He gives His disciples traveling instructions He talks about entering a village and looking for the man of peace. He says that our peace can be given and if it isn't reciprocated our peace is supposed to come back to us and when we aren't received in peace we are to dust of our shoes and move on. So Jesus covers all the bases. Offer peace. When you don't get peace in return refuse to allow the residue of that broken relationship or the rejection of relationship build up on you. Just shake it off. If you do everything within your power but peace is not attainable, then dust off. Too many of us carry around the pain and the hurt of impossible people. If we carry it, then we have heart attacks . . . we act out of character or we are destroyed internally. The residue/dust of those folks keep us from being able to continue on our journey! Dust off. Some of us would quit having dust ups if we would have some dust offs! Learn the heart, listen to the mouth, trust track records, and if every effort is fruitless, then it is time to dust off.
So the question I have is if people are inclined to fight, war is inevitable, offense is sometimes easier to pick up than to ignore, then how can we make it through the land mines and not be destroyed or wounded for the rest of our lives?
In every epistle and letter that Paul wrote in the New Testament he is writing to a church that is smack dab in the middle of factional strife. Arguments over the Jew/Gentile differences, circumcision, gifts, slaver /owner, etc. were causing wars and so over and over again Paul uses a phrase that he coins. In doing so, he addresses their cultural and ethnic backgrounds differences and points to a new, countercultural reality. It is the phrase that gives us a glimpse into how to survive a war hungry world and a blood thirsty humanity.
Paul, in a salutation, literally speaks a prayer, blessing and proclamation over these people.
He says it in Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Ephesians 1:2; Philippians 1:2; Colossians 1:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:2, 1 Timothy 1:2; 2 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4; Philemon 1:3.
"Grace and peace" to you. Notice he didn't separate the two. Jesus left the scene by saying "Peace I give to you!" Paul shows up to deal with these followers of the peace giver and He backs up and adds grace to the equation. Grace and peace to you! Here is what I want you to hear today. Perhaps Paul knew that (SLIDE 9)You will never be able to have peace without grace.
A lot of us want peace but we won't extend any grace. If there is a grace shortage I can assure there will also be a peace shortage.
The writer of Hebrews combines both concepts we are talking about today.
Hebrews 12:14-15
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.
He reiterates the effort we must make to live at peace. Then He says it is the grace of God that we fall short of that causes bitterness/rifts/broken relationships to grow up and when those seeds take root the result is a harvest of war . . . trouble and defiled.
The only way we can live at peace is to also live in grace. If we can learn to be gracious people then we can also be peaceful people!
I told you last week, that in order to make it we are going to have to have an increase of discernment! I believe that we must also have an increase of grace so that peace will be possible!
