Peacemaking...

Dear Family,

We have made our way to the third Sunday in Advent. Although each Sunday is not only significant and foundational to the Christian faith, i sense that this Sunday, peace, is one that we, all too often, overlook or ignore. Why? Because it is easier to hate an enemy and go to war with them, whether with words or swords, than it is to love them, pray for them, and reconcile with them. Christian peace is more than not drawing swords against a military, it is living a life of peace. Within yourself. And with the sister and/or brother you worship with. And this, my friends, i sense we dont do very well.

I know i dont. I hold grudges. I speak ill of those who i perceive have wronged me. I do my best to draw sides, so that others will feel the same way as i do, or so that i can ensure i win, even if it means a sister or brother must lose. I am ashamed of this behavior. I get sick to my stomach when i rehearse how poorly i have acted towards those i might have an "issue" with. My actions are far from Christ like, in fact they mirror more of the deeds and intentions of the enemy than that of Jesus.

But i know that i am not alone. In fact, i sense the church suffers from this ailment, and i dont know that we are moving towards a peacemaking position, any time soon. When we choose sides, and we speak our will over someone elses or even God's we make peace impossible. When we refuse to come to the table to work through our problems with others, we make peace a joke, a lie. And when we continually point fingers at others, blaming them, instead of examining our own faults, we destroy the chance of reconciliation. Peacemaking is about loving one's enemy all the way to Jesus. It is not about getting one's way.

Why can't we come to the table? What stops us from releasing our issues, our struggles, our anger, our hatred, and letting Jesus handle it? Where have we lost the message of Jesus? And when did we take up the mantel of us versus them? If we want to honor the Author of peace, the Prince of peace, we must lay our swords down, even if the swords are the most violent ones, our tongues, and let love guide us.

That is one of the most foundational parts of Advent. It is anticipating that the Lord of Lords, Jesus the Christ, will take up our struggle and hear our cries. It is releasing our anger to God, so that we can be reconciled to those we worship with. And it is about refusing to take up arms against anyone. ANYONE! When we, as followers of Christ, accept our cross, we commit to a life, not of this world, but of the One beyond the world: Jesus.

And He calls us to love our enemies. Pray for those who persecute you. Reconcile with your fellow believers. And live in peace with any and all. When we embody these truths, the world will finally see that Jesus is real. More than that, the world will witness something it hasn't witnessed since the Genesis of the church, 2000 years ago, the church as God intended her to be. A loving, accepting, discipling, and ministering body of people who have chosen to love without limits. Serve beyond common sense. And forgive seventy times seven. This is how the world will know our Father in heaven is perfect. Are we ready to show them?

Amen..

Shalom, Salaam, peace,
jerry