Peace. It seems to be God’s theme for me
this month as I’ve been reading through the Epistles and now through James. Each day I wake up to a fresh reminder that while God calls us to be zealous for
his name and his glory, he also commands us to "live at peace with others as far
as it depends on us" (Rom. 12:18). The words "live at peace" imply action rather than a passive emotional experience. In fact, we’re told to “seek peace and pursue it,” or look for it and chase after it (Ps. 34:14).
From a purely doctrinal perspective,
these exhortations appear rather harmless. Peace is a noble idea and,
for the most part, we’re in favor of living tranquil lives. We join with the
world’s chorus for peace until we stumble upon a situation that challenges our
security, our identity, our pride. And right away we find our defenses rising,
along with our blood pressure. The unpleasant incident, which may not at all
have been leveled against us, becomes a personal attack and we take offense.
Seeking peace and pursuing it is costly
when it’s personalized. We can drone on for days about being peace-loving and
desiring to maintain good relationships within the body of Christ. But the real test comes when we’re confronted with losing something valuable. It's at this juncture that we make the vital decision about whether to respond in obedience by faith or to walk according to our own fleshly knowledge and
the wisdom of the world (Lk. 6:45, Jas. 1:22, Rom. 8:5, Eph. 4:31-32).
I know many truths about the importance of being a peacemaker. And it’s often not until I’m embroiled in a
personal battle that I realize I’ve taken up another goal all together.
Instead of pursuing peace, I begin to defend myself, attack the other person, and
go for the jugular. My response, at times, is so instant that I’m left clueless as
to where the shift occurred or even how it happened. One minute I'm determined to live in harmony, the next I’m waging war.
The Bible says that we fight and quarrel
because of the selfish desires lurking within us. We want something but can’t
get it so we push and shove, often verbally, as we wrestle for victory (Js. 4:1). Many reformed evangelicals cite Luther and Calvin as their role models to justify using harsh and angry words. But they forget that these men, though outstanding theologians and leaders, were sinful, flawed people like everyone else. Their actions fell short of God's glory at any given time, making it impossible for us to elevate their behavior in areas that clearly or even vaguely contradicted Scripture. We can have a plethora of biblical
truths and principles on the tip of our tongues and yet still be in sin if we communicate
them with a harsh or angry spirit (Eph. 4:26, 1 Cor. 13:2).
Jesus calls us to a higher road, a superior walk (Matt. 5:43). Luther, Calvin or a host of others are not our litmus test for righteous living, but instead we’re called to emulate Christ and his perfect righteousness. The apostle Paul himself refuted this kind of self-justification when he said, “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise” (2 Cor. 10:12).
Jesus calls us to a higher road, a superior walk (Matt. 5:43). Luther, Calvin or a host of others are not our litmus test for righteous living, but instead we’re called to emulate Christ and his perfect righteousness. The apostle Paul himself refuted this kind of self-justification when he said, “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise” (2 Cor. 10:12).
Each of us will stand before God and
give an accounting for what we’ve said and done (2 Cor. 5:10). His greatest desire is that we walk in love and humility (Eph. 4:2), speaking the truth indeed, but
doing it with the greater goal of honoring Christ and building up and
strengthening those who listen (Eph. 4:29).
“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have
love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and
can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can
move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the
poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It
does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others,
it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of
wrongs. Love does not
delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always
trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Cor. 13:1-10
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