Absence of Conflict

Okay... summer's over. Time to dust off the blog and start typing out some ideas and conversation starters in regard to this week's sermon at The River! 

Text we might look at this Sunday morning at 10:00 am:  Leviticus 26:1-13

And of course... the series we're about to conclude (next week) is based on Galatians 5:22-23...

 

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

Peace.

Hmmmm... What does it mean to bear the fruit of peace? God's peace?

Does it mean that when we love God we no longer have any enemies? No... that didn't work out so well in the case of Jesus, right? He definitely had the peace of God in him... and yet, his teachings and actions in the world incited angry (religious) people to hate him... even snuff out his life.

Does it mean we are no longer to fight for any cause - regardless of the circumstances? No... I don't think so. Regardless of what we come to learn about God and His plans to destroy all traces of evil once and for all... and even though we're called to pray for our enemies... and even though we're to turn the other cheek, etc...  Still, the NT describes disciples of Jesus Christ as peaceful warriors who are called to fight the powers of darkness... to stand in the gap and "fight the good fight" for the cause of Christ.

But how is engagement in battle a peaceful way of life? How does the Holy Spirit's gift of peace make any sense when we're called to forcefully (and violently) advance the kingdom of God, no matter the cost to us personally? How can a warrior be peaceful? It's an oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp, or abundant poverty, or perfect idiot, or rap artist... Simply put, it just don't compute!

“I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear. I will rid the land of wild animals and keep your enemies out of your land. In fact, you will chase down your enemies and slaughter them with your swords. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath your sword."  - Leviticus 26:6-8

So... apparently, the peace of God does not mean that you will no longer have enemies. Nor does it mean that you are to lie down and allow evil to overtake this world. In the passage above, God tells His chosen people that they will chase down their enemies and slaughter them with their swords! Wow, that's unexpected!

But who is our enemy? What dark force of evil are we called to fight against?

Well, let me ask it this way... which is the more powerful enemy that fights against a peaceful way of life for all people... the external ones that distract us from fellowship with God (the world)? Or the internal ones that rebel against God's will for humanity (the self)?

In the end... it doesn't really matter whether we struggle with the external or internal enemies more... they are both powerful foes. I believe the main point is that we as God's people are to "chase down our enemies and slaughter them with our swords." Perhaps not literally... but learning to say no to those things which lead us away from God and yes to the gospel of Jesus Christ is a mighty good start. That is not something we are equipped to do on our own... we need the weapons of spiritual warfare that Paul describes in the book of Ephesians:

¹⁴ Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵ For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶ In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷ Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

 Here's my question(s): In a busy, busy, busy world... a world where silence and solitude are nearly nonexistent... and a world where debts are high and jobs are stressful... and a world where no one ever sits still for very long... and a world that is defined by go, go, go... How in the world are we supposed to hear the soft, still voice of God who wants to breathe peace into our hearts?

In a culture in which we have everything we need... and an insatiable appetite for more of what we want (even demand)... how can we possibly know what it means to rely on God? How can such independent people understand dependence upon their creator?

How do we bear this mysterious, yet beautiful-sounding spiritual fruit called the peace of God? I really wanna know the answer to that question... don't you?