Healthy Spiritual Community – Produces Peacemakers

Healthy Spiritual Community can be clearly seen and identified by what it yields.  Just as a dysfunctional family produces its own dysfunction over and over, a healthy functional family produces healthy behavior.  That is essentially what Jesus was saying in Matthew 7:16-20, “ You will recognize them by their fruits.  Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit… Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”  If we are going to be called “Sons of God”, Jesus says it’ll happen because of our ability to be peacemakers, (Matthew 5:9).  As a church if we are known as being combative, argumentative, judgmental and prejudiced then we have some serious problems that need to be dealt with.  If you, as an individual, are not experiencing greater levels of peace, you too have to look closely at what is being planted and cultivated in your own life. 

Ephesians 2:11-18 helps us to understand the “Purpose” of Christ’s coming and how it is inextricably tied to the power of peace .  I love verse 15b—”His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross.”  This “one new man” is often confused to be Jesus, that’s not what he is saying, but rather it is the new man, new body, that will be the new display of God’s presence on earth, the Church, the body of Christ.  I guess in one way it is Jesus, it is Jesus being seen through us as we are his peacemakers, The Sons of God.  When we work out our problems, when we speak well of one another, when we build bridges instead of walls, we add to the potency of God’s presence on earth.

So how can we get better at being peacemakers?  First, it’s important to “Empathize”.  If you cannot feel the pain of someone else you are not likely to have any compulsion to reach out to them.  Conversely, when you feel their pain you are much more inclined to do something about their pain.  Look up  the following passages and make a note or two about how they might stir empathy:  Titus 3:3-7, Colossians 1:13, 21-22 and Philippians 3:18.

Second, we have to “Prioritize” our relational connection to Christ.  When we are experiencing the peace of Christ we will be much more inclined to dispense the peace of Christ.  Two things about this—I must prioritize to have time with Christ and I must prioritize my thoughts to be set on Christ.  You are in control of your time and your thoughts.  No person will ever accomplish the peace of Christ without giving Him a greater piece of their time and thoughts.  Look up each of the following passages and see how they relate:  Philippians 4:6-7, 2 Corinthians 10:5 & Colossians 3:1-2.

Third, we have to “Emphasize” relationships over rules.  One of the major mistakes of religion is to try and relegate faith to a set of rules.  This propensity will produce an external form of piety but it will always leave a gap between appearance and reality.  Rules will never make me more like Jesus.  Restrictive and damaging legalism will sooner or later value the rules over the people.  Where or how have you experienced “rule keeping” that lost its connection to God’s heart?

Lastly, we have to “Organize” for peace to spread.  That is the Church’s job.  When we are functioning well, it shows. The only reason to organize something is to better accomplish its intended purpose.  Have you ever endured being a part of something poorly organized?  What did that feel like?  In contrast what is experienced when something is organized well and runs smoothly?  Share your answers with a friend and challenge one another to ask yourselves how you are cooperating with the “Work of the Church.“  How do these verses exhort us to find our place in God’s work for peace:  Colossians 3:15-17, 1 Peter 4:10 & Romans 12:4-8?

In His Love,

Pastor Jeff

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