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A Channel of Peace |
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(Author's note: I wrote this article back in October, 2002. I think it's
still pertinent. Certainly, it is timely given what is going
on in the world. May you take the message to heart. Peace —
Tom Gilbert)
Most people greet each other with a "Hi, how are you?"
or a "How ya' doing?" Sometimes it is even expressed
with enthusiasm or kindness.
Jesus, on the other hand, greeted his friends differently: "Peace
be with you" (; ;
).
The early believers continued this practice. Paul, in his New Testament
letters, regularly sent blessings of grace and peace from God
and the Lord Jesus Christ (;
; ;
).
Society has made various expressions of peace trendy. "Peace,
brother" was often said in the cultural revolution of the
sixties/seventies. "Peace out!" has been heard more
these days. Perhaps some people say it with meaning and sincerity,
but my suspicion is it's more often just a catch phrase.
The peace Jesus gives is not the same as ours. In fact, he tells
us in so many words. Read John 14:27 — " Peace I leave with
you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world
gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
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There is something significant here
Christ is giving us His peace and this peace is not given to us the
way the world gives it. It is the "peace that passes all
understanding" (Philippians 4:7).
These thoughts are present with me of late. The drums of war
are beating loudly in the United States and Great Britain. There
is a great deal of evidence and justification being presented
for military action against Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein.
Granted, the world is in a precarious situation if evil men
with weapons of mass destruction are allowed to use them. However,
as a Christian it is not so easy to jump on the bandwagon.
Struggling over the concept of war is something we all should
do. Everyone recognizes that the death and suffering caused
by war is atrocious. Still, wars happen. And, unfortunately,
there will be more war. The reasons behind them will sometimes
sound justified and other times absurd.
A Better Way?
I was reading about St. Francis of Assisi recently. His feast
day is October 4th. You probably know that this once medieval
playboy rejected a life of wealth and egotism and took to heart
the Gospel message to deny his self and follow Christ. He was
very humble and lived a simple life. He loved and respected
all of God's creatures. He's even considered the patron of animals.
I discovered something I never knew about him. Francis lived
during the time of the Crusades. Christian European armies were
warring with the Muslim forces in the Middle East. Francis'
response was to go on a peace-seeking mission.
In 1219 he traveled to Damietta, Egypt, near the mouth of the
Nile, and met with the Sultan of Egypt, Malek-el-Kamel. He delivered
a sincere and earnest message of the Gospel Good News and the
love of Jesus. The Sultan was impressed with the courage and
faith of this messenger and listened with courtesy and admiration.
It didn't result in conversion, but at least it was heard out.
The ruler was impressed enough to guarantee Francis safe passage
home.
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A Prayer for Peace
A good daily reminder of what we are called
to do as a follower of Jesus is aptly summed up in St. Francis' Prayer
of Peace.
Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled,
as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved,
as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in
pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in dying that we are
born to eternal life.
Does this prayer accurately reflect my attitude? I have a long way
to go. However, the truth of those words cannot be denied. We
are told in the Bible that the Holy Spirit will teach us and
remind us of all truth. Like the Sultan of Egypt in 1219, at
the very least I can hear these words with courtesy and admiration.
Perhaps they will even enter my heart and help change me.
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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible,
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978,
1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout
the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for
the offering of goods or services requires the prior written
consent of International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible,
New Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All
rights reserved.
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