This week’s sermon wrestles with Jesus’ startling words: “I have come not to bring peace, but division.” What kind of peace does Christ offer if it’s not the Pax Romana, not the silence of fear or compliance? We explore the difference between false peace and God’s peace, a peace rooted in justice, community, and courage over fear—drawing on the witness of prophets, Dr. King, Oscar Romero, and Jonathan Daniels.
Tag Archives: Peace
Jesus and Nonviolence
Why love your enemies? Because practicing love, in the end costs you less than practicing hate. Hate consumes us. Hate embitters. Spending your energy practicing hate will not help you to grow as a person. Hate shrinks us. God does not want you to be smaller. You were made not for hate, but for love.
Jesus and Peace
A lot of the Christian books I’ve read about peace-making include some version of the teaching, “if you want to build peace beyond yourself, you have to first build peace within yourself.” Sure the sentiment makes a nice bumpers sticker, but I know there are a lot of us who aren’t feeling particularly peaceful with the state of our world.
What road will we choose?
I’ve heard a lot of talk this week about the need to work for “peace.” I’ve heard a number of elected officials and church leaders call for reconciliation. I’m not praying for either of those yet. I’m not. One of the prayers our Prayer Book asks God to help us “fearlessly contend against evil and make no peace with oppression.”
I’m not praying for reconciliation. I’m praying for conversion. I believe we need conversion before we can talk about peace.
Mike Angell 