Peace in Troubled Times
We live in troubling times. Peace is a commodity more precious than gold. Today the CDC announced that the United States has “way too much virus” to control the pandemic as cases surge across the country. Meanwhile, nineteen hours ago, a new flu virus with “pandemic potential” found in China is carried by pigs but can infect humans. Expert medical doctors suggest we need new strategies to contain today’s virus.
Uncertain health conditions affect how and when we work, shop and enjoy our leisure moments. Anger seems to be brewing like an unwatched pot of coffee on the stove. Something is happening and it’s being taken to the streets. In New York City the first two weeks of June (which includes the Memorial Day weekend), the murder rate more than doubled – 42 murders up from 18 the year before – a startling increase of 133 percent.
Shooting victims, including wounded, are up 45 percent. Stabbings are up also. For the entire year, murder is up 25 percent. If the rates hold, New York will end 2020 with an increase in murders twice as high as their “killing year” of 1990 when 2262 people were killed, an average of over 6 a day.
Lacking Peace
But that is New York City. That isn’t happening everywhere, is it? Two days ago, a front page story on the New York Times was a fatal shooting in a Louisville, Kentucky park where demonstrators were protesting Breonna Taylor’s tragic death.
In Louisville (where I reside), there were 15 more homicides by June 22nd than at this point in 2019, a number that compares to some of Louisville’s deadliest years. In addition to the 56 deaths, there have been 219 criminal shootings, another number of increase.
A Louisville news report quotes a Metro Councilman saying he believes it’s largely connected to poor leadership at Louisville Metro Police Department.
Okay. Fair enough. The police need to shoulder a portion of the blame. But isn’t there something deeper? People are angry. Maybe we are scared. Perhaps frustrated. Certainly fed up. But few things are reminding us that violence isn’t the correct answer for venting frustration and anger. Our TV shows and movies ridicule religious people. The Ten Commandments are missing from public places. Prayers are reduced to inaudible whispers.
The level of being kind and civil in our culture seems to be dropping like a boulder. We have lost the ability to discuss an issue calmly and logically. It strikes me that it started with sports – with sportscasters yelling their opinions at each other. Today it permeates to the dinner table when the family goes out to eat.
Lacking Perspective
So then I read a Scripture this morning for my devotional time. Slapped me in the face.
Finally, all of you should be of one mind.
Jesus prayed often for unity. Unity doesn’t come natural for us humans. It is easier to congregate with the familiar. It didn’t take the early church long to be divided. The leaders met about it mid-way through the book of Acts. Paul wrote about it in several of his letters. The church sees the devastating result – denomination after denomination exist because Christians can’t agree on how to demonstrate that Christ reigns in their lives. We also see the importance of unity in our society. People think more about how they are going to respond to “shut someone up” than to try to understand what the other person is saying. Our opinions are declared when we should be asking questions.
Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.
It starts inside, doesn’t it? Let your emotions start with sympathy. In order for me to feel that, I have to be able to sense what the other person is going through. I may not have walked a mile in his sandals, but I need to begin to understand what the sandal would feel like. I can feel that sympathy when I am motivated by love. Love for each other as a brother and sister. If faith is a part of the picture, then the relationship more than fits. The spirit inside needs to be tenderhearted – and humble.
Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do,
We soon move from emotions to actions. When our emotion is anger, it is going to bubble and eventually burst as violence. When our emotions are sympathy and love, our actions will be dictated by a motivation of peace. I won’t repay evil for evil. I won’t retaliate with insults, words or deed that harm. Instead I will act to be positive. I will pay them back with a blessing.
Not because they deserve it. Certainly not because I am somehow a good person. Not even because inside I think it’s the right thing to do.
I will do it because God calls me to behave this way (1 Peter 3:9, Romans 12:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, Proverbs 24:29, Proverbs 20:22).
And He will grant you His blessing (1 Peter 3:8-9 NLT).
A blessing in Old Testament times meant long life. God’s ultimate blessing is eternal peace – living with Him in heaven. Perhaps we could begin to craft a little calm, a little peace, here on earth. Wouldn’t our life be longer – more fulfilled, more satisfying, more “abundant” – if we were more peaceful as a people? Isn’t it up to people of faith to take the lead? It is obvious the government won’t.
Jesus said, “How blessed are you when you make peace! For then you will be recognized as a true child of God” (Matthew 5:9 TPT).
When you make peace, you will be recognized as being different because no one else is doing it.
