SermonStudio

Purpose Statement: We must have a vision that peace is realistically attainable.

One of my first sermons in my home church as a college student was on pacifism. One of my Sunday school teachers who taught me that Jesus preached pacifism (though she did not know she was teaching me those ideas) came to me after the sermon and said, "That was such a wonderful sermon; too bad it won't work." It is an understatement to say the world desperately needs peace today. As I write this, our president is trying to get the support of people of our country and other countries concerning the war with Iraq. The mockery is that we were already at war with Iraq and we bombed them regularly. Our world is filled with death and destruction. On the domestic scene, our country is one of most violent in the world. More than most any other country in the world we have a larger percentage of our citizens behind bars. We simply don't know how to make peace at home or abroad. We think the vision of the "peaceable kingdom" in Isaiah 65:17-25 is "nice," but impractical ("too bad it won't work"), even though it represents God's will for our world and Jesus taught us how to achieve it. Matthew 5:9 tells us how important peacemakers are, while Romans 12:9-21 reveals the secret of attaining peace. Yet very few believe it will work. It is our only solution since nothing else has worked. When will we learn that God's way does work?

a. Understand it. Read the many historic instances (concerning which most of us are ignorant) where God's way of peace has succeeded, even under highly improbable circumstances. There are dramatic examples of pacifist victories in wartime, under cruel dictators, as well as many examples of the success of love in personal confrontations. One very good source among many would be, Victories Without Violence, by A. Ruth Fry. She gives countless examples of wonderful reconciliations in dangerous situations. Turning the other cheek and loving an enemy has a great historic track record unbeknownst to most people. It works. We must become better informed.

b. Believe it. It seems strange that we pay lip service to Jesus and his teachings and still believe what he taught is impractical. It should seem natural and obvious that God would provide a way for individuals and nations to live in peace and make peace without violence. We are brainwashed to be forceful, dominant, aggressive, tough, mean, hard, unforgiving, and selfish. Anything less than this posture is seen as weak and cowardly. Consequently, we don't believe that enemies are human, nor will they respond to peace and love. It is a truism that we have to "dehumanize" our enemies so that we can excuse our killing. They are God's children, too, and, believe it or not, like us, have a spark of divinity in them.

c. Meditate on it. Setting our minds on peace, and peaceable ways, has to become a serious part of our worship and prayer. As trite as it may seem to say it, it is a powerful truth that we must have a vision of peace, a vision of sitting down with our enemies, whether it be another "evil axis" nation or the angry neighbor living next door, and begin to share together and listen, in love. Imagine, dream, and pray about the possibilities. I really believe the vision is missing. We don't believe it is possible because we haven't "seen" the vision.

d. Practice it. It starts with each individual. "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me," is a hymn we sing and think we mean. When a neighbor or motorist gets angry, it is a wonderful opportunity for us to show love! When did you last write our national leaders to urge peaceful solutions or for our country not to attack, or bomb, another country? Get up each morning and tell yourself, "I will be loving like Jesus today and be a peacemaker." Then write your senator.