Peace and Resistance

When people hear peace and resistance mentioned in the same sentence our minds almost automatically assume that peace is good and resistance is bad. We desire peace above all things; but the question must be asked at what cost are we willing to find peace?

The Christian community as a whole is a peaceful community and why wouldn't we be. We come together in large groups but typically stay to ourselves. Not only do we not impose our views on others, we simply do not share them at all. We have chosen peace at the cost of our voice in the community. This was not the kind of peace that Jesus brought and it is certainly not the kind of peace that Jesus taught.

Have you ever struggled with the passage where Jesus instructed his followers to hate their mothers and brothers? (Luke 14). How can Jesus instruct us to do such a thing? The answer is actually very easy when we look at the text. Jesus is using a rabbinical style of contrast teaching to show the importance and cost of following him. The real crux of the passage follows that initial verse where Jesus says that if we do not carry our cross daily we cannot be his disciples; the cross being a symbol of shame, adversity and death.

Luke 12:51 says "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division". This division that Jesus is speaking of comes when we live such a radically different life and walk such a radically different walk that it begins to offend those around us. So I must ask the question; are we that radically different? Are we offending people with the love of Christ or are we more concerned about temporal peace? I would encourage you to struggle through these thoughts, ponder them, get angry with them or embrace them. At the end of your reflection though make sure to ask the question; did I really count the cost?

Luke 14 ends with these verses; "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out". Which pile do we belong in?

"He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Rob