Knowing The Things That Make For Peace

My heart is breaking.

For the ethnic violence in South Sudan, a nation that, were it a human child, would just be learning to ride a tricycle. For my friends, my beautiful friends, who are from South Sudan and believed so much in their new nation.

My heart breaks to hear that these women still fight, violently, with each other.

What does it mean to pray for peace?

What does it mean to ask another to believe in the gospel of peace?

I believe so strongly that Jesus’ death at our hands is what allows us this peace. I believe that Jesus being the Lamb of God means that we can be done with offering sacrifices of scapegoats.

In church we have been reading the letter to the Ephesians. And at the end of the letter, Paul tells the Ephesians how to dress themselves spiritually:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.                                                   Ephesians 6:13-20

And I have never been so acutely aware of the disconnect between the culture that I live in, and the culture that this letter was written to. I have no concept of wearing armor, of needing armor.

The part that is especially striking to me is verse 15: “As shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.”

When I think of peace in my own life, I think of comfort, of not being stressed before a test. Right now I think that peace will come after June 6^th, D-Day, The Day I Take The Boards. I think that peace means going on a car ride and not disagreeing vehemently with my husband about something theological. That the best way to achieve peace is to be sure to fulfill all the duties given to me so that no one will have reason to reprimand me.

But is this peace? Can I have peace if my neighbors do not have peace? Does putting on the readiness of the gospel of peace mean more than looking at how I can avoid conflict in my own life, or even how I can conflict well in my own life?

Is the gospel of peace more than being “at peace with God”?

How can I proclaim this gospel of peace when I have no concept of what it means to be at war? 

Can a sermon on peace be taught without acknowledging the conflicts of the world?

Can a sermon on peace be taught faithfully without being "political"?

Because this peace is not just for us, not just for Christians, not just for our personal relationships.

Lord, I pray that I may I know the things that make for peace. May I advocate for the things that make for peace. May our church proclaim the things that make for peace, a peace that doesn’t come from the assurance of being stronger than another, of agreeing with others, or of being better armed. The peace of that sort is only temporary.

Let the peace we seek be the more permanent peace that Jesus brings.

 Let us proclaim that peace boldly.