The Things Which Make For Peace
October 6, 2002
Dear Friends,
We have taken our title from Romans 14:19: “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” The ecclesia was intended to be a shelter — a respite — from the chaos that is the world. The ecclesia is ordered by God’s word. Principles guide the conduct of the members to create order and peace. How destructive it is when this peace is violated such that those who seek shelter from the world find this peace violated and this sanctuary defiled. We can imagine finding ourselves in a violent storm. The lightening strikes all around us. The wind tosses us to and fro. The rain hits with such force as to sting. Yet, we see in the distance a refuge — a safe harbor from the storm. We fight the elements with all of our being to reach this shelter only to find the hollowed out shell of what was once a building fitly framed together. The once solid building now provides no shelter, no comfort and no peace for the weary traveler. Such is the pity of a disharmonious ecclesia to the weary traveler along life’s road.
In ecclesial battles, history has shown that the protagonists are seldom the casualties. More times than not, those slaughtered are the babes in Christ. The Bible mentions several times the horrendous ancient practice of killing infants by smashing their young heads against a wall. We can in our minds eye see this sickening practice. A soldier takes an infant by the feet. Despite the pleading of the watching mother, he swings the child with all his force until the child’s head smashes into the waiting wall. Anyone with a shred of sanity left is sickened by the thought of such a display. Yet, how many times have brethren, enraged by some perceived slight or misspoken word, lashed out at another destroying the peace and in so doing, spiritually speaking, destroy a babe in the family of Christ? In modern military parlance, we speak of such deaths as “collateral damage.” The world was horrified when Timothy McVey described those young children in the day care facility in Oklahoma City that he murdered as collateral damage. We too can dismiss ecclesial casualties as collateral damage when in fact we should remember the words of Jesus when he said “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.”
Too often we paint ecclesial strife as a necessary evil to maintain purity of doctrine or walk. Sometimes it is. Sometimes it is not. It is amazing how often, in an attempt to bring supposed order to an ecclesia, divisive and inappropriate actions are taken. We all too often forget that “hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy” are all works of the flesh of which the Bible clearly states “I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Our focus verse taken from Romans 14 is not about critical doctrine or walk. It is about nonessential doctrine — the eating of meat sacrificed to idols.
There are times when decisive action needs to be taken to maintain order in an ecclesia. When the ecclesias in Crete were falling apart from the destructive doctrine of the Judaizers, Paul sent Titus to “set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city.” The decisive actions of Titus coupled with training spiritually mature brethren to do the same (which Paul takes great pains to define for him in Titus 1:6-9) were intended to fix these problems and bring peace. The whole letter of Paul to Titus is concerned with how to bring peace to a contentious ecclesia and is well worth our time in study.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
Have a great week!
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