Cheap peace

     The Bible really does deepen our understanding of what true peace should be about. I suspect most people consider peace to be experienced when hostility is ended. That is, people are able to 'put up' with each other and get on with their lives without unfair interference from others. My 'peaceful' neighbourhood is where nobody bothers me or mows their lawn before Sunday lunchtime! This is a very cheap way of viewing peace.

     How different gospel peace is though. It's not about simply ending hostilities so we can politely keep each other at a distance, but it's about coming near, building genuine relationship and partnership together as a new people.

     But in order to even want to do that, you'd have to have a very good reason, and a very powerful motivation. Because although it all sounds nice in theory, who is actually going to bother with it in practice?

     Well praise God for the transforming power of the Gospel! No prejudice or conflict or division is safe when the powerful Word of God is at work. Even my enemy and those I naturally can't get along with threaten to become my brothers and sisters in whom I can have genuine affection for.

     How powerful indeed is the death of Jesus which brings about the miracle of true peace and relationship with God, and true peace and relationship with you. And if God's great and wise plan is to build a new transformed people out of many, then we treat peace very cheaply if we see church as a time where we 'put up' with each other. The price of peace was too high for us to see it and want it this way.

    What this actually looks like in practice is what Paul gets into from chapter 4. Have a read through and you'll see so many ways we can be growing together and unified under the Lord Jesus....and you'll see so many things that muck it up. But don't just read and give assent to the rich peace on view, let's allow the Gospel to enthrall us into action. 

     Maybe we need to start with the person we find most difficult to get along with at church - and seek to be a true brother or sister to them. Maybe we need to approach and befriend certain people we naturally avoid. Maybe there's the person who's hurt you, or you've hurt them...and some reconciliation needs to take place.

     I'd hate us just to look like a group of peaceful people when we get together. How shallow is that? How powerful a witness church is when it's genuine. When sinners can forgive and serve each other in the same way we ourselves have been forgiven and served so richly and graciously by Jesus. Let's be done with the cheap peace, give me the expensive stuff any day.

 

 

Ephesians 1...let's give it a go!

The last three weeks I've been struck by the fact that Ephesians 1 is not for the light hearted. If you're keen to avoid challenge, wonder, grace and a Jesus bigger and better than you can imagine....then you need to stick well clear of this passage.

But of course who'd want to settle for that? Rather, I've been struck by how much Paul wishes to embrace it and see others benefit as a result. So here's a couple of thoughts I've had as to how we all can practically benefit from this passage.

Firstly, why not join with Paul in the praise. That is, consciously spend time praising God, particularly for our brothers and sisters in Christ. They are the object of God's interest and love and one of the implicit challenges of this chapter (and the rest of the letter) is for us to share God's passion and love for his people. It strikes me that it's far easier for criticism to come from my heart and lips regarding God's people than praise. I want to have Paul's attitude and practice and I should anyway. Crossroads in the City is an awesome group of people to be with...a rich gathering indeed.

Secondly, why not use vv.15-23 as a basis for writing out your own prayer for yourself and for others. This will help you consider more seriously those three key areas of hope, riches and power that we looked into on Sunday night. How many of our difficulties relate to these areas not being transformed by the Gospel reality? I can't therefore think of many more important things to be praying for. Why not pray on the basis of these verses for your Gospel group this week. Why not share with others that you've been praying for them these very things? How about even writing it down and sharing your prayer with others. Seems to me if it was good enough for Paul in regards to the Ephesians, then it's good enough for us in regards to the Crossroadians.

How awesome to be in a church where this kind of thing is happening. Where we genuinely praise God for one another and pray to God for one another for the things that really matter. 

Let's give it a go!

Ministry positions and prayers for Crossroads

FYI: I forgot to mention in Sundays update at church that Crossroads is currently advertising for three full-time ministry positions.

1) A Director of Children's & Youth Ministry

2) A Women's Pastoral Worker

3) A Director of International Student Ministry.

It is expected that all three would have some involvement with Crossroads in the City...especially the latter 2 roles.

So this is exciting and we do hope to have these roles filled by next year.

Please pray that there are a number of good applications for these positions, and that these areas of ministry will flourish as a result.