Church Members Come in Two Flavors
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matt. 5:9.
Being a church member is not the same as being a Christian. Some church members are nothing but trouble to their spouse, children, neighborhood, and congregation.
The first warning sign of such people is their critical attitude and harsh manner. They always have something to say about what's wrong.
Of course, they garb their nastiness in sanctity by saying that they are only out to correct the wrongs in the church or other people. While that motivation may be commendable, such people would do well to start cleaning up their warlike ways first and putting on the attributes of peacefulness.
Peacemaking, we need to recognize, is more than merely not living in the realm of criticism and faultfinding. It has a positive, active aspect nicely set forth in the following prayer:
"Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness. joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
Church members come in two flavors: children of God and children of the devil. If I were the devil I would make certain to plant the latter in each congregation. Needless to say, it is only the peacemakers who fall in the first category.
Peacemaking is a many-faceted activity. To be a peacemaker I need to evaluate every situation in the light of the gospel. I must ask, What are the implications of this action? After all, more individuals are involved than just me. How will what I do affect them? What effect will my actions have on the good name of Christ? or the church? or my community? A peacemaker walks in the light of the gospel message.
There is a quip that goes:
"To live with the saints in heaven is bliss and glory,
But to live with the saints on earth is often another story."
God is calling you today to make the church different from the world. He is summoning you as an individual to become a peacemaker in the likeness of Jesus.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matt. 5:9.
Being a church member is not the same as being a Christian. Some church members are nothing but trouble to their spouse, children, neighborhood, and congregation.
The first warning sign of such people is their critical attitude and harsh manner. They always have something to say about what's wrong.
Of course, they garb their nastiness in sanctity by saying that they are only out to correct the wrongs in the church or other people. While that motivation may be commendable, such people would do well to start cleaning up their warlike ways first and putting on the attributes of peacefulness.
Peacemaking, we need to recognize, is more than merely not living in the realm of criticism and faultfinding. It has a positive, active aspect nicely set forth in the following prayer:
"Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness. joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life."
Church members come in two flavors: children of God and children of the devil. If I were the devil I would make certain to plant the latter in each congregation. Needless to say, it is only the peacemakers who fall in the first category.
Peacemaking is a many-faceted activity. To be a peacemaker I need to evaluate every situation in the light of the gospel. I must ask, What are the implications of this action? After all, more individuals are involved than just me. How will what I do affect them? What effect will my actions have on the good name of Christ? or the church? or my community? A peacemaker walks in the light of the gospel message.
There is a quip that goes:
"To live with the saints in heaven is bliss and glory,
But to live with the saints on earth is often another story."
God is calling you today to make the church different from the world. He is summoning you as an individual to become a peacemaker in the likeness of Jesus.
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