In our hectic world of now-a-day, there is more talk about peace, more polarization of breakaway groups in dispute; and every end looks for a way to demonize and destroy its enemies. Wars, invasions and attacks through advanced technology, are still as brutal and inhumane as can always be expected from warlike conflicts. Likewise, violence in the street and domestic abuse can be felt not only at a worldwide level, but also very close to us at every social class. Even among people who call themselves Christian, peace doesn’t seem to be a characteristic in their lives.

Then, where and how can we find peace?

Definitely peace cannot be legislated, and world leaders can’t arrange it; you can’t order it on the Internet or buy it at the supermarket, one can’t even obtain it from the pastor or church leaders. True peace only comes from God, in the words of Jesus in John 14:27, it says “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” It says that he gives it away, FOR FREE! What? So, why are we like this?

Maybe we have not fully understood the words of Jesus. The shallow popular interpretation doesn’t examine context and focuses partially, leading us to lose the richness of the passage.

1. Jesus is speaking to his followers, therefore these words and the gift are for the sons of God; if you are not in Christ, or better said, if Christ is not in you, you will not obtain the peace of God. If Christ is not the Lord of your life you will not find peace, no matter what you do.

2. Jesus said his peace is different from that of the world. In other words, it is not about the absence of conflict, but about “living” in Christ. And third, Jesus reveals a problem that most of us have, that is confusion, for some in the form of disorientation and for others, bewilderment. We don’t know how to rest in God. And finally there is fear, the distrust and uneasiness that daily living throws our way.

Then, why is it that it is so hard to live the peace of Christ in the church? It appears that the mayor cause of our inability to understand the peace of God is that the church itself has its own version of it.

Apparently we can’t understand the profound meaning in “I leave you my peace,” Let’s look into this! I reiterate, the clue here is within the same verse; the lack of peace comes from the fears we all have, that is, the lack of confidence that God will do what he says in his word. Therefore our hopelessness leads us to making wrong choices. We are troubled and fearful.

In our days, the church speaks often of “come as you are” and about God’s immense love, which is totally true and marvelous; but we are not confronted properly with the Scripture when it comes to what it means to follow Jesus, according to his own words.

Little is said about a change in behavior. Very little is said about repentance of our sins and asking God for forgiveness. Little is taught about leaving misery and slavery derived from sin, and covering ourselves with Christ. There is little talk about what it means to be a new creature in Christ, and the power that results for us from this bond. For that same reason, true peace in Christ is not received.

People in these times of relativity believe that a double standard lifestyle is acceptable and normal. And since the commitment to discipleship is not taken seriously, following Christ is taken all too lightly.

Following Christ as he proclaimed it is a commitment that means leaving appeasement with the world, all the mundane that haunts us and wraps us up with entertainment, drawing us away from God. Taking the commitment with Christ seriously, leads us toward being part of a faith community, to being the hands that feed the needy, the feet that walk beside the weak that need assistance, the lips that express words of life in constant worship, instead of the complaints and laments we hear every day around us.

I am afraid there is no peace because the people chosen to take on (read as “live in”) peace, are not living it fully, but just barely establishing concepts. I am referring to each and every one of us as a church that bears the peace of God. We thank God for those past and modern martyrs that have lost their lives for the sake of peace, at the hands of extreme breakaway groups.

However, God has called on to us, to every believer, to be a bearer of peace, (peacemakers, said Jesus) which is not hard, as long as Christ is the center of our lives and we let him emerge through us.

So the peace in our communities starts with ourselves, and it is translated into our actions; it is not about “Passing peace” on Sunday as someone who distributes candy, a likely religious habit without much inner or outer meaning. Peace is part of the spiritual experience that the reign of Christ has upon the believer’s life. The inner self can be seen by our actions and conduct.

Here are my questions for you:
How do we behave with our loved ones in our own home?
How do we live and behave in the community of faith where God placed us?
What blessing do we offer the community we live in?

May the peace of Christ flood your hearts and your lives, today and always!

Translated by Zulma Prieto. This originally ran in the October issue of Meno Acontecer, our Spanish language ezine edited by Rafael Barahona.