Tag: Peacemaking

Morning Musing: Romans 12:18

Leave a comment

“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

There are some people who thrive in situations of conflict. I am not one of those people. I tend to shut down in conflict. And God made me a pastor. Go figure. Actually it works out really well as I have an incredible church that is peace-loving and remarkably unified. Yet while there is undoubtedly a time for conflict, as followers of Jesus, peace should always be our aim. And, as it would happen, peace is the goal of the next command Paul gives to give us helpful guardrails around our pursuit of Christ. Let’s see what he has to say.

Read the rest…

Morning Musing: Romans 12:17

Leave a comment

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes.” (CSB – Read the chapter)

One of the principles kids tend to operate by is that turnabout is fair play. If someone has wronged you in some way, it’s only right, it’s only fair, it’s only just that you get to do it back to them in return. This principle lies at the heart of one of the foundational ideas in the history of jurisprudence: an eye for an eye. The idea that we should respond to others in kind has been baked into the cake of humanity from nearly the start. And then came the Christian worldview to turn that idea on its head. Let’s talk about what Paul, borrowing from Jesus, had to say about it to the church in Rome.

Read the rest…