Our Purpose Statement Reminder:
1.) We need a conviction.
Romans 1:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:8
2.) We have the cure.
Romans 1:16
3.) We have a great commission.
4.) We are to be compliant.
Isaiah 6:8; Isaiah 41:9-10
I actually was looking it up today when I noticed your comment, Stephanie. In the NASB it says "if the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace."
I would say that clarifies the verse. Plus, it isn't literally the house that is worthy but the household (cf. Matthew 10:11).
So Jesus is saying bless this household and house with peace because of their hospitality if they are worthy hosts.
The word "worthy" is axios in Greek, it also has the idea of "deserving" (cf. Luke 23:41; aslo see Romans 5:6 KJV "due time"; this is from the Textus Receptus axios kairos, other MS have kairos kairos, as I understand it, meaning "proper" or "right time").
Blessed are the peacemakers. What does that mean?
How can one become a peacemaker?
Matthew 5:9
Matthew 10:13
let your peace come on it
What does this mean? I am going to look into this.
Matthew 10:34
He brings war not peace
Mark 5:34
go in peace
How can we go in peace?
Mark 9:50
Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another
Among the church, one of our goals is to have peace with one another. Why are there so many divisions? Where is the peace of God in our churches?
I was reading the New York Times yesterday when I stumbled across an article on the Catholic church that caught my eye.
The focus of this post is not the Catholic church nor its views. In fact the article revolves around the Catholic church's stance on homosexuality. And the article was written by Andrew Sullivan, a gay catholic of 40 years. But this post isn't about homosexuality either.
It's about peace. I read this line from his article and had to stop and really think about it.
There is no ultimate meaning for me outside the Gospels, however hard I try to imagine it; no true solace but the Eucharist; no divine love outside of Christ and the church he guides. In that sense, I have not left the church because I cannot leave the church, no more than I can leave my family. Like many other gay Catholics, I love this church; for me, there is and never will be any other. But I realize I cannot participate in it any longer either.
There is no peace apart from God. But we can't have peace with God without first agreeing with what He says. Furthermore, we can't agree with Him until we know what He says.
The peace problem that most people have (even some Christians) is that they don't know what God says. They believe what they have heard (i.e., tradition).
Therefore, a peace solution must surely come from a proclamation of God's truth (although knowing the truth and accepting it are two separate things). It is the only way "to find" peace in life.
I know this seems obvious, but I think writing this post has at least helped me.
I was thinking, we just need to start throwing out random thoughts if we don't have coherent ones. At least then we would have things to work with.
I've been thinking about ourpeace.net for a long time. You know Stephanie when I was talking about it being Portland Studios' job to handle Christian print media. I was speaking tongue in cheek, but your response got me right in my heart. At least they are doing something! I know we are busy, blah, blah, blah...with God all things are possible. Does He want us to do this? Yes and no.
Obviously we are supposed to be a witness for Him and this will do exactly that. But can we say this is what He wants us to do? Only if we have prayed and asked for His guidance. He has already opened the door, thanks to Benjamin and the tract we already have on-line.
I know He wants me working on this. So I am going to start putting some ideas up. I hope that you will be able to comment and add your own thoughts (as posts) when you can.