True Peace?
Dr. Ed Crump, a retired United Methodist clergy person, gave a lecture in Jerusalem on Jesus' ministry in Jerusalem. Dr. Crump related that for many years he concluded his letters by writing, "Grace and Peace." He indicated he now realized that something vital was missing from the statement. Peace cannot exist without grace. Without the unconditional love of God expressed in our relationships with others, peace remains elusive. Unconditional love (grace), alone, can produce peace.
Guides, brochures, and lecturers constantly referred to Jerusalem as the "City of Peace." However, what we saw and experienced failed to reflect peace. Jerusalem is not at war, but there is no peace in Jerusalem. Christians quarrel with one another over space and heritage. Palestinians, Israeli, Jews, Christians, Moslems, and non-religious all live in the same city. However, there is no peace. They quarrel, speak evil of each other, and seldom show real concern for those who are from a different religious background. We only observed the absence of war, and the lack of peace.
Some days I weep when reports reach me. The reports communicate the ways a few people treat one another. Individuals say hateful, mean, demeaning, discouraging things to one another. They often request that I affirm their behavior, or at least carry out their desires and wishes. Seldom do their messages include words of real concern and genuine love for those with whom they disagree. These individuals feel justified in their sinful, un-Christian behavior.
The Biblical image of Jesus weeping over Jerusalem took on significant new meaning as our group of 48 people from the New Mexico Conference traveled through the city. Jesus saw the diversity, the separation, and the hatred that existed in Jerusalem nearly 2000 years ago. He heard their claims that their rancor grew from their religious differences. The real reason for their contempt and hatred resided in the hearts of the religious leaders who failed to follow Jesus' command to love one another. Unconditional love for others is not optional. God expects, no, demands, we love because Jesus has loved us-unconditionally. When we love this way, we know real peace, the peace that passes all understanding. Without unconditional love, there can be no peace.
The schedule in Israel pushed and shoved me. Many more tourists filled the religious sites in Jerusalem than were present four years ago. People rushed from site to site straining to get the best view and frantically hurried to see as many places as they could in a limited amount of time. I wanted to push back. I became self-righteous about how much better I was than these unloving, uncaring individuals who failed to understand what it meant to practice the Golden Rule. Pride and self-righteousness reigned in my soul.
Suddenly, like the Apostle Paul, the scales fell from my eyes. I stood guilty for failing to love my neighbor as myself. Jesus' unconditional love for me was void in my love for others. I needed a heart transplant. I was the Pharisee, the religious one, who knew how to behave. I engaged in condemning those who were not as "righteous" as I was. Unconditional love for others was missing from my life and actions. I had failed to live by grace.
Dr. Crump's words vibrated in my ears, if we truly desire peace, it begins in extending unconditional love to those around us. I encourage you to do some real soul searching during Lent and see how effectively you are seeking peace in your home, church, community and the world. True peace comes from unconditional love. True peace comes from extending unconditional love.
Grace & Peace,
Max
