Peace

As I was helping my parents get things ready to be removed from the house by the disaster recovery company, I found some books in the attic that they had set aside to give away some time ago, but had inadvertently forgotten. Among those books was a 30-page booklet entitled “The New Super-Spirituality,” published in 1972 by the late Christian apologist and philosopher Francis A. Schaeffer. The primary subject matter is Schaeffer’s analysis of developments in sociological and spiritual trends of the 1960s and early 1970s, along with his recommendations for how the church should respond. Intrigued, I put it in my briefcase to read when time allowed.

I found a little time Tuesday morning to read the booklet. While I disagree with some things Schaeffer said in the booklet, there were some observations that I found particularly cogent. Here’s one:

The world has a right to judge whether we are Christians or not by the way we show an observable love to all true Christians, and therefore our love for each other as true Christians must be evident to the world. Furthermore, Christ tells us in John 17 that the world has a right to judge whether the Father has sent the Son on the basis of whether the world sees love among all true Christians. (p. 24)

Do we realize that the biggest obstacle standing in the way of faith for many unbelievers is the behavior of His followers … especially our behavior toward one another? Remember the Bob Roberts Jr. quote that I shared with you back in June:

The church has been stripped of its power and influence in the West today, not because it has lost its wealth and position in society -- it hasn’t -- but because the church has lost credibility. … We cannot consistently live the message we herald to the world, but never have we been more effective at religious marketing of products that help us appear as if we are living it. As a result, the growing perception is that the church is religious but not spiritual. It has style but not enough substance.

We will ordain two new deacons this Sunday morning and set aside the full class for service in 2007-08. When I read the scriptures I am reminded that the office of deacon is one of service … instituted to help restore and preserve peace among people who were wrestling with division. The anthem planned for 11:00 worship this Sunday (Pepper Choplin’s “Give Us Peace”) is a prayer for peace … a peace in which we must participate by rising above hatred, fear, and pride. That’s enough to think about for now.

Give Us Peace - words and music by Pepper Choplin
© 1998, Pepper Choplin

Give us peace that will reach across the river that is raging wild.
Give us peace that as brothers and sisters we'll be reconciled.
Give us peace.

Give us love that will melt away the anger in a troubled land.
Give us love 'til we change the fist of hatred to a gentle hand.
Give us love. O give us love ...

Let us sing together, join the rhythm of our soul
So that peace and hope and love will take control.
Give us peace and love.
Let us raise our voices to sing a peaceful song
Until hate, and fear, distrust and pain are gone.

Give us joy as we celebrate the goodness in everyone.
Give us joy. If we learn to sing together we have just begun.
Give us joy. O give us joy.

Let us sing together, join the rhythm of our soul
So that peace and hope and love will take control.
Give us peace and love.
Let us raise our voices to sing a peaceful song
Until hate, and fear, distrust and pain are gone.

Give us joy as we celebrate the goodness in everyone.
Give us joy. If we learn to sing together we have just begun.
Give us joy ...

Give us hope, give us love to rise above all hatred, fear, and pride
As we reach out to the other side
And we'll find peace, sweet peace.

We'll find peace.