Materials
Conflict and Community in the 1st and 21st Century
Not Peace But A Sword
Matthew 10:34-42
by Dale Pauls and R. Todd Bouldin
I. INTRODUCTION
A. Peace is at the heart of the Christian agenda. Luke 1:79 – Jesus will “guide our feet into the path of peace.” Acts 10:36, Peter says that the gospel is the “good news of peace through Jesus Christ.” We have to be people who love peace – some of us would rather cause conflict than to be peacemakers.
B. If we are going to experience peace, then we must be peacemakers. That will require us to become disciples who are like the One we follow -- poor in spirit, mourn, meek, love righteousness.
C. If we are to become peacemakers, it will require that:
1. We grow in trust so that we can let go of the need to control and give up our sense of being threatened.
2. We have to drop the ultimatums – that if someone disagrees with me or doesn’t treat me well they are rotten.
3. We have to put people in their context – see our brothers and sisters for the weak, flawed and needy people they are, in as much need of grace as I am.
D. Today we look at what happens to peace when we speak the truth. Can peace and truth coexist? They do so perfectly in Jesus Christ. Prayer.
II. NOT PEACE BUT A SWORD
A. Matthew 10:34-42. What is going on here? What does Jesus mean by this?
1. It is autobiographical -- John 7:5. Even his family did not believe him.
2. Jesus was realistic – Faith forces crisis, decision and choice. It is a new birth, a whole new order of things so it naturally causes conflict with those still living under the old order.
3. The nature of Jesus’ person and mission would cause conflict – vv. 5-10; vv. 16, 21-22; vv. 32-33.
B. Verse 22 – All people will hate you because of me. If Jesus came to bring peace, why would people so resist him? (Iraqi resistance to US soldiers). Why is this? Threat The Fear
TRUTH
Deception I will be exposed
Falsehood I will be proved wrong
CLARITY
Ambiguity I will have no excuses left
Confusion I will have to take a stand
NEWNESS
Status Quo I will lose what I have
Complacency I’ll have to respond
Vested Interest I will lose something I value
GRACE
Legalism I will lose control
Autonomy I will lose power, status, rightness
Power
GOODNESS
Evil I will be punished
Laziness I will have to do something
Selfishness I will have to care about others
FAITH
Doubt I won’t be able to hide anymore
Rationalists I’m losing control or can’t know it
C. So, the point is … the gospel causes and confronts all of these fears and threatens the status quo… so do not expect peace. However, do what makes for peace. This Scripture text in no way undermines the Christian agenda of peace.
D. What is the difference between peace making and letting go of the expectation of peace? True or false? Only if we let go of the expectation of peace can you do those things that make for peace.
1. If you don’t let go of the expectation, the result is vacillation, doublespeak, defensiveness, something less than the truth, ambiguity, outrage, disappointment.
III. THE PARADOX OF PEACE: TRUTH VS. PEACEMAKING
TRUTH PEACE
Conviction Modesty
Courage Humility
Clarity Tolerance
No compromise Refusal to browbeat, name call, pigeon hole
Resolving the paradox: Matt. 7:5 – See clearly. We all have blind spots. Acknowledge the truth you know, but always admit that the other person may know truth you don’t know. All of us have our blind spots, saw dust or planks. No one knows everything.
Passionate belief in: Trust, Grace, Free Will.
IV. SUMMARY
No social, intellectual or spiritual advance can be made without conflict.
Why is this so?
a)It always comes down to truth claims – is there something worth advancing?
b)Conflict stirs up the status quo
c)It forces a rethinking of the issues
d)It sharpens our skills and insight
Managed constructively, it enhances our relationships because they are then based on truth and not falsehoods or superficialities.
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