There is this part of Romans 12 that says, "Live at peace as much as you can." I think it is pretty hard to keep peaceful when under physical attack, but keeping the peace in other situations offers some interesting things to think about:
1. God says we don't need to get revenge for ourselves because it is better to leave room for God to handle things. Now, when I think about that it is pretty appealing because this keeps me from "convicting" someone based on bad information and it has the added advantage of probably being far more powerful than anything I can dream up. So I can avoid making a situation worse and know that what truly needs to be done will be handled be someone much smarter and more powerful than I.
2. This part is one of my favorite verses in the Bible because I have come to realize it is so absolutely true. God tells us to show mercy to those who wrong us. Specifically it says if my competitor is thirsty I give him a drink and that by doing this, it will be like piling burning coals of fire on his head.
Truly, when we are kind to someone who knows they have done us wrong, it does one of two things: opens us both to healing, which never happens when we hold a grudge and cling to fear. Or it just confuses the snot out of them. If they are truly committed to being bad, they will assume we are up to no good (because at the moment that is all they can conceive of) so it will make them nervous and they look like idiots when they complain we are "being too good." It restores my perspective every single time. And that can only lead to better outcomes for everybody.
Did you ever see The Sting, an old movie with Robert Redford who "gets even" but no one is really happy? As the Paul Newman character notes, you can't get even without starting a war you can't win unless you get even in such a sneaky way that no one knows you have done so.
So give this idea from St. Paul a chance. We avoid unnecessary or unjust conflict, leave the response to the God who is both smart and strong and always has our highest good as the goal, and we can irritate mean people by being truly kind (no attitude or you spoil the effect) ... and get the last chuckle.
Romans 12: 18-20 If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. Don’t try to get revenge for yourselves, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. It is written, Revenge belongs to me; I will pay it back, says the Lord. Instead, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. By doing this, you will pile burning coals of fire upon his head.
1. God says we don't need to get revenge for ourselves because it is better to leave room for God to handle things. Now, when I think about that it is pretty appealing because this keeps me from "convicting" someone based on bad information and it has the added advantage of probably being far more powerful than anything I can dream up. So I can avoid making a situation worse and know that what truly needs to be done will be handled be someone much smarter and more powerful than I.
2. This part is one of my favorite verses in the Bible because I have come to realize it is so absolutely true. God tells us to show mercy to those who wrong us. Specifically it says if my competitor is thirsty I give him a drink and that by doing this, it will be like piling burning coals of fire on his head.
Truly, when we are kind to someone who knows they have done us wrong, it does one of two things: opens us both to healing, which never happens when we hold a grudge and cling to fear. Or it just confuses the snot out of them. If they are truly committed to being bad, they will assume we are up to no good (because at the moment that is all they can conceive of) so it will make them nervous and they look like idiots when they complain we are "being too good." It restores my perspective every single time. And that can only lead to better outcomes for everybody.
Did you ever see The Sting, an old movie with Robert Redford who "gets even" but no one is really happy? As the Paul Newman character notes, you can't get even without starting a war you can't win unless you get even in such a sneaky way that no one knows you have done so.
So give this idea from St. Paul a chance. We avoid unnecessary or unjust conflict, leave the response to the God who is both smart and strong and always has our highest good as the goal, and we can irritate mean people by being truly kind (no attitude or you spoil the effect) ... and get the last chuckle.
Romans 12: 18-20 If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. Don’t try to get revenge for yourselves, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. It is written, Revenge belongs to me; I will pay it back, says the Lord. Instead, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. By doing this, you will pile burning coals of fire upon his head.
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