"Peace-based" Decision Making, part 1

                Recently, I was challenged that I need to study out more deeply what the Bible has to say about the topic of “peace.”  So I rose to the challenge and this is a concentrated version of what I’ve learned (and had learned beforehand).

                As we dig into this study, understand first of all that context must be king.  A simple concordance-search of the word “peace” in the English Bible will not accurately display God’s view of peace, as this word can be used to mean a peaceful relationship, a peaceful mind, or even just “peace” in the sense of not being at war.  So words cannot be ripped from their surrounding context, slapped on a table, and promptly declared to be applying to the doctrine of “peace” in our decision-making.
                Also, we must remember that there are many times where the word “peace” is not used when the concept itself is being discussed.  While certain people may never say “peace” in their accounts, the actions that accompany peace (calmness, confidence, assurance) may be very abundant.  In these situations, to understand whether you truly have a guarantee that “peace” means “rightness,” the heart-attitude, level of self-deception, and actions must be considered.  As we’ll see, many people in the Bible who were doing right had little confidence, whereas many who were doing very wrong actions were very confident they were in the right.

                So let’s start with several verses, which have been culled from a long list of possible examples.  These will show that there is definitely a “peace” that comes with doing the right thing.  However, that peace may be peace in deep-spirit only (as in a deep assurance, like the calm depths of the ocean while a hurricane rages on the surface). 

                So let’s start with a few “peaceful” verses

·         Isaiah 26:3 – “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

o   Context : In my Bible, the heading above chapter 26 brings the context (and by application, the meaning of “peace”) into sharp relief.  While admittedly it’s not inspired, it says “God’s People will be Victorious.”  Read the verses beforehand, and you’ll see that that title fits very well with the meaning of this passage.  Vs. 1 talks about a strong city, defended by the salvation of the Lord.  Vs. 2 talks about opening the defensive structures (the gates), that righteous people may come in.  Vs. 3 says that God will keep in peace those who trust Him, where vs. 4 says “Trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”

o   In short, the great “I Am” will never fail to protect His people.  In turn, they should trust in Him, and enter into His protection.  In  fact, (vs. 5) those who resist Him and think they’re sufficient to the task are “brought low.”

o   Meaning of peace, then?  A confident trust that God will ultimately protect those who follow Him.

·         I Corinthians 14:33 – “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

o   Context: Again, if I may quote the uninspired heading above this section.  “Do Things Properly and Orderly.”  Start in vs. 26, with the admonition to “Let all things be done unto edifying” because so many different people in the church had their own psalm, and doctrine, and tongue, and revelation to give and it was getting chaotic.  Vs. 27 challenges the people speaking in tongues to do so only two or three at a time, and to always have one person interpreting.  Vs. 28 then states further that if no one can interpret what the person (or people) speaking in tongues said, then keep quiet.  (in fact, a similar idea to this will be used for women teaching in the church <vs. 34> – keep “silence.”) Vs. 28 addresses chaos in the prophesying – “Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.”  And in case a person in the audience were to be given further revelation concerning that which the current “prophesier” was saying, the prophets were to take turns, and the one not receiving prophecy was to be quiet.

o   Ultimately, whether speaking in tongues or prophesying (which is the context of this section), nothing was to be done for selfish reasons, and things were to be done decently, and in order, so that people could be edified in a biblical manner.

o   Then we get to vs. 33, where it encourages the aforementioned activity because “God is not the author of confusion…” (because many people speaking and prophesying at once would doubtless produce much confusion and very little edifying) “…but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” – thus, peace means more of a peaceful environment in the church, and has little (or nothing, contextually) to do with “peaceful feelings” when making decisions.

·         Ephesians 2:14 – “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;”

o   Context: Uninspired heading time again!  Above vs. 11, the title says “No Longer Strangers,” and follows along the heading above vs. 1, which encourages us with “Salvation from Sin.”  We don’t have time to cover the context of the entire chapter, but let us suffice it to say that this section covers salvation, and the condition we have with God when we accept His free gift.  The context contains such gems as Eph. 2: 8-9 which encourage even the most wayward sinner in that we are saved by grace, and not of works, so that no man coming before God has anything with which to boast of himself.  We have no peace (as meaning the opposite of enmity) with God because we “turned over a new leaf,” but because He saved us.  Vs. 10 reminds us that anything we have in Him is because we are His workmanship, and that we are created for the expressed purpose of doing good works unto His honor.  The chapter reminds us of our past in vs. 11-12, and that that very past separated us from God because of sin (vs. 13).  But the wonderful thing is that Christ sacrificed Himself for us, and thus made a way that we can come before the Father in peace.  He’s our olive branch; He’s our mediator; He’s our advocate.  He is our peace. 

o   Meaning of “peace” then?  Again, it has nothing to do with “peaceful feelings,” but rather a peaceful condition with which our relationship to God exists.  We are no longer warring enemies, but servants who are “at peace” with Him.  (Again, as oppose to “at war.”)

·         Colossians 3:15 – “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be thankful.”

o   Context: Let’s go back all the way to 2:20, which is reminding us not to fall into the deceptive ways of the legalists (those who believe you have to perform certain works or go through certain rituals to obtain God’s favor).  We are not redeemed by our own will, or even by our own good works.  3:1 begins with a reminder that if we’re truly saved (“risen with Christ”) that we should do good works and set our love and affection on Him.  We will be able to be with Christ when He returns, but not because of our good works.  The challenge continues in vs. 5, which shows us that if we truly love God, we will kill certain sins in our lives so as not to displease Him.  But, in combining several threads together, we are not loved because we do these works; we do these works because we’re loved.

o   3:10-17 shows us the flip-side of the coin and tells us the things we should make sure we have in our lives.  What do you find nestled in the midst of that?  This idea that we should let the peace of God reign in us.  But does this really mean that when we’re doing the right thing, we’ll just “feel right”?  I contend not.  For my reasons, look at vs. 14 – where we are challenged to “put on charity,” which is the bond of perfectness.  Before that, “forbearance” and “forgiveness.”  Getting the picture?  We’re being called to live peaceably with fellow believers.

o   Doubt me?  Look at the latter part of vs. 15.  If “peace” means “a calm assurance I’m doing the right thing,” then why does the end of this verse say “to the which also ye are called in one body,” after following up a discussion of living peaceably with other believers?  Let the context speak for itself.

·         2 Thessalonians 3:16 – “Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means.  The Lord be with you all.”

o   Context: all the way back to vs. 6, where a handy uninspired title reminds us of a Bible passage, saying “Be Not Weary in Well Doing.”  6-11 is a discussion of church discipline, admonishing us to separate from brothers who are refusing to work or refusing to be under authority (walking disorderly).  Paul explains why he himself worked, so as not to be a bad influence.  Vs. 12 encourages believers to just quietly work, eat the labor of their own hands, and (vs. 13) not to be weary of doing the right thing.  Vs 14 says that any person ignoring this pattern should be put out, so as to be shamed into doing the right thing.  He is to be admonished as a brother and not treated as an enemy (vs. 15), and thus a reminder that God will calm your hearts as you do these things.  Perhaps another concept is important to note here.  A theme of 2 Thessalonians is to live in light of Christ’s return.  With conflict on all sides and the potential dismissing of beloved brothers from the church, tensions and anxiety could run high.  God wants us to remember a few simple facts: He commanded these things, and He’s coming back.  This will calm our hearts, and give us peace.  Again, there is very little room for the belief that “in decision-making, I can look to a peaceful heart to guide me toward the right path.”  Doing the right thing (that is, something explicitly or implicitly commanded) should be accompanied by a (sometimes forced) peaceful heart attitude.  However, all of these verses we have examined have nothing to do with using peace to judge right actions.  On the contrary, if we’re doing right, we can have peace knowing we are pleasing God.

·         2 Peter 3:14 – “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace without spot, and blameless.”

o   Context: see my discussion on the Ephesians and Colossians passages.  This context is very similar.  We are encouraged to stand confident and strong in the things Christ has commanded.  We are not to be sidetracked by possessions or the pride of life, since everything will be dissolved.  Thus, we are to live godly lives as we wait for Christ’s return, when He shall remake everything anew.  Then we get to vs. 14, which admonishes us to thus live in such a way that we’ll be at peace with him.  (this Greek word, by the way, has a range of meanings from “peace in a civil sense, as opposed to war and dissension, “ “a state of … tranquility,” or even “health, welfare, prosperity, every kind of good.”  Again, this passage is not saying you’ll have peace if you make the right decisions, but that we should live in such a way that we’re “at peace with God.”  (Look at the “without spot, and blameless” for further confirmation of this definition)

There are also many times in the Scripture where people were out of God’s will and had peace, as well as many who were in God’s will who didn’t have peace.  More on that in the future.  But I must end today’s blog-post here.  If you have other verses you think I’ve missed, please link them in the comments, and if I think they add to the discussion, I’ll add them to a future post.  Thanks for your time…

Mike