Rejoice & Relax!

Biblical shalom involves wholeness, delight, and a sense of meaning and purpose for all of God’s creation. Shalom is the way things are supposed to be! This includes four facets: peace with nature, peace in society, peace with ourselves, and peace with God. This is the second in the series on peace with ourselves.
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“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” I have vivid memories of this verse coming to mind in 1971 when Marge and I were driving back to Vienna from Munich with our two little kids. Our car, an old Skoda, broke down on us and stranded us along the highway; here we were with children and very little money, since we were living as a family of four on a research scholarship designed to support one person. I remember Marge and I asking each other, “Are we suppose to rejoice now?”

After getting the car towed to a repair shop in Munich, I got Marge and the two kids on a train back to Vienna, where we were living for a year while I did my doctoral research, and I stayed in Munich while the mechanics analyzed our car. Their pronouncement was memorable: “Ganz kaput” (totally dead!). At that point, I told them that the car was theirs and I also headed back to Vienna. Rejoice in the Lord always – you’ve got to be kidding me!

What a lesson that was! This experience and others that followed, including inheriting the six children of Marge’s sister and brother-in-law, were powerful lessons in how God can use crises to teach us to trust him.

The Apostle Paul is a remarkable example of how to live out this truth. Listen to his words: “Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life” (Philippians 4: 4-7, The Message).

The amazing thing is that Paul wrote this letter from prison, where he was facing probable execution for his faith, and yet his principal message is his joy in the Lord – a theme he mentions sixteen times in this letter! “Rejoice in the Lord always” means there is never any reason to be anxious. If we trust God, we can have confidence that the Lord has our best interests in mind.

The Apostle Paul’s message reminds us of what Jesus said in the “Sermon on the Mount.” “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life that the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. [Or the car you drive, like a Skoda – an editorial insertion.] Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds” (Matthew 6:25-27, The Message).

Peace with ourselves involves trusting in God’s protection and not being fearful. It involves seeking to rejoice always, even in the tough times. This enables us to relax in the hands of God – we are indeed in good hands!

So What?

• Despite clear Biblical teaching on this topic, many of us are fearful people and we are constantly trying to ensure our safety and guarantee our long-term security, instead of living with greater openness and confidence in God’s provision. Why are we afraid to trust in what Jesus said?
• Can you think of a time when rejoicing in God’s blessings in your life was an anecdote for fear? Can you think of a way to do this now?

No Reason for Fear

Biblical shalom involves wholeness, delight, and a sense of meaning and purpose for all of God’s creation. Shalom is the way things are supposed to be! This includes four facets: peace with nature, peace in society, peace with ourselves, and peace with God. This is the first in the series on peace with ourselves.
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The Bible makes it clear that God wants us to have an accurate understanding of our identity and purpose in his creation. God does not want us to live with a distorted self-image or harbor anger about our physical appearance, race, and social/economic origin.

The Great Commandment instructs us to “love our neighbors as ourselves” – there is an assumption that followers of Jesus who don’t love or respect themselves are not able to love others. In this sense, peace with ourselves is intimately related to peace with others or peace in society.

What stands in the way of this peace? Often it can be fear: fear of the unknown, fear of what lies ahead for us and those we love. These worries can sometimes distort our sense of trust in God and our attitudes towards ourselves. If we are fearful, it is hard to have a proper understanding of who we really are and how we are loved by God.

Psalm 91, for example, emphasizes the importance of putting our trust in God and finding security in this relationship. It reads “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” (91:1-2). The Psalm goes on to describe God as a refuge – a shelter in time of desperate need – and a fortress – a stronghold against attack by enemies. The picture of God as a bird who provides protection “under his wings” is repeated throughout the Psalms.

Read Psalm 4. In this passage as well as the preceding Psalm, King David prays to God for relief in a time of crisis. He expresses confidence that the Lord would hear when he called to him and he instructed his people to trust in the Lord. David also referred to the inner peace necessary for restful sleep. Here are his words: “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (4:8).

The bottom line is this: If we trust in God, we have no reason to be fearful. There is no promise in the Bible that we will not face hardships, diseases or broken relationships, but God does promise to be with us through these crises. What we learn from the Psalms is that God alone is the source of our peace, he is the only one who can give us internal tranquility. When he put our trust in God, it allows us to be at peace with ourselves and not to be fearful or defensive or self-absorbed.

Peace with ourselves will never result from striving to be autonomous or independent of others – or of God. It will only come from a loving dependence on the Lord.

So What?

• In our world, it is hard not to be fearful. If we are aware of what is happening around us, there are lots of things to be concerned about. But facing these challenges without becoming fearful is an important quality of a disciple of Jesus. Many times in my work in Russia over the last twenty years I have had to face some frightening situations, but I have gradually learned how to put my trust in the Lord and to find security in his promises of protection. I sometimes have to remind myself that I am an ambassador of Jesus Christ, the Lord of creation, and no government bureaucrat or Kremlin official is to be feared.
• Night times can often be difficult when we are struggling with crises in our lives. I have found that it is helpful to block out these fears by thanking God for all his blessings and by shifting my attention to things for which I am grateful. Philippians 4:6-7 gives practical advice on how this peace can be found; check out this passage in a contemporary translation. We will discuss this further in the next Shalom post.
• In a culture that praises independence, “doing your own thing,” or “being in charge of your own life,” learning to depend on the Lord seems like an impossible position to be in. But the Bible teaches – in sharp contrast to our modern culture – that there is no reason to fear if we put our trust in God.

Just Do It! (Good, That Is)

Recapping: Biblical shalom involves wholeness, delight, and a sense of meaning and purpose for all of God’s creation. Shalom is the way things are supposed to be! This includes four facets: peace with nature, peace in society, peace with ourselves, and peace with God. This is the third in the series on peace in society.
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The Bible is such a practical book. While it has long sections that deal with theological and doctrinal issues, it is also full of practical guidance on how to work out our faith in real life. To the Hebrew mind, “God is what God does.” Rather than abstract theological descriptions about God’s character, the Hebrew mindset says look on what God has done in history and you can get an understanding of his character.

The same approach is true when it comes to human relationships and how our faith should impact the way we relate to others, those in our families, friends, and strangers that we meet. The Bible has concrete, practical instructions that serve as guidelines for living life that will bring shalom.

The Apostle Paul, for example, offers lots of practical advice about living a life of faith and he begins his discussion of this topic in Galatians 6 with a foundational principle: “A man reaps what he sows” (v. 5). The principle is clear – there are consequences for actions we take and we cannot escape these consequences. But this principle is bolstered by his accompanying encouragement that we should “not grow tired of doing good.”

Having established that point, Paul then instructed his readers to “do good to all people,” regardless of who they are. Although the Apostle made sure that the Galatians would pay special attention to the needs of other Christians, it is important to understand that he does not limit his admonition to just family, friends or recognizable neighbors.

The gospel of peace, taught by the Prince of Peace, is one of reconciliation among all people. It is a message designed to remove barriers between people, races and nations. God’s desire is that followers of Jesus, a group with transnational and multicultural members, usher in a new way of bringing peace in society through the unity to be found at the foot of the cross.

So What?

• It seems obvious to me that churches have little to offer their society if they are full of conflict and rivalry. Courageous church leaders are needed to demonstrate how historic barriers can be overcome and how diverse followers of Jesus can find opportunities to work together for the benefit of the poor. What a powerful testimony this would be!
• Less time spent criticizing other Christians and more time building up others would be one practical way of putting the good news of God’s peace to work in our communities.
• How can the “do good to all people” model be implemented during a contentious political year? What would a “model campaign” look like? More on this later.

Straight Talk

Recapping: Biblical shalom involves wholeness, delight, and a sense of meaning and purpose for all of God’s creation. Shalom is the way things are supposed to be! This includes four facets: peace with nature, peace in society, peace with ourselves, and peace with God. This is the second in the series on peace in society.
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"The Prophet Micah"
Jan Van Eyck, 1432

One of the most powerful passages in the Old Testament, in my judgment, is the prophet Micah’s commentary on what the Lord requires of us. Here’s the heart of the prophet’s instruction to God’s people:

“With what shall I come before the Lord
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
And to walk humbly with your God.”
(Micah 6:6-8, NIV)

The prophet asks a rhetorical question: “What does the Lord require of you?” He contrasts sacrificial offerings that were part of the religious life of Jews that at time -- not so familiar to us -- with living a just, merciful and humble life of obedience.

This is profound, but it is not new news. It’s similar to the question Samuel asked King Saul: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (I Samuel 15:22).

And again, King David shared the same insight when, after confessing his sin of adultery, he wrote: “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:16-17).

In the Bible, living a good and holy life is never viewed as practicing religious rituals or just going to church. ‘To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” was an important instruction about how to live in society with other people, both friends and those with whom we disagree. Righteous living leads to peace and that is what pleases God.

So What?

• To make these lofty and poetic phrases more personal, think about a practical example of each principle that you could incorporate into your life.

1. What could you do more “justly” in your work or interaction with others?
2. In what situations that confront you could you exhibit mercy? What does “love mercy” mean to you?
3. How should your attitude reflect “humility” in respect to God? How about in respect to other people?

All in the Family

As we have seen in previous posts, biblical shalom involves wholeness, delight, and a sense of meaning and purpose for all of God’s creation. Shalom is the way things are supposed to be.

To help us understand the full meaning of shalom, we have been reflecting on its four-faceted character -- peace with nature, peace in society, peace with ourselves, and peace with God. This is the first in the series on peace in society.

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The Bunker Family*

One of the first posts in this blog used a series of biblical passages from the life of Joseph to help us fill out our understanding of this magnificent word shalom? In chapters 43-45 of Genesis, the narrative about Joseph and his brothers comes to a climax.

You may remember that Joseph, Prime Minister of Egypt, orders his staff to hide one of his special cups in the grain sack of his young brother Benjamin. Joseph then orders his imperial guard to pursue the caravan of his brothers loaded with grain and to confront them with Benjamin’s “crime.” Fearful of being condemned to a life of slavery, Joseph’s brothers are brought back into his presence.

It is during this confrontation with his brothers over the “crime” of Benjamin that Joseph’s love for his family overwhelmed him and he wept so loudly that members of his court who were outside his chambers heard his cries. Despite having been sold as a slave by his brothers, Joseph told them that it was all part of God’s plan to save their lives. Rather than seeking revenge, Joseph said: “It is not you who sent me here, but God” (45:8).

Joseph repeated the same message to his brothers following the death of their father, as recorded in the last chapter of Genesis: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives [from the famine]. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children” (50-20-21a).

Archie & Meathead in Battle *

These kind words were accompanied by generous deeds as Joseph protected all of the families of his brothers from the devastating drought by providing food and land for them in Egypt. Joseph was a peacemaker in his own family. He forgave his brothers for what they had done to him and paid back their evil with good.

For many of us, a good place to exercise our calling as peacemakers is in our own families. Healing brokenness, renewing relationships that have gone cold, reaching out to brothers or sisters who have little contact with us – these are good places to start. Jesus has commanded us to put shalom into practice and Joseph’s remarkable response to the injustices he endured is a model for us.

So What?

• Trusting God and not carrying around pain from past grievances -- or a desire for revenge -- takes faith. It is also a practical first step in our journey as peacemakers. It reminds me of the slogan “Think globally, act locally.”
• So many of our families are torn apart by things that happened years ago that have never been addressed. Sometimes we carry these old grudges for years and the pain continues to spread through our family. Being a peacemaker like Joseph requires us to learn how to forgive, to take the first steps toward rebuilding a relationship. Do you know of a situation like this in your family? What can you do begin healing the divisions?

*NOTE: "All in the Family" was a popular television series featuring the Bunker family that was broadcast in the U.S. from 1971-1979.

We’re in Good Hands

As we have seen in previous posts, biblical shalom involves wholeness, delight, and a sense of meaning and purpose for all of God’s creation. Shalom is the way things are supposed to be.

Another way of thinking about shalom is to see it as a beautiful four-faceted diamond – peace with nature, peace in society, peace with ourselves, and peace with God. Let’s take a third and final look at peace with nature.

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Psalm 104 is a glorious hymn of praise to God the Creator. Please take the time to read this psalm before you read any further.

Although there are brief references to angels and humanity in this psalm, the central theme focuses on the world of nature -- plants and trees, birds, fish and wild animals. The psalmist portrays nature as a radiant garment that God wraps around himself to demonstrate his glory.

Biblical scholars indicate that Psalm 104 was beautifully designed with stanzas of varying lengths that describe the celestial and nautical realms, the earth’s foundations, the orderly cycles of life governed by the moon and stars, the richness of life on earth, and God’s sustenance of creation. Each of the days of creation recorded in Genesis 1 is carefully covered by the psalmist. The chapter concludes with words of praise for God’s glory and notes that God rejoices “in his works” (v. 31).

God’s pleasure with the world of nature is powerfully illustrated in this psalm. His continuing care and maintenance of nature is also established by the psalmist’s words: “These [the animals] all look to you to give them their food at the proper time” (v.27). God, who enjoys his creation and sustains it on a daily basis, has promised to send his Spirit and to “renew the face of the earth” (v. 30).

This reference to God’s renewal of creation is also repeated in the last book of the Bible. In the last chapters of Revelations (chapters 19-22), the Apostle John announces the second coming of Jesus Christ, the judgment against the defeated Satan, and a grand vision of a new heaven and a new earth. The promise is clear: what God originally created in the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve’s sin subsequently destroyed, will be restored to its fullness when Jesus returns. The concept of redemption must be understood in its full biblical sense. God’s strategy of reconciling creation through his son, Jesus Christ, involves the restoration of the physical world as well as the redemption of the souls of his people.

God has promised to re-create “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelations 21:1). He has promised not to annihilate the physical creation, but to redo it as he originally intended it to be. Shalom with nature will once again be fully restored. God’s care for our physical surroundings and for all living creatures will be abundantly evident in this restoration.

So What?

• One way we can join God in rejoicing in his creation is by caring for it, by being good stewards of our environment. I am very pleased that several of my grandchildren are pursing training in the environmental sciences. Followers of Jesus should be at the forefront of this discipline. 
• Let’s thank the Lord daily for the gift of his creation and the fact that “we are in good hands” – not Allstate’s, but God’s! Let’s also thank the Lord for his promise to re-create a “new heaven and a new earth” when Jesus comes again. We have a great future ahead of us!

What About Fido and Bambi?

As we have seen in previous posts, biblical shalom involves wholeness, delight, and a sense of meaning and purpose for all of God’s creation. Shalom is the way things are supposed to be.

Another way of thinking about shalom is to see it as a beautiful four-faceted diamond – peace with nature, peace in society, peace with ourselves, and peace with God. Let’s take a second look at peace with nature.

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Chapters 3-6 of Genesis record the destructive impact of evil on the world because of the sin of Adam and Eve. The first recorded murder in the Bible occurs because of envy between brothers in Adam and Eve’s family. It was not long before “the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and full of violence” (6:11). Yet, despite God’s anger, his righteous judgment included arrangements with Noah for preserving all forms of animal life.

The special concern of God for “all living creatures” offers us a remarkable insight into God’s heart. The Lord instructed Noah to bring into the ark a male and female “of every kind of bird, of very kind of animal, and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground.” God brought these creatures to Noah for their protection. Noah was told to store food not only for his family, but for the animals as well. When the flood waters receded, God repeated the original mandate given in the Garden of Eden that the animals should be fruitful and multiply on the earth.

The Bible provides us with a beautiful testimony of God’s special love for his creation – for birds, for fish, for land animals. The Lord of creation, the one who designed a world of nature that experienced shalom in the Garden of Eden, continues to care even about the sparrows (Matthew 10:29). Jesus often referred to animals in his teaching and portrayed himself as a shepherd who cares for his flock, especially the lost sheep.

A second biblical story confirms God’s special care for animals. In the book of Jonah, God and the prophet Jonah have an intense exchange about God’s loving concern for Nineveh, a major city of Israel’s enemy. In the last verse in this short book of the Bible, God’s deep love and compassion is recorded for the people of this city – the compassion of a father for his lost son. But then it notes that God cared about “many cattle as well.” The Lord of history, the Creator God, had compassion on the great city of Nineveh because of its people and its animals.

As with Noah and the ark, this story of Jonah and Nineveh shows us the heart of God. He created a world rich in fish, birds and animals, a world of shalom in nature, a world where animals flourished and men and women were instructed to care for them as stewards and trustees of God.

So What?

• Until I began this biblical study of shalom, I never thought about God’s special care for animals. It added a whole new dimension to my understanding of God as a Creator and Sustainer of life, not just human life, but even the lives of animals.
• Another thing I never thought about before comes to mind: Is this why people are so drawn to pets? All of my children have a cat or dog and this is not something that was a part of my upbringing. What is so endearing about a person’s relationship to Fido, their dog? Is God’s design a part of this? I am really on shaky ground here, but just wondering about this human-animal connection?
• This discovery in the Bible broadens my pro-life agenda. How about yours? The exception in my thinking on this topic would be deer, Bambis – the ones who destroy the vegetation in my backyards. Just kidding!