Living in Peace Through True Christian Community
Intro
Before turning specific attention to the topic of peaceful living, I’d like to first touch on what I envision when a body lives in True Christian Community. What experience has taught me (particularly in Italy) is that when you’re living in True Christian Community (TCC), you and your “family” are living out your faith as a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” referred to in Exodus 19:6. Together, your local body of Christ is living as a “complete and healthy body” with Jesus at the head. As such, each member of the body is living in obedience and utilizing the gifts given by the Holy Spirit to serve and meet the needs of others, encourage and pray for one another, win others to Christ—in short, to be Jesus’ hands, feet, eyes, ears (sounds like a body doesn’t it).
Peace Out — and In.
One might guess that living in peace in TCC should be a natural spiritual outflow of the image presented above. In reality, it is and it isn’t. It is because God’s perspective on peace tells us biblically that it should be and, in fact, with obedience and effort peace does flow out of TCC living. However, by outward appearances, peace may not be apparent. Why? There may and likely will be great attack from the enemy when the body comes together this way. Also, our flesh and pride, in particular, have a way of degrading from the ideal images of peace in a body alive. Finally, disobedience to God’s plan also leads us (and the church leaders) away from a state of “peace” as defined by the world.
The world defines peace as a “state of calm” or “freedom from stife and discord.” Probably a better spiritual definition would be “harmony in interpersonal relationships with God, others and enemies.” We need to understand God’s call to peace, His perspective and provision for peace in TCC, and that it takes obedience and work to realize true peace in TCC. Let’s look at some principles next.
