

I have been a part of the church my whole life. As a pastor's kid and now pastor, I am in the church building whenever the doors are open and I meet all sorts of people as they come and go. With so many different types of people in one place, conflicts are sure to take place. Fortunately, growing up I watched these conflicts from a distance, they never seemed to affect me. I was even blessed enough to never be in a church where a large faction or split of any type took place. But the fact is, events of conflict happen all the time in churches all across the country. We argue over the color of carpet, business models, pews vs. chairs, choruses vs. hymns, Calvinism vs. Arminianism, Patriots vs. Steelers, and so on. In the last few years as an adult and church leader I have found that confrontation due to conflict takes place on an almost daily occurrence. I have come to understand that confrontation, conflict, and difference of opinion is not negative when handled correctly. In fact, such things are positive because they move us into a place of excellence as well as a place of true peace.
Recently, I read a scripture in Romans 12 that really jumped off the page. Romans 12:18, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
The truth is, the majority of the time peace depends on us. Yes, there are moments when situations are out of our hands, where people are upset or disgruntled, and no matter how hard we try they will still be upset. Yet the majority of the time it does depend on us. We have the ability to bring peace or war, unity or division.
Jesus called us to be peacemakers and I personally want to be someone that says, "No matter what, if it's possible, as much as I am able, bring peace."
Then I started thinking about true peace vs. false peace. This is something Chrissy loves to talk with me about.
False Peace = parents overlooking disobedience of their children allowing them to dictate what they do so the child does not become upset.
True Peace = parents disciplining their children in love when the child acts out in a wrong way. (The child may be upset initially, but you've made a way for true peace to come.)
False peace = leaving a meeting upset over the decision that was made, complaining about it, downing your authority, allowing your frustration to fester.
True peace = voicing your disagreement over the decision at an appropriate time with a humble attitude, understanding God is in control and that you aren't no matter who makes what decision.
False Peace = ignoring confrontation when someone has hurt or wronged you because then the individual will know they hurt you or become agitated that you were even hurt, allowing fear, bitterness and pride to take root in your heart.
True Peace = embracing confrontation; using it as an opportunity to air your feelings as well as talk about the situation and how you feel wronged by that individual, letting the individual explain himself/herself, giving opportunity for both parties to grow, forgive or be forgiven.
Are you living a life of true peace or false peace? Unfortunately, many of us live in false peace because we have bought into the lie that we are called to be peacekeepers. This is false; we have been called to be peacemakers, not peacekeepers. There is a distinct difference. Peacekeepers encourage individuals to bottle up their thoughts and feelings so as to sustain a false peace (perhaps even tolerate a sin) in the situation. Peacemakers address real situations allowing all people to express their feelings; thus, enabling all to understand each others' opinions and make wrongs right. Peacekeepers force the issue to remain in the dark. Peacemakers encourage the issue be brought into the light. Peacekeepers manage bondage. Peacemakers bring freedom.
As you read this, you may all know the difference between true peace and the false peace. You've experienced both sides of peace in your lives, in your relationships, in your families, in your churches. Remember, in whatever situation you find yourself in today, we are called to be peacemakers not peacekeepers, if at all possible, as far as it depends on us.

As most of you, I've been on a bit of a Michael Jackson kick lately. I remember the day after he died every individual who drove by me or pulled up next to me would be blasting favorites like "Beat It," "Smooth Criminal," "Thriller," "Man in the Mirror," and the list goes on. It was amazing just how much of an impact this one man had on music and the world. Anyways, that's not what this blog is about.
This week Chrissy and I had the pleasure of viewing the movie, "This is it," a documentary where you watched several of his comeback tour rehearsals leading up to his debut in London a few weeks before he died. Needless to say, we loved it! I'm not advocating everything Michael Jackson ever did. He obviously had his issues. However, I'm not sure any artist has ever written more hopeful, truthful, challenging music in the secular industry than Michael Jackson. Songs that called for an end to violence, world hunger, selfishness, crime, war, and world destruction.
As we watched the movie one of the songs that has always been a favorite of mine came on, "Man in the mirror." My mind immediately went to a passage of scripture which until recently I had never fully understood. James 1:22-24 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." I had always focused on the idea of being a "doer" not a "hearer," and I had preached from this passage; yet, never had I fully understood the whole mirror concept.
James compares those who are hearers of this world to "face-forgetters." Let me explain. Imagine someone wakes up in the morning goes to the mirror and sees himself. He notices that he has a gigantic whitehead on his forehead, he has some dirt on his cheeks, his hair is sticking up in every direction, and he decides to do nothing about it. He walks away from the mirror and never thinks about the way he looks again. He almost forgets all of the flaws that need to be adjusted, and just carries on as usual. This is what hearers of the word and not doers are likened to. Scripture serves as a mirror to our lives. We are to take the word that we read, the scriptures we are taught and compare them to our lives. The scriptures reveal our sin and faults and shortcomings, thus causing us naturally to change what is in contrast to the scripture, to change what is not pleasing to God. When we hear everything scripture says and don't apply any change to our lives then we are like these whitehead faced, dirty cheeked, carrot top haired people.
Be sure to look in the mirror and make the changes necessary so you are not just a hearer but a doer as well. After all, "If you want to make the world a better place take a look at yourself and make that CHANGE! WHOOOOO!
