Our Scripture meditation is based on Ephesians 4:1-3, the start of the epistle reading for next week.
[1] I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Because of political strife, millions of Americans desire the life the Apostle Paul is urging us to live. Let that sink in for a moment. We have something the world wants.
In the past couple of weeks there was hope that the failed assassination of former president Donald Trump would unify America. A unified nation will be less conflicted and fractured. In other words, America will become like the Church. In the Apostle Paul’s words, we are called to maintain our unity and bond of peace by living with all humility, gentleness and patience.
While the assassination attempt may lead some people to lower the heat of their political rhetoric, I strongly doubt this change is sustainable. The change is caused by an external stimulus. It changes behaviors but does not make a fundamental inward change. Paul can expect us to live in peace because he knows we have undergone an internal change. In 2 Corinthians chapter 5 God calls us a new creation. Among Lutherans, we say that the old man (with our fallen nature) is drowned in baptism, then we are raised as a new man. Our changes in behavior flow from our inward changes.
This kind of internal change is sustainable, especially given the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Given our fallen natures, even as Christians we do not always live with humility and gentleness and patience. God has graciously provided us with the motivation and process to reconcile with one another. This is another skill with millions of people in our society deeply desires.
It is clear. Society’s best hope to lower tension and lessen conflict is Jesus.
Kevin Wilson 360 