Seek Peace, Not Evil
Scripture Texts: Romans 12:17-19
When you hear Paul’s exhortations to the Christians in the church in Rome what do you start wondering about? Exhortations like:
Love one another. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.
Repay no one evil for evil, … do what is honorable in the sight of all.
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
Do you start to question how healthy this church is? Sounds like they have some problems, maybe some conflict issues. Think about it for a minute. The church is made up of Romans and Gentiles, Greeks and barbarians, foreigners, aliens. There are slaves and freemen, men and women, young and old. There are bound to be some interesting relational dynamics. Would you want to belong to a church like that?
Let me burst your bubble, that is every church that has two or more people in it. Every single church on earth has always had conflicts, arguments, disagreements, differences, misunderstandings. We are sinners who sin against each other. It is endless, there will be no end to it until Jesus comes.
Do you think I am exaggerating, let me prove it to you.