Hello,
My friend as a presentation to give to some Franciscans. He's asked me to help. The topic is "how can we live together in Peace" - how can there be peace between one another??
What do u all think??
What does the Bible tell us on how we can live together in peace??? what do u all think???
Personally, I think the entire Bible directs us to have a peaceful life, but we have to submit to it. For example. Christ said:"Let your Yes be Yes and Your NO be NO". It means that if you don't agree with someone, say so. Don't agree because you want to humour the other... or don't agree when inside you disagree (or vice versa). People tend to mix between "YES" and "NO" so as to come across as "easy going" and friendly - that we do not want to disagree with other's opinion, yet we want to accommodate ourselves so as to be accepted. But Christ here is saying be Honest and let your YES mean YES and your NO mean NO.
I think thats how problem starts. That we are confronted with problems and dilemas and often we find ourselves at a fork. What happens if we respond YES for "no" and "no" for "yes"? What happens is that we give a chance for the other to start to take advantage of us. Then we can lose our peace. But the problem is that we allowed this to happen.
If someone does something to me I didnt like, i have the right to say it to them and to draw their attention. If I don't say it, i'm giving that person permission to treat me in a way that I don't particulary like.
So, we've brought that about on ourselves, and we've made enemies already, wherewas all this could have been avoided if we had said from the start "i don't like this way".
Its very hard to do that sometimes. I hate jokes that are degrading towards women... (this is a true example), if I don't say anything at first so I don't offend the person saying the joke, then what is stopping that person from even saying a joke about any member of my family in which case I WOULD be VERY VERY offended.
To be honest takes courage. And we lie about our feelings because we are afraid. We could be afraid to be accepted, afraid to lose our possessions, integrity etc... but its best to be NOT be afraid.... don't have this as an obstacle. Fear, for a Christian IS A SIN! Do not fear little flock....
What does everyone else think?? how do you think we live in peace??
Comments
[quote author=Hizz_chiilld link=topic=5361.msg71375#msg71375 date=1180071790]
I don't think you can make peace by creating conflict. In an ideal World where everyone knew and accepted Christ and His commandments, we would have peace, however this is not the case. Whether or not peace is present in the world depends entirly on you and your perception of the world.. if you're gonna sit and tell everyone about everything they did to upset you, peace will never exist. Peace exists in Christ, and as long you keep your eyes on Him, you will have peace.
[quote author=vassilios link=topic=5361.msg71377#msg71377 date=1180074250]
Actually, his question was "They've asked me to talk about peace between others" in a meeting ... "could u help me prepare for this, using quotes from the Bible?".
[quote author=Hizz_chiilld link=topic=5361.msg71375#msg71375 date=1180071790]
I don't think you can make peace by creating conflict. In an ideal World where everyone knew and accepted Christ and His commandments, we would have peace, however this is not the case. Whether or not peace is present in the world depends entirly on you and your perception of the world.. if you're gonna sit and tell everyone about everything they did to upset you, peace will never exist. Peace exists in Christ, and as long you keep your eyes on Him, you will have peace.
Interesting question.
Can I start with Matthew 5: 43-48? then can I move us on to Matthew 22:37-40? John 13:34-35 also points us in the direction we need to go: As St. Paul told the Corinthians (Corinthians 1:13): This suggests that the answer is that we will live in peace when we love one another as He loves us - which is the hardest thing for us to do.
In Christ,
John
That's exactly what i was looking for! I'm gonna cut and paste that and send it to my friend.
Cheers
[quote author=Anglian link=topic=5361.msg71391#msg71391 date=1180103367]
Dear Vassilios,
Interesting question.
Can I start with Matthew 5: 43-48? then can I move us on to Matthew 22:37-40? John 13:34-35 also points us in the direction we need to go: As St. Paul told the Corinthians (Corinthians 1:13): This suggests that the answer is that we will live in peace when we love one another as He loves us - which is the hardest thing for us to do.
In Christ,
John
Glad to be of service!
:)
In Christ,
John
its such a huge topic to go and talk about... I think its just an excuse to invite someone famous and ask him/her to speak. He's quite famous my friend, and some communities just want to invite guest speakers to bring in the crowds...
lol
He values my opinion, but then, why should I think that I have all the answers?
Im trying to keep peace with those around, but its hard!! I wouldnt know. I think even Christ got annoyed at certain things that pharisees were doing to others, calling them "brood of vipers"... these are not complements..... look even how he lost his temper in the temple when they changed it to a Market.
Imagine if we had an interview with Christ RIGHT after breaking up the market they made in His Father's House? What would He say?
I can only assume that if you want to live in Peace with me, treat Me with respect.
And I can see this often. When we treat others with a lack of respect, we get our fingers burnt...
Look from the time of Cain and Abel. Cain did not give to God his best offerings.. he kinda gave God his left overs... although its an offering, God did not appreciate this.. and even it was said that God did not respect Cain NOR Cain's offering. God Himself didn't respect him, NOR the offering.
So, even at times when we treat God with lack of respect, we cannot expect to live in peace.
I think what I just said above is far better than what u wrote John. What do u think???
I suspect it is much better! ;)
As St. Paul told those Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13:5-7): In Christ,
John
Dear Vasillios,
I suspect it is much better! ;)
As St. Paul told those Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13:5-7): In Christ,
John
Actually, that's so true. It was totally wrong to parade myself. Very good. But you have to admit, it was better?
Dear Vasillios,
I suspect it is much better! ;)
As St. Paul told those Corinthians (1 Corinthians 13:5-7): In Christ,
John
Oh!! John!! You're brilliant!! That's it!! That's the answer!! How to live peacefully. Its to do EXACTLY that... read what u just quoted, but bearing this in mind: Someone has just upset you, and provoked you - ok? ANd you feel a bit dis-respected... now look:
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
By doing this, we can live in peace. Because what happens is, when we are provoked we provoke back... perhaps its not even us that initiated any act of oppression or provoked any lack of respect towards someone else, but surely how we handle oppression and lack of respect towards us... this is what determines if we live in peace or not, and of course, if you read the Bible passage that John quoted above, and you followed this, then how could peace not result????
Well done John, u win! ;)
Good man...
No - He wins - and when He does, so do we if we but listen and follow.
I always enjoy your posts.
In Christ,
John