Disturbing the Peace.
Psalm 34:14 (ESV) Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it
We are to pursue peace with all men, but what happens when we get offended, our patience is tried, or we have disagreements with someone? When we think about peace, we tend to think about the absence of anxiety and chaos or relaxation, but we should also consider if we are cultivating peaceful relationships and if our interactions with others are peaceful. You have a relationship with everyone you encounter, not just family and friends. We have a “relationship” with society that is based on our humanity and respect for one another. Having a small-talk chat in the grocery store with another customer or a simple greeting can become contentious if you do it in an angry, frustrated or annoyed tone. If you’ve ever worked in a retail store or witnessed a customer being rude, you have witnessed what it is like to cause contention and neglect peace. We are commanded to maintain peace in our relationships.
"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:18, ESV)
We maintain peaceful relationships by making an effort not to react negatively to others when we are feeling cranky or irritable or they are behaving negatively toward us. We must remember to emulate Christ and be respectful and kind. We must temper our own emotions and be self-controlled. We can’t control the other person, but we can control ourselves. There are several behaviors that can cause strife and contention (to name a few): gossiping, yelling, eyerolling, belittling, name calling, casting judgement, being demanding, using harsh tones, being critical, having to be right, and arguing. Any behavior which could be considered prideful, rude, or sinful, we must refrain from. Psalm 34:14 reminds us to turn away from responding in a way that is not Christ-like. We are not perfect people, therefore; in those times, when we are not on our best behavior and “do evil,” we must be quick to repent and ask for forgiveness from God and from who we wronged. One way to intentionally live in peace is to make a plan for how you will respond (in love) to people so when a potential contentious situation occurs, you will be prepared and empowered to not let your emotions control you. Also choosing to “do good” leads to peace. For example, if you go to a concert and they prohibit outside food or drink, but you bring in a drink you just purchased and become upset when asked to dispose of it. Arguing, name calling, saying the rule is stupid or slamming your drink in the trash can won’t keep the interaction peaceful. What could you do to keep the peace? Leaving to finish your drink or disposing of it politely are two solutions. If you’re unable to think of a peaceful resolution, pray and ask God for help. The more you practice peace, the more you will produce it. We want people to see a true representation of God’s love and be a true witness of the transforming power of a life in Christ.
