peacemakers vs. peacelovers

I read a book by Jim Wallis recently, God's Politics. I have been somewhat uneducated and well, just apathetic towards politics. I decided I should never cast another vote if I have no idea what I am voting for. I enjoyed Jim's book, it exposed me to new ideas and definitely led to much thinking about being a follower of Christ and where my affiliations should lie. 

One of the main ideas the book caused me to question is war. I haven't heard it discussed much but the one's ideas of war are just as much a biblical issue as the sanctity of life. I have often wondered how followers of Christ pick and choose which issues to care for or deem as more important than others. This idea of peace has been in the forefront of my mind. Christ calls us to be peacemakers. Many people today, are peacelovers but that only requires you to play the role of observer. To be a peacemaker one must get involved, take risk and actually stand up for something. Christ did not ask us to take the path of least resistance. In a political sense, I hope our nation can become one that is known for it's peacemaking. 

I am reminded of a Brave Saint Saturn song written by Reese Roper. Below are the lyrics to Blessed are the Landmines

 

Blessed are the land-mines
Stretched across the desert floor
God, bless the hands that formed them
Filled their shrapnel hearts with war
 

May You bless the companies
The goose that laid the golden egg
May they make a million more
Blowing off a million legs

Blessed are the black-tongued ravens 

Substituting fear for reason

To hate war is to hate us
If you love peace, then you must love treason

Beat your plowshares into swords
Beat your pulpits, turn your tables

Blessed are the hand-grenades
Bless the church who rattles sabers

This house, is burning
This poison still is worming
This temple, will cave in
There's nothing here worth saving

Nail the gold up to the altar
Like Ahab taunts his crew to war
Blessed are the shareholders
Lack of faith is for the poor
Hold your wallets to the sky
A temple built to sooth yourself
Blessed is the church who tries
To help you build blessed wealth
                

be at rest

I went on a retreat about a week ago. There were two questions that we were asked to ponder that have stayed with me, "what are your top five priorities?" and "do your thoughts and the way you spend your time and money reflect those priorities?" It was difficult to write these down for a few reasons: I was embarrassed, what I think about and how I spend my time and money don't reflect what I desire my priorities to be and I should have different priorities because of the faith I claim.

I believe when you claim to follow Christ your priorities should transform to reflect His priorities. While I know this in theory it's hard think this is where my commitment to Christ is truly tested. I like to plan, I desire financial security, I adore overpriced stores such as Anthropologie and I want my kids someday to feel balance and security. I worry that those things will be tossed out the window and my life will be chaotic and boring.

I don't feel I can keep priorities that reflect more of American culture's rather than of Christ's. It's hard, and feels like a sacrifice, but I think that's how it should be. I'm reminded of Romans 12:1 "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him."

So I'm working on adapting things, not just rearranging lists on papers and hoping for magical adjustments on how I suddenly start spending my time, money and where my thoughts reside. It's been simple...I've been praying more and more that the Lord would shift the desires of my heart. I've been consuming my mind with scriptures that speak truths about not worrying about tomorrow, and not storing up earthly treasures.

Honestly, I don't know how I will even begin to change this worrying person I sometimes am, but I must be confident that the Lord can transform me into a new creature. A person that may in tiny ways reflect a aglimpse of Himself to others.