By Al Erisman (author, CFB Senior Fellow) & Randy Pope
When all around you is falling apart, does peace mean you don’t understand what is going on? Or does peace mean you see the higher purpose and are in touch with the One who holds the future?
We remember the time on the Sea of Galilee when Jesus brought calm to the storm. [Luke 8:22-25]. Today the storms of life play out in a polarizing world filled with deep divides that affect our nation, our communities, and even our families. Randy Pope and I have observed five common Christian responses to this division: assimilation, withdrawal, anger, fear, and seeking power. Micah offers another way when he says, “What does the Lord require of us but to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.” Jeremiah would call us to “seek the good of the city.” Jesus calls us to be “salt and light in the world” where he has placed us. The writer of Hebrews calls us to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, looking to Jesus.”
What does this look like?
In our recent book, Living with Purpose in a Polarizing World: Guidance from Biblical Narratives, we see Joseph worked under Pharaoh, Daniel under Nebuchadnezzar, Esther under Xerxes, and Peter under Nero. These corrupt leaders didn’t seek after God, but Joseph, Daniel, Esther and Peter lived with a purpose that came from God. They demonstrated the call of Micah by making choices that represented their God while acting with respect. It was not easy, but they were able to reflect Christ on the boat with a level of peace and quiet confidence in the face of their storms.
Dave Hataj stepped into a leadership role of his father’s company when things were anything but peaceful. With the grace of God and insight only God can bring, Dave changed the nature of the company. He restored a sense of meaning and purpose to the work, identified the people who wanted to be a part of the company, and created a growing sense of peace and purpose. His story is captured in SPU’s Faith & Co film “Turning”.
Our worlds seem anything but peaceful today. Can we, in the power of Jesus, be agents of peace as these exemplars, mentioned in this post, were in their worlds?
