Tag Archives: Peace

Love, Fight or Flight

Jesus used a story about a man who was attacked, beaten, robbed and left injured on a roadside. The ones we would expect to have mercy and help were the ones who didn’t stop to help him. The reasons (excuses) implied in the story could well have been related to their religious traditions.

Even if we give them the benefit of doubt, and presume they didn’t act because they believed their action would put them in some form of danger, difficulty or inconvenience; at best we can see their worldview was flawed because they chose not to help someone in need, even though they had the opportunity to do so.

The other side of this can be found in John 16.2 when Jesus warned his followers of the harm that would likely come to them at the hands of others. He says, “…a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.”

Now we have a group of people who are completely committed to God – so much so, that they are willing to kill another person and consider it a service to God.  In this instance their worldview makes it permissible to inflict harm on another person because of the difference of belief, teaching or practice of devotion to God.

In the first instance (Lk 10.31) the religious worldview chose to ignore someone who had been harmed, but in the second instance (Jn 16.2) the religious worldview chose to inflict harm.   Both operated from a worldview that was based in some form of devotion to God and both felt they were justified in their decision.  BUT, Jesus made it clear that both were wrong.  In Luke 10.37 he said they didn’t demonstrate love and in John 16.3 he said those people don’t know him or the Father.

While it may be easy to hear of these two negative extremes and respond with something like, “Oh, I would never do that.” It may be helpful to take time for critical reflection.

  • Have we ever chosen not to act when we could have done something to help another person who was in need?
  • Have we ever distanced ourselves from someone because we were uncomfortable with their opinions or personality?
  • Have we ever inflicted harm (emotional, psychological, physical or spiritual) on another person because we did not agree with their position on something?

We’re familiar with the defence mechanisms of Fight or Flight.  In relationships we employ these through the manoeuvres of Attack or Withdraw.  It is important to remember that these mechanisms are based in fear.  If we operate from fear, we are not operating from love.

The first group mentioned above operated in Flight.  They were, in some way, afraid of what would happen if they got involved so they withdrew from the situation.  The second group operated in Fight.  They were afraid of someone expressing their love for God differently from their own and their means of dealing with this fear was to attack (or kill).

Neither expression is borne out of love.  Love does not kill; love does not ignore people in need; love does not fear.  Perfect love casts out fear.

 

I Do Not Give As the World Gives

I do not give as the world gives. (John 14.27)

While he was explaining the role of Holy Spirit after his resurrection, Jesus interjected a statement about giving the disciples His peace – “My peace I give you”.  Then he followed by telling them, “I do not give as the world gives.”

So, even though Jesus wasn’t discussing the differences between his Kingdom and the world’s system it was a point he felt needed to be restated.

I do not give as the world gives.

This is one of those statements that I’ve glossed over so many times without stopping to think about what Jesus was actually saying; “I do not give as the world gives“.

I’m now faced with a lot of questions: How does “the world” give?  What is the world able to give?  How do I receive when the world gives?  How am I changed, improved when I receive from the world?

This is one of those statements that provide insight into what Jesus meant when he said in a later conversation, “I have more to say to you but you cannot bear it now” (Jn 16.12).  I’m sure he had a lot more he wanted to say, a lot more information he wanted to impart to his followers but, for whatever reason, they were unable to handle the ‘more’ he had for them.

I do not give as the world gives.

The pregnancy of this statement spurs my mind to race along with my spirit in a whirlwind of faith-filled hope that I might possibly grasp a portion of what he means. “I do not give as the world gives.”

Imagine what that could mean….

… When I give there are no refunds or exchanges because my gifts are perfectly suited to the one who receives them.

… When I give, I do so simply because I love and because my Father first loved you.

… When I give, I only give what is good – because I am all loving and always good. I and my Father only give good gifts.

… When I give, what is given actually increases in size, scope and magnitude.

… When I give, I can do it in such a way that the thing given is received in seed form. To receive and grow in what I’ve given all you need to do is incline your heart toward me, even ever-so-slightly, and Holy Spirit will cause that seed to spring to life within you.

… When I give, I keep things interesting for you. There are some things I will give more quickly because I know that you need them (Mt 6.32) but there are some things that I will conceal in order for you to search and discover them on your own (Pr 25.2).

… I do not give as the world gives but neither will I give you everything all at once or at the first request.  Some things you will be surprised that I’ve given them to you.  Some things you need to prepare your heart in order to receive them.  Some things you need to be hungry enough to be prepared to receive that for which you ask.