The Series Continues

I continue to be so impressed and excited by the response to the peacemaker studies. We have such a large portion of the church participating in the studies, and even some who are not are asking for the book to read based on how much they are enjoying the Sunday messages. Two more small groups start up this week. I so firmly believe that this study is vital to our health as a church. There are always those people who are negative. They have a criticism or critique. They feel they have been hurt, misused, or misunderstood. They may even be right. The problem is that instead of emphasizing Christ's love and our common connection in Him, instead of trying to take care of the issue and find resolution and restoration, they seem primarily interested in dwelling on the wrong, convicting and condemning the person or group they feel wronged them, and certainly not moving on in love and forgiveness. In 16 years of service in Maine churches, I have had times when I was misrepresented, mistreated, out and out lied about, etc. Being treated this way by Christian brothers & sisters hurt. But I have worked to have a response of peace and I can tell you that I do not harbor any hard feelings toward any of the people who were involved in those situations. I even went on to work with or serve with some of them over the years. It is all in your response. Rather than focus on the other person, we focus on ourselves with humility. When you meet someone who has one tale of woe after another, who has a string of churches behind them, each one having "victimized" them in some way. You probably have found someone who needs to read the book, The Peacemaker, and adjust their response to the conflicts that occur in life.