Mennonite Weekly Review

Earlier this summer we talked about commitment issues. “Finding Peace,” the focus for this week, is couched in the commitment of following Jesus: It is in commitment to Jesus that we find peace. Inner peace? Yes. Outer peace? Yes, although that may not be obvious

Stackley

Whether inner or outer, we can count on joy being the trademark of finding peace. Letter-writer Paul is plainspoken, and his words are as current as Sunday’s worship bulletin. Stars of the show in this case are two women, Euodia and Syntyche, who have “contended at” Paul’s side “in the cause of the gospel.” They are his peers, essential to his work in Philippi.

Strange to our ears, these Greek names would be familiar to the Philippian community. The name “Euodia” means “a good journey.” “Syntyche” means “happy chance” or “luck.”

We often see examples of strong personalities unable to get along. Leaders often have to work hard at deferring to one another. When they can reconcile and work things out, what a powerhouse is available — in this case — to the church!

Unity is bigger than agreement

But take note: This appeal for unity is not an appeal for agreement. Unity is something other than agreement. Unity is bigger than agreement. “Have the same mind in the Lord” befits people who are in fellowship with Christ and in submission to Christ (David Ewert, A Testament of Joy: Studies in Philippians, Kindred Press, 1995).

“Finally” (in verse 8) does not mean Paul is at the end of his letter. Rather “finally” signals that beautiful prose, the paragraph that we should all tuck away in our memory banks: Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable — think about such things; they are excellent, and they are praiseworthy. What’s more, these traits will help us to find peace. (Recall, Paul is writing from a prison cell. He is well acquainted with inner peace.)

Wisdom about outer peace

I bring to you two eloquent writers on the subject of peace — be that peace in the community, the nation or the world. German theologian and victim of Nazi Germany Dietrich Bonhoeffer describes cheap grace: It is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ. (Perhaps we could be forgiven for substituting the word “peace” for “grace.”)

The second person is leader-in-nonviolence Mohandas Gandhi. American poet William Stafford provides a stunning context for Gandhi’s wisdom in his Every War Has Two Losers (Milkweed Editions, 2003). Gandhi named seven sins: wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice, politics without principle. If enough people changed these negatives to positives, would we have peace in the community, the nation, the world?

For those discouraged about finding peace, Stafford has encouraging words, just as Paul had for the house church in Philippi: “Keep a journal, and don’t assume that your work has to accomplish anything worthy. Artists and peace workers are in it for the long haul and not to be judged by immediate results. Redemption comes with care. In our culture we can oppose but not subvert. Openness is part of our technique.” (This comes from a 1990 lecture at Bluffton University in Ohio, drawing on notes from Stafford’s four years in camps for conscientious objectors to war.)

Blessed are those who find peace.

Muriel T. Stackley is retired from pastoring and editing and parenting (but not grandparenting).