Let's talk meme theology.... this is a mini-series and not a part of my regular deeper discussions on apologetics, church and overcoming anxiety and adhd.
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Today we will talk about peace. I saw a major Christian music star posted this quote last week. At first I wanted to click like but then stopped myself and thought "that's actually really bad theology".... let's talk about that!
"If it costs you your peace, it's too expensive."
Nassim Nicholas Taleb
Why do I think this is bad theology? Well... first of all... I've been married for 36 years 😂. In all seriousness... our idea of peace is so narcissistic. The pendulum has swung way over from allowing abuse to ourselves by not setting boundaries back to just living like hermits on islands with only like minded people and distancing ourselves from anyone and everyone who we feel uncomfortable with.
So... whenever we see a quote like this and it "sounds" nice because it aligns with a specific trauma response... we need to ask ourselves... is this accurate?
The apostle Paul writes this in Romans 5:
"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us."
Further to this in Acts 21 when Paul was called to go to Jerusalem a Prophet came to him and told him he would be arrested if he went... Paul went anyway. His peace of mind he understood would fluctuate- but his peace in Spirit was not bound by circumstance.
“He came over, took Paul’s belt, and bound his own feet and hands with it. Then he said, “The Holy Spirit declares, ‘So shall the owner of this belt be bound by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem and turned over to the Gentiles.’” When we heard this, we and the local believers all begged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. But he said, “Why all this weeping? You are breaking my heart! I am ready not only to be jailed at Jerusalem but even to die for the sake of the Lord Jesus.” When it was clear that we couldn’t persuade him, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.””
Acts of the Apostles 21
While there are many more verses on this I will cap off with this one:
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 1 Peter 4
Yes... we must protect our hearts against abuse - Jesus would often break away to spend time alone and pray... but he always made time for these people that drained him... driven by love.
So much more on this... but I'll leave it there!
Be the change friends!
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