Shalom and Justice

    The new life of freedom and peace that Paul proclaimed to the people of Corinth was dramatically different from the lifestyle to which they’d become accustomed.  Within the new house churches, people from different backgrounds began to gather to hear the message of salvation.  While the idea of relief from oppression was appealing, the familiarity of the life before hearing of Christ offered a type of security that people found hard to avoid.  

    The Locard Principle, as identified in forensic science, is based upon the concept of the exchange that occurs whenever two things come into contact.  Whenever a person enters a space, they bring something with them and they take something away.  Sometimes the evidence of the contact is quite obvious.   At other times, the exchange is undetectable.  A similar phenomenon is observed among those who become followers of God—the life of conflict and turmoil that preceded the transformation can leave evidence of its existence that remains even after the person exits.   

     Our presence should bring shalom.  As followers of Christ, our words, values and interests should be characteristic of the peace of God.  However, in Cultures in Conflict, Vander Laan notes the times when the discord and lack of unity in the new churches “diminished their testimony for the gospel.”   Paul passionately addressed that clash of cultures through extensive teaching on the purity of heart and lifestyle that God intended the “culture” of his redeemed people to demonstrate. They could no longer live by the cultural norms of the kingdom from which they had been redeemed.

The new lifestyle in Christ has to overcome conflict with a peace that is based upon justice.  We’ll explore this topic even more Sunday morning.   We’re looking forward to seeing you. 

In Christ,
Jon McCoy