Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church

Dear Friends in Christ,

            For 125 years Salem has been proclaiming peace.  Has it made any difference?  I do not know how many Christmas I can recall when the celebration in the streets of Bethlehem was cancelled because of the conflict in the Middle East.  On the hills outside that city the angels proclaims, “Peace on Earth.”  Some might wonder when will it take place, when will peace happen?  Our oldest members can remember WW I, WWII, the Korean War, the Viet Nam War, now Two Gulf Wars, plus conflicts around the world in Europe, Africa and Asia and South America.  Our text is a challenging section of the word of God, but an important one, because the Prophet Micah had the same message almost word for word in chapter 4 of his book. 

            In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Doesn’t that sound like the end of the world?  I know that thought crossed my mind.  It wasn’t until in the Seminary the connection came that the lasts really started over 2000 years ago.  Ever since Jesus came into the world, the world has been in the last days.  (Heb 1:1-2 NIV)  In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, {2} but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son. (1 Pet 1:20 NIV)  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.  (Acts 2:17 NIV)  "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.   We are in the last days and closer to the last day.

            One of the strangest pictures of our text is, the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.  It sounds like God is going to physically rearrange the hills of Jerusalem so that Mount Zion is the highest.  In prophecy we however are given pictures.  When the ministry of John the Baptist is described, calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. 4  Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.  It was not a picture of  drastic road construction in Israel, rather John’s preaching would do such work in the hearts.  So with our text it is a picture of Christ’s ministry.  (Eph 2:19-21 NIV)  Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, {20} built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone  {21}In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.  All nations, foreigners and strangers, but now fellow Christians form the temple which rises up. 

            What happens there then is, He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  Jesus would have a special message of peace and he did want it to affect our day by day lives until he returns in glory.  Though this world would have wars and rumors of wars to the very end of time, Jesus had a picture of peace.  Isaiah described it; they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.  Jesus in his preaching described his peace this way, (John 14:27 NIV)  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

            With Jesus coming he was known as the Prince of Peace.  It was through his very being and sacrifice that peace was accomplished between God and us.  (2 Cor 5:19 NIV)  God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  (Rom 5:1 NIV)  Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  It was a spear that pierced his side that would bring about our peace.  He took our beating that we would be spared. 

            Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Notice though that all this was to make a difference.  Jesus did say, 9  Blessed are the peacemakers,(not just peaceful but peacemakers) for they will be called sons of God. (1 John 2:9-10 NIV)  {9} Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. {10} Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble.

(James 3:17-18 NIV)  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. {18} Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Jesus really does want to make a difference in our lives.  I know that in many places in Minnesota it is forbidden to bring firearms into the building.  I started wondering how many might be caring weapons today.  You might think that the pastor doesn’t have to discuss that.  But I was thinking how Jesus had to deal with Peter who carried a sword and cut off an ear of someone.  If that is what happened with the 12, what could happen here.  Of course we don’t expect that to happen, but how many people have come to church and have been stabbed in the back by a sharp tongue, a stab wound that hurt deeply?  Maybe we should have beaten a tongue because it was sharp as a sword.  Peter learned from Jesus and would later write: 1 Pet 3:11 NIV)  He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

            I know the very presence of Jesus would shape us up.  I also learned an interesting lesson on the day I walked up to a house where a husband and wife were shouting.  As I knocked on the door the husband came and yelled, “What do you…” and in a soft voice continued, “Hello, pastor.”  I know who I represented.  He was willing to curb the volume of his voice for me, but not for the one he loved, the one he had promised to be with for better for worse. 

            This Christmas Season Jesus does want to make a difference in our homes, families, relationship and in our congregation.  He wants us to be at peace.  Peace with the Heavenly Father, at peace with each other. 

Amen.