Shalom

The Old Testament concept of Shalom goes far beyond peace as the absence of war.  Shalom refers to completeness, wholeness, well-being and peace.

If a person or a people do not have completeness or wholeness as a condition, they cannot have peace.  If a person or a people do not have a sense of well-being, they cannot have peace.

If a nation's people do not ALL have completeness or wholeness, there is no Shalom.
If a nation's people do not ALL have a sense of well-being, there is no Shalom.

In order for a nation to HAVE Shalom, it must make sure that ALL of its people have completeness, wholeness and a sense of well-being.  The nation itself cannot have Shalom or evidently salvation, unless even "the least of these" have Shalom.  (Matthew 25:31-46)

People claim peace, and they usually mean that there is a lack of war, but that does not mean that there is Shalom in the land, and it probably means that conflict is just under the surface.  That is what prompted the prophet Jeremiah to lament, because the greedy sought unjust gain on the backs of the poor - they exploited them - and did not treat them well, and the lack of well-being that they suffered over it was treated carelessly, so they said, "Peace, peace... when there is no peace."  They treated them abominably and shamefully and were not ashamed of it.  (Jeremiah 6:13-15)  It was so bad, the conditions so horrendously unjust, that it is repeated (Jeremiah 8:10-12).  There could be no Shalom, because there was no well-being for all in the nation.  They stripped the well-being of many of their citizens, the most vulnerable ones, away from them and now the nation faced exile because of it - the whole nation.  And false prophets like Hananiah told them that it was alright and that God favored them.  The King believed that God favored them.  By all accounts, their power and wealth made it seem that God favored them, but there was no Shalom in the nation, because they exploited and hurt the most vulnerable for their own gain, and they were conquered and exiled BECAUSE GOD LOVED THEM.  These were God's people and God loved them, but they had to learn the hard way what it means to live by God's Kingdom values.

Jesus gave comfort after His last Pesach (John 13:18 - 14:31) and after expose Judas as the betrayer.  The handwriting was on the wall and they needed comfort.  He admonished them, "If you AGAPE me, you will keep MY commandments."  Agape was at the center of HIS commandments, in which is fulfilled ALL the Law and Prophets, according to the fulfiller of them.  Again, he said, "Those who Agape me will keep MY word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.  Whoever does not Agape me does not keep MY words (The Good News - what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for us); and the word that you hear is NOT mine, but is FROM THE FATHER who sent me."  Jesus taught, commanded and modeled Kingdom Values, God's Will for how we are to live in THIS PART of God's Kingdom.  Then Jesus promised the Holy Spirit and said, "Shalom I leave with you; my Shalom I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives."  Jesus' Shalom is in the living of His commanded Agape Love (active commitment on behalf of the other - not self - even stranger and enemy - Luke 10:25-37).  The world gives a weak peace, considers itself doing well if there is no open war.  The world gives a fleeting peace, a fickle peace, a peace that has no real depth because it is not deep down, well-being, completeness and wholeness that is lived from within out into the world.  Jesus' Agape, when lived, makes sure that neighbor (even stranger and enemy) is taken care of as much as self.  Jesus makes sure that we avoid the "Peace.  Peace.  When there is no peace."  Jesus' Agape brings about no lack of justice, but rather an abundance of it because ALL have well-being, completeness and wholeness.  It happens because we make sure it happens.  There is not supernatural intervention in this, it is the commanded living of the Agape that makes for Shalom.  And it works to bring about Shalom.

The first Century believers followed what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, and for a brief time in history there was Shalom because of it.  They eliminated poverty because they held all things in common, practicing radical sharing and ownership in Agape (Acts 2:43-47; 4:32-37).  They healed and made people complete and whole by their radical availability in Agape (5:12-16).  They included those who were ethnically different and from a different faith tradition, even into the leadership of the believers out of radical inclusion in Agape (6:1-7), and extended that radical inclusion out of Agape to those who were ethnically and sexually different and therefore excluded by the Law of Moses (8:26-40).  They went further and included their enemies who were not of their faith, even allowing them to continue their strange dietary practices (10:9-48).  Out of Agape they practiced radical advocacy and liberation, the inclusion of women among the esteemed leaders and the sharing of what they had with strangers through Agape Meals in their worship at home and even through offerings sent to those in need who were miles and miles away.  There was Shalom among them, and as people noticed how differently they lived many came to be a part of this wonderful community.  It was the finest time for the followers of Jesus in many ways because they lived Agape love as Jesus taught, commanded and modeled for them to do.   Even though they were still an occupied and persecuted people, within that struggle they saw a glimpse of Shalom.

Paul picked it up on Romans (14:10-23) regarding the need to not pass judgment on each other or put any hindrance or stumbling block up before others.  He was talking about life codes that separate folk and the need to be gracious with one another regarding our differences.  He then says, "Let us then pursue what makes for Shalom and for mutual up-building."  We must meet our diversity with Agape if we are to have Shalom.  We treat one another with respect and lift one another up, rather than tear one another down, if we want Shalom.  If we are to have Shalom, we must pursue the things that MAKE FOR Shalom - the well-being of all, completeness and wholeness for ALL, justice for ALL, equal treatment for ALL, even in our differences, or ESPECIALLY in our differences.  If we, as a people want to have Shalom, we will pursue the things that MAKE FOR Shalom.  If not, we will not have it.

Our nation does not have Shalom.  We have not had it for a long time.  We have NEVER had it.  That may explain why we have all these wars and conflicts (James 4:1-6).  Our ruthless Greed, lust for Power and desire for Self-Centered Indulgence have convinced us that some are "superior" to others and so our racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, ethnocentrism, xenophobia, and intolerance of other faiths creates an environment lacking in the things that make for Shalom.  Rather than live in humility, in all hubris we have treated others shamefully and many within our own nation since before it was a nation.  We have exploited our own, killed, enslaved, held down, back and out, marginalized, dehumanized, vilified, scapegoated, labeled, discriminated against and disenfranchised millions of our own people and have done what we could to waste, pollute and destroy our own planet so that a few could have more gain.  This is NOT a Shalom-rich environment.  And some say, "Peace" when there is no "Peace", because we do not have a Peace like Jesus' Peace, based on Agape Love for God and one another.  We have not pursued the things that make for Peace.  All in our land do not have Shalom, so none of us have Shalom.  You can try to insulate yourself with your money and isolate yourself in communities of folk just like you, but there is no Shalom.  The lack of well-being, completeness and wholeness will reach you and there will be no peace.

It is time that we as a nation pursue the things that make for Shalom.  It is time for the people who claim to follow Jesus to follow Jesus' Way - what Jesus taught, commanded and modeled, and live Agape Love, teach Agape Love, demand Agape Love.  It is time that we demand justice for ALL, the equitable treatment of ALL, equal opportunities for ALL, equal rights for ALL and respect for ALL.  Those are the things that will make for Shalom.  Anything else is superficial, fickle, fleeting and a sham.  It is a false peace.  Until we have those things for everyone in the land, people will try to say "Peace, peace... when there is no peace", and we will have Shalom for no one.  Pursue what makes for Shalom.

Pastor Jamie