Fruits of the Spirit 3: Peace

Eirene, in Hebrew shalom; each widely used in its testament (the Greek, according to Vine'sDictionary, in all but one of the books), and both quite consistently and simply translated, the exceptions being the even-more-irenic "reconciliation" (Acts 7:26, 12:20 NRSV). They both seem to also carry the implication of wholeness, healedness, "freedom from molestation" (Vine's), harmony, rest, and contentment. But anyone who's ever been involved in pacifist politics knows how hard it is to disconnect it from limitation to the antonym of "war."

Indeed, in at least one place each these words are attested as referring to civil order (Acts 24:2, Ananias sucking up to Tertullus to discredit Paul) and as the antithesis, in God's nature and therefore in the church, of instability (1Corinthians 14:33). Maybe that's what's been so hard to understand in the tripod of "peace, unity, and purity of the church" that all of us who are ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have promised to further. If "peace" simply means "order," it's not so hard to square with purity and a unity that's at least on the surface. But is the surface enough? And should it be?

Peace is probably always easier to attain individually, and perhaps that's the fruit of the Spirit. As long as you at least have a strategy for dealing with those who might disrupt your serenity (for some years I carried a pocket talisman of my baptism that I could fondle when things got disturbing), you can be at peace, whole, most of the time. The problem is when you put your individual serenity at risk by mixing your life and feelings up with others.

Love is vulnerable and risky. And probably the larger the group and the less clear its shared foundations, the more risky it gets, and the harder it is for the Spirit to break through and bear fruit.

[Read the New Revised Standard Version at http://bible.oremus.org/bible.cgi?ql=126285373. From there you can also check the other passages referenced here.]