Peacemaker seminar, Day 2

Today we finished our second and last day at the Peacemaker seminar here in Puebla, Mexico.  It went well, I think, and there’s always so much more to learn.

It’s funny, one thing I kept thinking about, especially since I knew I was going to be blogging about this, is the use and abuse of extra-biblical material in general.  I think that there’s a place for “materials” and teaching – it’s all part of the faithful passing on the truth and discipling.  But there are also specific ways that materials can be abused.  Some general ideas are cementing in my mind, but that will have to be another post on another day!  🙂

Right now we’re here to try to wrestle again with what God has to say about being a peacemaker.  Today I got thinking about the concept of talking to someone about an issue; gently restoring a relationship, perhaps.  A key verse for this concept is Galations 6:1,”Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted“.

There’s a lot to learn about “restoring”.  One of the most important things is bringing the Gospel to the situation.  In fact, one reason why Ken Sande came out with an updated version of The Peacemaker was because he was realizing more and more the importance of the reality of the Gospel in peace making.

One phrase that kept coming up was that we must “breath grace” into the situation.  That means the constant infusion of God’s wonderful powerful care of each of us, because of the forgiveness that’s in Jesus Christ.

I was thinking that this breathing of grace is sometimes totally essential before any progress can be made at all.  It’s as if you find someone on the beach who isn’t breathing.  You can’t talk with them at all until you’ve given them a little “artificial respiration”, as we call it.

Let’s imagine we have a conflict with someone (we have good imaginations).  We can’t always expect that that person will be able to respond in any way.  They may simply not even be capable of having a conversation with us.  Not until they have had some grace breathed into their life.  Don’t be so hard on them – you’re the same way without grace.

God may allow us to breath grace into their life.  We may need to show them special grace before they’re anywhere close to being ready to listen.  Or they may need to have that grace from someone else, or directly from the Holy Spirit.

When we are ready to confess our sin, or confront someone about theirs, we’ve (hopefully) already had that grace breathed into us.  But we can’t expect everyone to be at the same point, and we can’t imagine we are better than they are because we’ve had this grace given to us.

May God give us the grace to share grace with those who hurt us, who have hurt us and who may hurt us again.  It’s only because of the marvelous grace of God in Jesus that we can do it – forgive as He forgave on the cross.  And it’s only by God’s grace that the other person can receive God’s love and be restored.

I hope that I can be reminded every day to breath in God’s grace, and breath it out into the lives of others.

==========

We enjoyed the seminars.  We even got a free copy of Peacemaking for Families, which I look forward to reading after I reread The Peacemaker.  We also got some of the Young Peacemaker material, which is focused on older elementary/jr. high, but it can be adapted up and down.  Much of it is now in Spanish also.