First UMC
The Winning Strategy
Matthew 5:38-48 NRSV
Strategy for dealing with conflict in Jesus’ day included:
A. Eye for eye (5:38) – proportional response was actually a step in the milder direction for the Israelites.
B. Love those who love you, hate those who hate you (5:43) – cutting yourself off from anyone who would be against you.
The Kingdom of Heaven Strategy for Bringing about Peace
1. Trust in Jesus
2. Belief that the Holy Spirit is already at work in every circumstance.
2a. Prevenient / Common Grace (5:45)
3. Respect others by continuing to offer resources of: time, talent, presence. (5:39, 40, 41, 42)
4. Willingness for it not to work.
5. Complete, total, perfection (5:48) is the ultimate outcome of the kingdom of heaven.
The Roman Empire was not overcome by the power of the early Christian preaching but by the faithfulness of its martyrs. - Lesslie Newbigin from The Open Secret
The real triumphs of the gospel have not been won when the church is strong in a worldly sense; they have been won when the church is faithful in the midst of weakness, contempt, and rejection. - Lesslie Newbigin from The Open Secret