The Fruit of the Spirit: Peace by Dan McCrea

Peace, the perspective a language a challenged layman.

There are times I wish I was a better student of the English language. Oh, I do okay, but my written and verbal command of my native tongue is, more than I would care to admit, weak. I grew up in Brighton Park, a working class neighborhood on Chicago’s south-west side. The grandson of immigrants, I was a fourth generation McCrea living in a two-flat purchased by my father’s grandparents. As a native Chicagoan, I grew up speaking like all Chicagoans, replacing “th” with “d” as in “dem, dese, dose and dere” rather than correctly saying “them, these, those and there.” I also have a tendency to drop the “g” off of “ing” as in “shoppin’ cart” rather than “shopping cart.” The list of my verbal infractions can be long and is often times met with humorous rebuke from my wife. Kim, a native Badger, who will in an interesting tone, respond to my infractions with a question. “Dan, where is the frun-chroom in our home?” Indeed, Kim’s not so subtle correction was in reference to my calling our living room a “frun-chroom.” My reply to her inquiry is usually something like the following. “Ey, my livin’ room was in da fronna da house.”

In spite of my oral inadequacies, I am fascinated with how people use language, particularly the same word to describe what may be two, or more, different emotions, characteristics or qualities. For example, one may hear “I love my new care” and then hear from the same person “I love my children.” This puzzles me, for I wonder how one word can be used to describe what I hope would be two very different affections for two very different subjects- a car and a child. The Greeks used three different words for three types of love. They had it right.

Love is not the only victim of the English language used widely and carelessly. Words such as excellence, teamwork, partnership, business, marketing and communication have all morphed to the point of where the receiver is unsure of the sender’s intent. For example, my definition of marketing is based on the marketing mix- product, price, distribution and promotion while others us the word, incorrectly in my opinion, solely in the context of promotion.

Well, all of this leads me to the word, “peace,” as it relates to the fruit of the Spirit. What does peace mean to me, to you or to God? I had not really thought about it until I was asked to contribute this devotional. Is the word “peace” carelessly used like the word “love” that I wrote of earlier?

In church we hear “peace be with you” to which we respond with “and also with you.” On the news we hear President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize for promoting peaceful international relations. On gravestones we see “Rest In Peace.” And, often we personally wish for some “peace and quiet.”

Now I’m sure we are all smart enough to know the general meaning of “peace,” but perhaps we should examine a deeper, more Biblical definition of the word,. Originally written in Hebrew, the Old Testament word for peace is shalom. The New Testament, written in Greek, used the word eirene. Since I took neither Greek nor Hebrew in college, I dangerously used Wikipedia as my source for word translation.

Shalom, Hebrew for peace, completeness and welfare. Shalom is often used to mean both hello and goodbye. In review of this definition, we can understand the meaning behind the exchange of “peace be with you” followed by “and also with you.”

Eirene, the Greek word for peace used in the New Testament is similar to Shalom in that the word implies wholeness or completeness. The Greek verb erio means to bind together that which has been separated.

The fruit of the Spirit as written by Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 is as follows: “22But the fruit of the Sprit is love, joy , peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control Against such things there is no law.”

Allow me to propose that although peace is the third fruit, perhaps Paul’s intent was not to highlight or force rank one fruit of the Spirit over another, but to bind the fruits together in hopes of achieving wholeness. We are the fruit of God or the product of accepting God as our Savior while striving for His will. Our fruit is not one quality or two, but all qualities- love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control- bound together creating peace within one’s soul- to be whole with God. Like a tree bears fruit, our usable fruit of the Spirit that is visible to others, is the product or illustration of our relationship with God.

In today’s world we deal with an abundance of technology bombarding us with words, messages and noise to which, as written earlier, we wish for “peace and quiet.” When we seek peace we are, perhaps, searching for completeness; completeness in Christ that can be achieved by giving, producing, and illustrating our control. Think about it, when you were at peace were you hateful, inpatient, unkind or evil? Or were you illustrating the fruits of the Spirit?

Philippians 4:4-7

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5:Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request s to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard you hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Further reading:
http://www.spirithome.com/fruitssp.html#fruity

Questions for Reflection:

What can I do this week to find peace in my life?
How has God given me peace lately?