How should we respond to people who oppose us? We might avoid them at all costs. Or we might fire a pre-emptive volley and attack them before they attack us. What is the right strategy?
Paul moved toward his potential opposition. He wanted the Jews in Rome to know his side of the story, perhaps fearing that they had heard a different story from his opponents in Asia and Jerusalem. True, there was no internet or 24-hour news cycle in the first century. But the Roman roads helped information to travel quickly. By engaging the Jews with non-anxious contact, he sought to defuse the situation. Paul wanted them to know he wished them no harm.
Let’s take a closer look at his actions. He only waited three days to engage with the local Jewish leaders. This allowed him to rest from his journey and get settled. When they came to the meeting, he called them “brothers.” In Les Misérables, the thief Jean Valjean marvels that the priest from whom he stole called him “brother.” Then Paul told his story clearly. He had appealed to Caesar not to harm Judaism but to get a fair trial on the false charges. Finally, Paul made it to the heart of the matter. His belief in the “hope of Israel” led to his imprisonment. Even in chains, Paul prepared to point the local Jewish leaders to Jesus, the risen Lord as the Messiah, the true hope of Israel.
In a letter to the believers in Rome, Paul said, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone” (Romans 12:18). Peace is not always possible. Nor is it one-sided. Both parties must desire peace for it to be enacted. Peace depends partly on us. For our part, we should earnestly work toward peace in relationships. Wait. What about the difficult people in our lives? Paul wrote, “with everyone.” We pursue peace comprehensively. Do not assume that a particular person or group will always act the way they previously have.
Paul practiced the peace that he preached. Do we? Why not today?
