LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 99

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

CONVENTION BIBLE STUDIES

need Christ’s promises and are sometimes attacked for their
work .
And yet, we can rejoice that at least these people gather
together where the healing is offered through Word and
Sacrament .
As long as saints are also sinners, we need to receive and
share Christ’s peace . The “kiss of peace” is just as necessary
and salutary today as it was in the Early Church .

How the “Kiss of Peace” Can Benefit
Individuals
Marsha first learned about the original intent of the “kiss of
peace” in a peacemaking seminar .4 The next day in worship,
she quietly made her way to the balcony during the offering .
Her church shared the peace before Communion . Marsha held
a well–known grudge against Mark, the choir director . She
reached her hand out to Mark: “I’m so sorry—I can’t believe
I’ve let our disagreements come between us . The peace of
the Lord be with you .” They were reconciled in the balcony .
The whole church learned what happened when Marsha
and Mark walked down the aisle together for Communion .
Everyone witnessed in them the peace of God that transcends
all understanding!

How the “Kiss of Peace” Can Benefit
the Church and Those Outside the Church
Disagreements between the elders and church council
polarized the congregation .4 Church attendance declined
and offerings fell . Many stopped talking to one another but
had no difficulty gossiping about one another . Blame–shifting replaced repentance and became a substitute for true
justification .
With Bible study and assistance through mediation, the
two leadership boards reconciled through confession and forgiveness . Encouraged to share their restoration, they agreed
to jointly confess their sins to the congregation in worship,
just prior to the offering, in accord with Matthew 5:23–24 .
The visiting pastor led the congregants in announcing God’s
grace to them .
These restored lay leaders then reminded their members
that many of them also needed reconciliation, and suggested
that they take this opportunity to do so . They were instructed
to go to someone with whom they had been in conflict and
offer the greeting, “The peace of the Lord be with you .”
People were encouraged to exchange mutual confession and
forgiveness .
What happened next was a miracle . For 30 minutes people moved across the sanctuary to share God’s peace with
those whom they had broken relationships . Many approached
people they had avoided for months . Tears were shed amid
quiet confessions and the sharing of forgiveness . As the Holy
Supper was celebrated, more tears flowed . No one complained
about the long service .
Afterwards, a young man visiting the church stuck around
to meet with the pastor . “You know, I’ve been searching for
something more meaningful in life . I’ve never been part of
a group that really practices what it preaches . I know that no

99

one here is perfect, but they know how to show Jesus’ love . I
would like to learn more about this church .”

Reconciliation: Risky Business
Reconciliation is never easy . In many ways, the “holy
howdy” is safer and much more comfortable than the original “kiss of peace .” And casual greetings are important!
However, what Jesus endured for our reconciliation was
anything but safe or comfortable . He suffered a horrific death
to restore us to His Father while we were yet sinners . But He
rose from the grave to declare victory over sin, death, and the
devil . We cherish our forgiveness given through His Word .
We are forgiven through the waters of Holy Baptism . We
receive His forgiveness in His very body and blood, celebrating our unity in Him as we commune together at His table .
Fellow beggars, because God risked His own Son for us,
we are forgiven . Because we are related by Christ’s blood,
we have been made ONE People . Because we have been reconciled, we are called to be messengers of His grace to one
another and to those outside the Body of Christ .
As we move closer to the end of our time together in synod
convention, consider how you can share the peace of the Lord
with someone here or someone at home . And the next time you
hear, “The peace of the Lord be with you,” remember what
the “kiss of peace” is really about .
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”
(Philippians 4:7) .
We pray with the author of Hebrews:
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the
dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the
blood of the eternal covenant, equip [us] with everything good
that [we] may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing
in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and
ever . Amen . (vv . 13:20–21)

Endnotes
1 . Latin, c . 9th cent .; tr . Omer E . Westendorf, 1916–97,
alt; “Where Love and Charity Prevail,” Text copyright
© 1960, World Library Publications, Franklin Park,
IL . www .wlpmusic .com 800–566–6150 . All rights
reserved . Used by permission .
2 . All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are
taken from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway
Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers .
Used by permission . All rights reserved .
3 . Lutheran Service Book (St . Louis: Concordia Publishing
House, 2006), 159 .
4 . Names and certain details have been changed to protect
confidences
Ted Kober
2010 Convention Proceedings