"Worship Matters" - Friendship & Passing the Peace

Why do we greet one another and what do we mean by passing the peace? What are we signaling about ourselves as a community?

        1.      When we pass the peace of Christ, we declare that the Gospel is about friendship – God befriending us is found throughout the Old and New Testaments (Is. 41:8; Phil. 2:1-8; Ps. 119:63)

·         When we say, “The peace of Christ” we are stressing why we are here – not because of a shared hobby, similar political vision, common ethical norm but because it is Christ crucified and risen again who has called us together. This work is his work. It’s friendship that is about death and life.

·         We enact the gospel – a relationship of deep friendship and reconciliation with each other. As I’ve said before, salvation is as much a social miracle as a spiritual one and will not stand for anything that would divide us (Gal. 2:11-14, Eph. 2:13-19).

         2.      When we pass the peace, we are reminded that friendship is about discipleship. 

·         Welcoming other is not about being liked but is your vocation as a Christian. It’s not “Hi, how are you.” But, “the peace of Christ be with you.”

·         The first exchange intends a life framed by individuals wishing to retain personal boundaries while being nice to each other. The second exchange practices a communal way of life framed by Christ’s action on the cross to bring everyone together.

·         In other words, passing the peace challenges us to be more than polite but dares us to move beyond ourselves—our interests, our concerns—and create Christ-centered community with others. It’s not about being polite but being faithful.

          3.      Passing the Peace of Christ teaches us that the church is maintained by being obedient NOT by being nice.

·         It’s not that being nice is bad but that it’s not enough, doesn’t go far enough in demonstrating the radical love of God. Being nice won’t get the job done. When it gets tough, nice will always politely leave.

·         In the sermon on the mount, Jesus challenged us to define friendship not about being nice to those who like us but by extending welcome to those who don’t like us, who even hate us.

·         It can be abrasive because it’s about changing the hearts of our enemies and witnessing to a love that demands justice and grace.