{{2017_03_08_t1.jpg}} {{2017_03_08_t2.jpg}} {{2017_03_08_t3.jpg}} [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/de/doku.php/jn_de_2017_03_08|Deutsche Version]] [[Start|| Wiki Start]] [[topics_collection_ix|| Topics Collection ix ]] ======Spirit of Peace II ...====== Wednesday, March 8, 2017. In the last days we had several Turkish government officials with strong verbal attacks on Germany: Turkish people would be systematically suppressed. The words are insulting and unfair and do not reflect the daily reality of 1.4 Million Turkish people in the country. It is interesting that a part of the attacks was formulated on German ground. But they reflect the state of the Turkish government, which is in a process of cleaning its country from its critics. Serious times we live in! {{2017_03_08.jpg }} **Provoke and Hit ...** We see the same principle in so many places. Provoke and hit others! It is carried out by the liberals in the US against Trump. It is carried out by the Turkish leaders. It is done by Trump himself. It is not peace which is sought, but provocation and fight as a tool or means to hit opponents. How different is what we read in the New Testament. How different is what we read when we listen to Jesus. You probably know the passage, but read it freshly this morning: 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,8 let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. (from Matthew 5) {{ 2017_03_08_2.jpg}} **Jesus Peacemaker ...** > Jesus is changing the game. He is just not following the logic of "provoke and hit"! No, no, no. There is another way. There is a way of partnership - which includes all clarity when things to into the wrong direction. There is a way of mutual support. Someone has to start it. When you have a goal what you want to reach, you need to work towards it. You need to set the szene. You need to start doing what you want to do! When we want peace, we need to live in peace. We need to live the way we want to live, in a mode of partnership, in a mode of honesty, in a mode of support. Jesus describes it in his words: go the second mile. Take the other person serious, search for community, search for access, search for communication, search for a joint path. It can be difficult, I know. And when violence is there, it is sometimes not clear how to act. But still, Jesus is right: we need to change the game. We need to make peace, become peacemakers, but not following these rules of provocation and violence. We are free, made free by Jesus himself and his spirit. There is another way, the way of peace. (Roland Potthast) [[http://www.jesusnetwork.eu/en/doku.php/topics_collection_ix|... more texts]]