Money can't buy happiness--or eternal life

 

Whoever trusts in riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.  --Proverbs 11:28

The Wizard of Id was a daily newspaper comic strip created by Brant Parker and Johnny Hart in 1964 to satirize modern American culture and politics.  One entry published in 1967 shows the squat King giving a speech from the balcony of his castle.  "Remember the Golden Rule," he says.  One of the peasants down below asks, "What's that?"  Another peasant answers snidely, "Whoever has the gold makes the rules."

It's easy to view all human interaction in economic terms.  To get what you want, you must give someone else something that they lack, and vice versa.  I give my labor or my time and expertise to my employer in exchange for a paycheck; my employer utilizes the labor or talents of their employees to create or distribute goods and services, which they sell for a profit.  The worker trades his paycheck for other goods and services, such as housing, food, clothing, transportation and entertainment.

With the accumulation of wealth comes a desire to protect that wealth, to keep it from being lost or stolen but also to be invested wisely so that the things on which it is spent add value.  "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21).  I think it is important to keep this in mind when reading the Bible passage commonly called the Rich Young Ruler.

Now as He (Jesus) was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" --Mark 10:17

This man, whom we find out later is a man of means, asks Jesus what it would take for him to make heaven.  What one thing would he have to do, or build, or produce, or perform to get to heaven?  In other words, what would it cost him?  Again, he was rich, so he was thinking in economic terms.  Unfortunately, many people today also test God in this way, thinking that the more good works we do, the closer we will come to attaining heaven.  Sadly, there are even Christian denominations that teach one must do a number of works to either attain or keep salvation.

So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good?  No one is good but One, that is God.  You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' "Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and mother.' "  And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth."  --Mark 10:18-20

It may seem like Jesus gets short with this man, much like He did with the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7:24-30.  The mental whiplash we, the readers, experience may just be Jesus redirecting the narrative.  Instead of speaking in economic terms (what do I have that I can trade for eternal life?), Jesus focuses the discussion on morality and religion.  Jesus noted that the man had called Him good.  Defining the word "good" as sinless or perfect, Jesus noted that only God is good--that is, only God can keep the entire Law.  It is worth pointing out that Jesus did fulfill the Law, therefore He is God.  This point may have been lost on the poor little rich man; he didn't realize who he was talking to.  

The man, speaking in moralistic, relativistic terms: he was a "pretty good guy."  He may not have killed anyone, or stolen anything, or committed adultery.  He didn't make a habit of lying or of dishonoring his parents.  Like us, he thought of himself as a decent person, so what else did he need?  Why was there still something missing in his life?  

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up your cross, and follow Me."  But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.  --Mark 10:21-22

Please note the love that Jesus had for the man.  This is what the man lacked.  This poor fellow loved his possessions more than he loved Jesus.  This was not a call for all Christians to take a vow of poverty.  It was a call to give up anything that we may love more than Him.  Wealth was his hang-up.  Yours may be a certain relationship.  Jesus addresses this later in this passage.  Mine may be a sin that makes me look back like Lot's wife.  Thank God for grace.  Thank God for the love Jesus.

Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"  And the disciples were astonished at His words.  But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?"  But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."  --Mark 10:23-27

The disciples asked a good question: Who can be saved if we have nothing to offer God?  If a rich man can't get to heaven without giving up all his riches, what do poor people have to give up?  I think this is why Jesus repeated the warning, so that He could include the caveat including the word "trust".  It is difficult for us to give up anything we trust in.  Or put another way, we must not trust anything more than we trust God.  Impossible, you say?  Not for God.

Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You."  So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first."  --Mark 10:28-31

Peter, the most vocal disciple, tries to distance himself from the rich young ruler and justify himself by pointing out that he, a humble fisherman, left everything to follow Jesus.  That has to count for something, right?  Jesus rightly points out that if you give up family for the Family of God, you gain multiples of brothers and sisters, father figures and mothering types.  You will also have access to the Church's resources to meet your needs; conversely, if someone in the church has a need and you are blessed with more than you need, then you can help meet their needs.  Along with this wealth of family, friends and other things also comes persecution.  This is something that the "health and wealth gospel" proponents forget to mention.  Nowhere in Scripture does it say to name and claim your mansion, your promotion at work, your new car or boat, or your jet airplane.  It does say that your needs will be met.  It does say that there will be persecution.  It also does say that you will have eternal life in the age to come.

Those who seem to be blessed in this life, who have obtained wealth, may be looked up to in this world.  In the age to come, however, they will be last.  Those who have suffered the most in this life, whom the world looks down upon here, will be rewarded the most in heaven.  Instead of seeing things from the world's perspective, we must look at it from God's perspective, where a camel can go through the eye of a needle, and a sinful man can go to heaven by God's grace.

Jesus, touch my life--and my kids

 

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.  --Leo Buscaglia

My wife and I have fallen in love with the television series The Chosen, the first multi-season series on the life of Christ.  It is a crowd-funded project created, directed and co-written by American filmmaker Dallas Jenkins.  The pilot first aired December 24, 2017.  My wife's favorite episode is season 1 episode 3, which originally aired April 21, 2019, because in it Jesus attracts a group of children to Himself, and begins teaching them the Gospel.  The words that Jesus spoke to the children in this TV drama were taught to the disciples in the New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, but the simplicity of the gospel message is such that even a child can understand. 

The people whom Jesus touched were truly blessed by Him, and many wanted their families to be touched by Him as well.  This is where we take up our passage in Mark 10:13-16:

And they were bringing children to Him that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them.  But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."  And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hand on them.

Perhaps the disciples thought that Jesus was much too busy with adult problems and logistical challenges to minister to the children.  Maybe they thought that the time spent by an important Rabbi or spiritual teacher would be wasted on children.  After all, children were too young to understand the spiritual concepts of Original Sin, Sacrificial Atonement, and Righteousness through Justification.  Still the children were drawn to Him, and He accepted them with open arms.

How young is too young to confess and believe in Jesus?  I was seven.  My parents took me to church regularly, and I felt the prodding of the Holy Spirit to respond to the invitation given by the pastor at the end of the service.  My father took my hand, walked me to the altar, and led me in the Sinner's Prayer.  While there is nothing magical about the words, the fact is that I trusted Jesus for my salvation on that very day.  Did I have some heinous sin that I needed to repent of?  No, of course not.  Was my understanding of theology fully mature?  By no means.  Did I feel the stirrings of the Holy Spirit within my heart, and desire to come to God through His Son at that early age?  Absolutely.

Jesus directed the disciples to allow the children to come to Him, not to rebuke them.  He gathered them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on each of them.  If you work with children, you know that they like attention.  Jesus directed His full attention to them.  He may have listened to their rambling stories and smiled when they offered Him a flower or a small stone as a present.  The scripture says that the parents brought the children so He could touch them; He did so much more.

In the early 1960s, Christian singer/songwriter Bill Gaither was travelling with Dr. Dale Oldham in his evangelistic crusades.  One day in 1963, Oldham told Gaither, "Bill, the word 'touch' is a very popular word.  It comes up so often in the New Testament stories about Jesus touching people's eyes and healing them, or touching people's lives and changing them.  It's a special, spiritual word and you ought to write a song that praises His touch."  The song He Touched Me was written that week, and first sung by Dr. Oldham's son Doug.  It went on to be recorded by The Blackwood Brothers, Jimmy Durante, Elvis Presley, was featured on the Lawrence Welk Show, and was sung in countless churches and tent revivals for decades.

Throughout the course of our exegetical study of the Gospel of Mark over the last several months, we have seen how the touch of Jesus was powerful, loving, healing, and forgiving.  In Mark 1:41, a man with leprosy approached Him, saying, "If you will, you can make me clean."  Defying Old Testament tradition and the prevailing health standards of the day, Jesus touched the man, saying "I will.  Be clean."  In Mark 7:33 a deaf/mute was brought to Jesus, and He drew the man aside, away from the crowd, and touched his ears and his tongue (that's much more than many of us would ever do!).  In Mark 8:22 some people brought a blind man to Jesus and begged Him to touch their friend.  Jesus led the man away, and laid His hands on him, not once but twice, until the man's need was fully met.

You see, touching someone is more than poking a finger at them.  Jesus engaged the people He touched--He spent time with them, listened to them, put his hands on them.  See, He didn't just touch them physically; He touched them on an emotional, almost visceral level.  After a touch from Jesus, one would be completely changed.  He or she would have a heart of flesh where there was once a heart of stone. (See Ezekiel 36:26)

Shackled by a heavy burden,
'Neath a load of guilt and shame.
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same.
He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole.
Since I met this blessed Savior,
Since He cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to praise Him,
I'll shout it while eternity rolls.
He touched me, Oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole.

The D Word

 

There's no pain or failure quite like going through a divorce.  --Jennifer Lopez

One of the hard things about going through a verse-by-verse study of Scripture is when you find a passage denouncing a sin of which you, the writer, are guilty.  When sin is brought to light, then the appropriate response is to confess, repent, and learn from the experience.

Our passage today deals with the sin of divorce.  In the spirit of transparency, I have been divorced...more than once.  I am neither proud of the choices I made that led to those breakups, nor do I recommend that path for others.  However, as therapeutic as this blog is for me, I do not want to make this about me.  Let's instead turn our attention to the Scripture, and see what it says.

And He (Jesus) left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to Him again.  And again, as was His custom, He taught them.  And Pharisees came up and in order to test Him asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"  He answered them, "What did Moses command you?"  They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away."  And Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment.  But from the beginning of creation 'God made them male and female.  Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.'  So they are no longer two but one flesh.  What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate."  And in the house the disciples asked again about this matter.  And He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."  --Mark 10:1-12

Doubtless some of the Pharisees who challenged Jesus about this subject had been divorced themselves.  There is some evidence that the Apostle Paul, writer of one half of the books in the New Testament, may have been divorced (or widowed).  We know that before he was converted, Paul had been a Pharisee (Acts 23:6).  Yet later in his ministry, Paul advised single (unmarried) people to stay single, as he was (1 Corinthians 7:10-14).  Looking at Mark 10:10, I wonder whether one or more of the disciples were divorced; otherwise, why would they pursue this matter further, after Jesus had taught them plainly?

The point is that people are sinful, and even Christ-followers will fall short.  And in this case even the Pharisees were not testing the morality of Jesus, but testing to see whether He sided with one of the two major Jewish teachers of the day.  One camp, led by Rabbi Shammai, held that a man may only divorce his wife for serious transgressions.  The other side, led by Rabbi Hillel, allowed for divorce for the most trivial of matters, such as burning a meal.  The parallel passage in Matthew 19 reveals their true mind-set--not only had the Mosaic law allowed for divorce, but in their minds it was so common that a command was issued.  "Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?" (Matthew 19:7).

Jesus gently corrected them.  His question to them of "What did Moses say" may have been more of "Did Moses really command you to give a certificate of divorce?" Their answer in Mark 10:4 was a correction.  "Moses allowed a man to give a certificate of divorce and put her away."  Yet even their concept of divorce was flawed.  The Greek word they first used for divorce in verse 2 was apolyo which meant to set free, to let go, to set at liberty, to release (as in a captive).  Sadly, this is the world's attitude toward divorce.  Jennifer Weiner, an American author, television producer, and journalist, said, "Divorce isn't such a tragedy.  A tragedy is staying in an unhappy marriage, teaching our children the wrong things about love.  Nobody ever died of divorce."

The word used for "divorce" in verse 4 was the Greek word apostasion, meaning separation, repudiation.  It has the same root word as apostasia, meaning a forsaking, a falling away, a defection.  It is where we get our English word apostasy meaning an act of refusing to continue to follow, obey, or recognize a religious faith; an abandonment of a previous loyalty.  Building on this theme, Jesus reminded the Pharisees that the intent of God when he created man and woman was for them to complement each other, and to stay loyal to each other.  He referenced Genesis 2:24, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast (some translations say "cleave") to his wife, and they shall become one flesh."  A divorce should not be any easier than an amputation, and no less painful.

I once heard a sermon that said there were only three valid, biblical reasons for divorce.  One was apostasy: when someone becomes a Christian out of another faith, like the Jewish faith or Muslim religion, one's spouse may consider them persona non grata.  If my spouse says, "You are dead to me" because of deeply held religious belief, that is not a good foundation for a long term relationship.  Paul addressed this in 1 Corinthians 7, knowing (perhaps from experience) that some would come to Christ before their husband or wife does.  In those cases, he said "If any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.  If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him." (1 Corinthians 7:12-13).  The implication is that if the unbelieving spouse does not consent, then divorce is inevitable.  The second valid reason, one emphasized by Jesus in Matthew 19:9, is adultery.  If your spouse is caught up in sexual immorality, you are not guilty of adultery if you leave him or her and seek out another partner.  However the flip side is also true: if you leave your spouse for another because that other person fulfills you sexually, then you are guilty of adultery.  The third valid reason, according to this sermon I heard, is abuse.  Many believe that God does not intend for you to stay in a physically abusive situation just because you are married.

In today's day and age, there are thousands of reasons for divorce.  Some may be valid, others may not.  Thank God we have grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  He is our hope--not our spouse, not our children, not our own sense of happiness.  If we come to Jesus with our issues, like the Pharisees and the disciples did in Mark 10, He will gently lead us to the truth.  This morning I saw a meme on Facebook that said something like, "The woman at the well had been married and divorced five times, but Jesus still used her story to His glory."  His grace is not license to sin--don't ever say, "God told me to get a divorce."  It is, however, a way to cover our sin and restore a right relationship with Him.  It is no coincidence that the Church's relationship with Christ is likened to a marriage.  We are His betrothed, and must stay faithful to Him until He comes to take us home.  The Father will throw a party like no other, described in Revelation 19:6-9 as the "marriage supper of the Lamb" wherein we will put away our unrighteousness and be clothed in white as a gift to the Son of God.  Lord, hasten that day!  Even now, Lord Jesus, come quickly.

Our Covenant of Salt

 

Ought you not to know that the Lord God of Israel gave kingship over Israel forever to David and his sons by a covenant of salt?  --2 Chronicles 13:5

Salt is an amazing substance.  In food it is a flavor enhancer as well as a preservative.  It is used in the manufacture of soap, glaze, and porcelain enamel, making something shine.  When added to water, it raises the boiling point, so that it is used in metallurgy to cool forged metal without brittleness or distortion.  When added to ice it lowers the melting point, thus making it easier to clear off roads, sidewalks, and windshields.  It also acts as a water softener, removing calcium and magnesium compounds from the water.

Salt is also an important component of covenants among different people or between people and God.  Covenants were ordinarily made over a sacrificial meal, in which salt was a necessary element.  The preservative qualities of salt made it a particularly fitting symbol of an enduring compact, sealing it with an obligation to fidelity.  The word "salt" has thus acquired connotations of high esteem and honor in ancient and modern languages.  An Arab affirmation of friendship was "there is salt between us."  The Hebrew expression "to eat the salt of the palace" (see Ezra 4:14) meant having fealty with the king whom they served.  A modern Persian phrase is "untrue to salt" meaning disloyal or ungrateful.  In English the phrase "salt of the earth" denotes a person held in high esteem, and "worth his salt" describes a hard worker.

Whenever Jesus uses a phrase or metaphor involving salt, it is always a good idea to pay attention.  Continuing our study of the Gospel of Mark, salt plays an important part in chapter 9 verses 38 through 50.

John said to Him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in Your Name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us."  But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in My Name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me.  For the one is is not against us is for us.  For truly, I say to you, whoever gives a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.  Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.  And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.  And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.  And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out.  It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 'where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.'  For everyone will be salted with fire.  Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again?  Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."  --Mark 9:38-50

Whew!  There's a lot going on there, so let's break it down a bit.  According to Barnes' Notes (a commentary by Albert Barnes in 1870), "the chief object of the passage was:

1. To teach the apostles that "other men", not "with them", might be true Christians (Mark 9:38-39)
2. That they ought to be disposed to look favorably upon the slightest evidence that they "might be true believers" (Mark 9:41)
3. That they ought to avoid giving "offense" to such feeble and obscure Christians (Mark 9:42)
4. That "everything" calculated to give offense, or to dishonor religion, should be removed (Mark 9:43), and
5. That everything which would endanger their salvation should be sacrificed; that they should "deny" themselves in every way in order to obtain eternal life.  In this way they would be "preserved" to eternal life (Mark 9:44-50)."
   

Not to take away from that excellent summary, but I'd like to go a bit deeper.  First, if we compare the synoptic Gospels, it would appear that Mark's account was not chronological.  Verses 38-41, in which John identifies believers who are not in their group, but whom Jesus says should not be discouraged, has parallel passages in Matthew chapter 10 and Luke chapter 9.  The rest of the 9th chapter of the book of Mark has parallel passages in Mathew chapter 18 and Luke chapter 17.  Apparently a lot happened between these two statements of Jesus, but Mark puts them together for a purpose.  

What might that purpose be?  I think that Mark was comparing and contrasting Jesus's warning against discouraging like-minded believers with His command to separate ourselves from sinful influences and heresies.  I believe it is a call to spiritual discernment.

In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus warned His disciples: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will recognize them by their fruits.  Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits."  In our passage, John was being zealous about potential false prophets--that is, those who would use the Name of Jesus disingenuously.  We don't know where this fellow came from, but he sure wasn't one us us.

Here in Mark 9:39 Jesus again told His disciples to look at the fruit.  Anyone who can do "mighty works" or "miracles" in Jesus's Name cannot quickly denounce Him, or bring Him dishonor.  This would apply to one who was casting out demons in the Name of Jesus, but would also apply to one giving a cup of water to a thirsty soul in the Name of Jesus. Both can be described as "mighty works", translated from the Greek word dynamis (from which we get the English word "dynamite").  It takes a spirit of discernment to recognize an act of kindness for kindness sake against an act of kindness done in Jesus's Name.

Next we see in Mark 9:42 a transition statement.  Jesus had just warned them against speaking ill of a fellow disciple, a co-worker in the faith who may not be in the same group as you but strives toward the same goal.  Whoever causes one of these little ones, e.g. a second-generation Christian, one who did not sit at the feet of Jesus but has faith nonetheless, and did mighty works in His name (see John 20:29, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe") to sin--well, it would be better if they had not been born.  The disciple John was being warned, but so, too, was the warning meant for those who would stir up dissension in the Body of Christ.

Paul would later write a metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 where he described the Church as a collection of people with differing spiritual gifts as being one Body with many parts.  Those who go are compared to the feet of Christ, those who do are compared to the hands of Christ, those who see are compared to His eye, those who listen are compared to His ear, and on and on.  I don't think it strains the metaphor too far to think of Jesus's words in Mark 9:43-48 in this light.  If someone claiming to be a part of the Body of Christ (the Church) causes offense (literally "scandal", from the Greek word skandalizo used here), then that part of the body should be "cut off", whether it is the hand, the foot, or the eye.  We should not abide those people in the Church who try to influence her to sin.  It would be better for the Body to be without them than to be thrown corporately into the pit of hell.

I know that Jesus' words here to avoid anything having to do with sin relate to each individual Christian.  Each one of us is individually responsible for our own sin, and must repent and ask forgiveness independently of others.  I also know that within the Body of Christ, Jesus will raise up the people with individual spiritual gifts whom He wills, and that none whom He foreknew and fore-ordained will be cast out.  However, if anyone claiming to be a part of Christ's Church is involved in sin and encourages others to sin, the Church corporately should have discernment, see that this one member is not bearing good fruit, and then they should corporately cut him off and cast him out, and should corporately (as a Body) ask for forgiveness and repent of the corporate sin caused by that one offending member.

This line of reasoning makes sense when trying to interpret verse 49, one of the most difficult verses to understand.  "For everyone will be salted with fire."  Many commentators believe this means that we all must go through trials that will burn away the chaff and refine us, purify us, and preserve us, as with salt and with fire.  But the very next verse says we are the salt, and we must not lose the properties of salt or we will be useless.  

The phrase "salted with fire" may refer to ancient metallurgy.  When forging metal (think armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-18, yielding the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God in Hebrews 4:12), the blacksmith will heat the metal until it is red-hot, and then temper the metal by cooling it down quickly.  Plunging it into water may cause it to cool down too quickly, thereby making it brittle or distorted.  Adding salt to the water raises the boiling point, thereby allowing the metal to cool down more slowly, with less chance of weakness or lack of integrity.  When Jesus said "salted with fire," He may have been referring to this ancient blacksmithing technique.

Salt is important to the process of hardening metal and tempering it to a sharp edge.  It is only when we are hardened steel that we are not impressionable, given to deceptive lies and heresies thrown at us by the world and by Satan himself.  The sharper we are, the more valuable we are to the Kingdom.  The less impressionable we are, the more we are at peace with one another.