"Grace and Peace"

Yesterday I alluded to this post. So we find ourselves here, friends: Jamie one fact smarter and with you about to be educated. Schooled, if you will.

I researched. And I learned.

See, I would much rather spend my day learning things like this, that will actually further my mental well being and make me smarter in a more practical way. But alas, I must, and so must we all, spend hours learning useless things in government run buildings. Unless you go to a private school. Or are home-schooled. Any ways, let us get on the the exciting matters concerning "grace!" and "peace!" and the cleverness of our dear friend Paul.



Grace and peace. They may just seem like two ordinary words, minding their own business. They probably don't even appear out of place, sitting next to each other like they are. Connected with a simple 3 letter word.

They couldn't possibly represent two completely different cultures who really don't like each other.

Or could they?

Back in the day, [and i really mean BACK in the day] a common Greek greeting was "Grace to you". Nice people.
Also, back in the day, a common Jewish greeting was "Peace" or in Hebrew, "Shalom".

I am a Gentile.
Why?
Because I am not Jewish.
Are you not Jewish too?
You are a Gentile.

So, imagine yourself as a Gentile living in the middle east. [Israel?] [I guess wherever our buddy Paul traveled.]

The Jewish people were not happy that the Gentiles were able to be saved as well and them.
After all, the Jews were God's chosen people. They obeyed all the laws and rituals and had gone through a lot. Why do these Gentiles get our blessing as well?

In Fact, a lot of the Jewish people didn't even believe it was true. [meaning they didn't belive that Gentiles could be saved as well]
That's one of the reasons that Paul preached and taught and wrote letters.
He wanted to show everyone that we are all equal in God's eyes:

Galatians 3:28 (New Living Translation)
28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

So, very cleverly, he combined both culture's greetings.
"Grace be with you" and "Shalom". Which then turned into "Grace and peace."

As a church, and as part of the Kingdom of God, we shouldn't divide ourselves. It doesn't matter what our differences are if we all have the same core doctrine:
Jesus. Is. God.
Everything else is....kind of trivial.
Hmm...anyways.
That is my newly found information, and it makes me think a lot.

You can learn a great deal from just skimming the surface of things.
But you can learn so much more when you dive in and aren't afraid for things to get messy.

So dive deep, friends =]

[Oh man, that reminds me of The Circle Trilogy. Someday I might have to indsert a page from one of those books. Perhaps tomorow?]

Goodnight fellow earthlings! [that was totally not a nerdy thing to say...hah]