Introduction: We invariably make our theology visible. As my wise grandmother used to say, “What’s down in the well comes up in the bucket.” We live out what we truly believe, not what we say we believe. Below’s a short piece about peace, about shalom, about contentment. I invite you to read on.

Example: I remember during my seminary years I had a professor whose theology was made visible such that he became distinct from many others from whom I learned. He was both an M.D. and a theology professor. He was as smart as they come. But the thing about him that stuck out was that he was genuine, laughed a lot, and invested in us–not just as students but as future pastors, missionaries, and professors ourselves. He and his wife co-taught classes on marriage, too. They both got to know our wives and children. Dr. C. even served as my wife’s OB/GYN when she was pregnant during our seminary years.

But even more than his genuineness, laughter, and investments in us, Dr. C. invariably was a man at peace. He didn’t seem at peace; he was at peace. He never struck you as phony or as a poser. Sad to say, but that’s not always the case–especially in church circles. We all know of those who try to sound super-spiritual but our spidey-sense antennae go up and warn us, “Watch out; this guy’s a charlatan.”

Scriptural Connections: In Proverbs, Solomon wrote, “The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want” (Pr 13:25, ESV). That is, for the good man/woman, God’s provision is sufficient but for the wicked/evil man/woman, there’s invariably a lack, something missing, a pervading sense of insufficiency.

As I meditated on that verse, it reminded me of another piece of Solomonic wisdom: “The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked” (Pr 10:3, ESV). The same wisdom echoes there–namely, God’s providence. God is the sufficiency of the Christian. It’s not the person’s bank account, platform, status in the world’s eyes, etc. He/she is satisfied in God. That’s so rare, I think, that “jewel of contentment,” as one of my favorite Puritans said it.

Examples: In our church which I’m privileged to serve (3cs-canton.org), we’re not the biggest church. We’re a new church plant. We don’t have all the creature comforts of big box churches, with fancy lights, half a dozen staff members, fancy titles, etc. We have a couple of elders and a body of willing servants. But we’re at peace. We’re not out to to make much of ourselves. We’re out to make much of God. There’s a peace that comes with that–no drama, no siloing of power, no backbiting.

Closing Illustration: Dr. C. and I spent a lot of time together in my seminary years. I’d go to him often with questions about pastoring, about how to lead and teach and serve. And he taught me so much through books and lectures and seminars, etc. But what he taught me most enduringly was to keep God the center and be at peace there.

One of his favorite passages was this one:

Two things I ask of you;

deny them not to me before I die:

Remove far from me falsehood and lying;

give me neither poverty nor riches;

feed me with the food that is needful for me,

lest I be full and deny you

and say, “Who is the Lord?”

or lest I be poor and steal

and profane the name of my God. (Pr 30:7-9, ESV)

Encouragement: I end as I began. We all make our theology visible. Are we characterized as people of peace? Do we manifest a spirit of serving rather than being served? Do we love, laugh, and come alongside one another–in good times and in bad? You don’t have to look far to see those who want others to do the work. That’s not the way leadership works, per Scripture. Jesus washed his disciples’ feet. When’s the last time you saw leadership like that? Usually what we see is men isolating themselves from accountability wherein they dictate a list of things they’ll not do. My fellow elder and I at Christ Covenant Church (3cs-canton.org) are not paid. We serve the body for free. We both have full-time careers (he’s in corporate America and I’m an officer in the U.S. Army). Dr. C., a godly mentor of mine during some of my formative years, taught me, you see–about peace. He taught me that God sees, that God knows our motives, that God is the believer’s peace. And he did it, not so much by way of a book or lecture or spiritual-sounding/churchy language, but by his example. Nothing teaches quite like example.

***We are a new church plant in the Canton, GA area. If you’re looking for a solid body of believers who love the Lord and one another, please check us out. Nothing fancy–just biblical service and fidelity to the Lord and one another. You can find out more via any of the links below:

YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@jonpirtle2605

Writing ministry: http://www.jonpirtle.com

Church YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/@3cs-canton