Introduction

[00:00:00] In these last several days, as we've been singing, powerful singing, and I'm on the upper generation, of course, but as I was singing, a number of times, I had to just bite my lip. I had to just bust out crying, I think, so I just quit singing. Just listen. Bless you. Thank you for coming again this morning. This has been truly a blessed and good time. Thank you for your time, timely messages, and somehow I'm trusting this is okay with you who are here, as some of our local planning committee reflected over the past number of meetings, and we've always have reflected on the singing, the powerful part of the meetings is singing, so we decided to have more of it, and I'm glad that we are doing that. [00:00:52] This morning, we just welcome you here again, and I'd like to just look at just a couple of things as we prepare for this first topic. You know, the topic is entitled, The Way of Peace. That is not only a biblical precept, but it's a lifestyle. It's how you do. I was asked recently by some people who in the know who are struggling with how do you continue to teach a nonresistant lifestyle and in your churches, in our more culturally conservative churches, and it's a matter of history. [00:01:42] In fact, in the past several world wars, the more culturally conservative, the more plain churches had a better record of their young men who went to alternative or CO way than other congregations in our Anabaptist circle of churches. So I was asked, how do you maintain and teach that? I said, well, I'm not really sure how we teach that. [00:02:16] Excepting that perhaps as I grew up in the horse and buggy setting, there was some teaching, but not a lot. But it was a given. It used to be this. That's how it is. In other words, if you're not nonresistant and following the way of peace, you're not a Christian. Well, we don't say that. That's not our business to say that. But I think, in a sense, there's a lot of truth in that. [00:02:51] And I'm not sure that we're so good at it, but I think as we become more acclimated into our modern society, those things face us in a different way. And it is necessary, very important, and there's efforts being made, and I think this is one of the efforts again this morning, to just remind us about the way of peace. We live in a violent world, and Jesus said there will be wars and rumors of wars. [00:03:22] I cannot comprehend what's happening in our day of day. But, you know, as followers of the Prince of Peace, we have a long history, a blessed heritage of following those in the steps of the Anabaptist forefathers who were considered the radicals. They were radical. And we, of course, understand, we know, we could, most of us here, we ministers could probably quote six, eight, ten scriptures or at least four or five that are very familiar. [00:04:04] We look at the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaching himself when, and we take it literally when Jesus said, resist not evil. We turn the other cheek. We pray for enemies and many other things. We are characterized by those who are of the kingdom, not of this world. I think I forgot one thing here. I'm going to say more about this, but a booklet that will be available is called Statement of Position on Peace, War, and Social Issues. [00:04:46] And I'd like to just read the preface to this of the 1982 edition. We believe that all matters pertaining to godliness and eternal life are fully centered in the person and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings being the very core of the New Testament, it is evident that every faithful disciple of Jesus Christ must be fully committed to keeping our Lord's commandments with no reservations. Thousands have lived and died in loyalty to these commandments in spite of persecution, despoiling of goods, and even death. [00:05:20] Claiming the promise of Jesus, be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Due to troubled world conditions and frequent misunderstandings, we sense a need for a fresh expression of our biblical teaching and heritage, reemphasizing discipleship and faith in God as set forth and practiced by the Apostolic Church, Renewed in Reformation times in Switzerland in 1525 And upheld by the Amish and Mennonites and other historic peace churches to this day [00:05:51] Brother Elmer Glick from West Virginia has agreed to share a message this morning And I think without any further comments we'll have to invite Elmer to the platform and we'll omit that song Phil would have 25 more songs, so we'll come back tonight and we'll sing. No, I'm not sure. Brother Elmer. Our Father, thank you again this morning that you have allowed most of us here to have grown up in homes and in churches where the way of peace has been a given. [00:06:36] Help us, Lord, not to take it for granted, but to recognize that we're under attack. And we need again today to wait upon you, dear Lord, to teach us. Bless, Brother Elmer, as he brings to us your word. Help us to open our hearts and receive your word. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.