Peace, to Stay or Not to Stay?

The sending out of the disciples is a glorious moment in the Gospels. In Luke, we hear of the seventy-two being sent out, and it is incredibly encouraging. I would have loved to have been one of them: seeing demons cast out, people healed, and then returning to Jesus full of excitement.

In one sense, I can relate to that. There have been moments in my journey with God that have felt a little like this: moments when God has moved, people have been healed, and yes, demons have been cast out. There is nothing quite like witnessing the Spirit’s incredible work in people’s lives.

But when I read Matthew 10, and the sending out of the twelve, I notice that Jesus spends a great deal of time warning the disciples, and it is pretty serious stuff.

Here is a list of some of the things Jesus mentions, paraphrased by me:

• Do not go for money.

• Stay where people are open to your peace.

• Do not stay where they are not.

• Jesus takes rejection seriously.

• Be like sheep among wolves, so be wise and innocent.

• Beware of those who will hand you over to the courts.

• You will be dragged before officials.

• Families will betray one another.

• You will be hated for Jesus’ sake.

• Endurance matters, and Jesus connects it to salvation.

• When you are persecuted, flee to the next place.

• Do not fear the one who can kill the body. Fear the one who can destroy both soul and body.

• Our days are held by God.

• Jesus will deny those who deny him.

• Take up your cross and follow him.

Being on mission with God is not all miracles and joy. Jesus even warns us earlier in Matthew about seeking after signs and wonders for their own sake.  Mission is deeply costly, and it requires us to take up our cross.

Hidden among these warnings, though, are some helpful pieces of wisdom. One that I have found especially helpful is this: stay where there is peace, and do not stay where there is none.

I have noticed an unhelpful theology of perseverance running through some of us who feel called to love the lost. I have written a little about this before. It begins well, with an understanding that God loves everyone, and that we are therefore called to love everyone, to be present, and to care. That instinct is good, but what about when Jesus is not received well.  We are not called to stick around forever to see whether our apologetics or good efforts eventually works. According to this passage, there are times when we are called to move on.

That is a hard pill to swallow. It jars with the image of Jesus’ arms open wide on the cross for everyone. How do we square that contradiction? And it’s deeply painful to watch someone or even a whole community reject Jesus. It hurts. But there is something releasing about remembering that we are part of God’s mission, not our own.

In a situation where we are not accepted or supported, it is not always our job to force a change. There is something deeply freeing about being part of a bigger story, and accepting the particular part we are invited to play, to share Jesus, and let the Spirit lead people to God.  What is encouraging is that Jesus wants us to meet those who are ready to receive the peace of God. We are welcome to stay there and see what incredible things God has in store. We are invited into God’s story.

When thinking about leaving a place where our peace is not accepted, Jesus gives a second piece of advice: when persecution comes, flee.

Having been a refugee at a young age, and having been raised in a town away from his family’s home because of persecution, I am sure Jesus knew what he was saying. I have always been intrigued by the moments when Jesus leaves a situation because it is not yet the right time, and the moment when he finally rides a donkey into Jerusalem. That is discernment. That is knowing the heart and timing of God.

We see it here again in Matthew, but this time Jesus is very clear: flee persecution.

In our travels around the world, I have met persecuted Christians who are persevering in the places God has called them to. It is painful to witness what they go through, and a privilege to pray with them. There is also no shame in saying, ‘God’s peace is not here. I am being persecuted. It is time to leave for a new place.’ Jesus gave that very advice to the 12. I guess it’s the age-old practice of discernment that is need in each situation.

Furthermore, I think the endurance in this passage is not necessarily about staying in the same community and being hurt over and over again for Jesus’ sake. It is more about choosing Jesus when we are persecuted, and allowing our faith to endure in the midst of everything. Sometimes that endurance may involve staying. Sometimes it may involve stepping away.

But these two pieces of wisdom from Jesus can be difficult to follow when we are embedded in a place, seeking to love and serve the community, as so many of us are in rural ministry. A more nomadic way of being has a certain simplicity to it: stay or leave as Jesus calls. But rural ministry is often more rooted. We do not always get to shake the dust off our feet and disappear down the lane like the 12 disciples in this passage.

There’s no quick fix here, just a few suggestions. Firstly, this passage is about people and households, which is the same for those of us who are rooted in a context. We can notice where there is openness and where there is resistance to Jesus, and the peace we bring. We can be wise about where we spend our time, and energy. So, where Jesus is accepted in a conversation, in a meeting, at the pub, the school gate or at your local wild swimming spot, stay a while and see what the Spirit is doing. Where Jesus is not, move on, spend time elsewhere without feeling guilty. Secondly, if it’s become so tough because of persecution, to discern if it’s good to stay or to go, and if it’s time to go to remember that Jesus it with you in that decision.

Mission is not easy, there’s a cost. There are times when we are called to stay and to persevere, but Jesus also teaches us to move on and to protect ourselves when people do not offer peace back or even turn against us. We may not have the option to physically move home, but we can choose where to spend our time and energy: where our peace is welcomed, and where others want to discover Jesus. Be encouraged to choose Jesus and to walk in God’s peace.

Jo Allen

Joint CEO, Rural Ministries