Romans 12:17-18 - Homiletics

Honourableness and peaceableness.

Men do and must live in society. And all civilized communities have their own codes of conduct, which must be observed by those who wish to enjoy the benefits of social life and the protection of political government. Civil society enjoins the observance of justice and the maintenance of peace. But public opinion often requires simply a compliance with the letter of the law, and is very tolerant as to infractions of its spirit. The code of society or the laws of honour require that a man shall deal honourably with his equals, but in some instances allow him to act, within the limits of the law, dishonestly towards his inferiors; thus he must pay his gambling debts, but he may cheat his tradesmen if he can. The same rules prohibit murder, but in some places admit of duelling, and generally sanction resentment and revenge. Christianity requires that honourable and peaceable conduct should be distinctive of our life in our relations to all men.

I. HONOURABLENESS . The word means more than honesty. It was not a very lofty morality which dictated the saying, "An honest man's the noblest work of God." Bare honesty is a small part of religion; it may keep a man out of jail, but it cannot fit a man for the Church of Christ. The apostle enjoins honourable, fair, praiseworthy, noble conduct. Deceitful, shifty, tortuous ways of acting should be far from the Christian's soul. Sincerity, straightforwardness, truthfulness, fairness, should dwell in his soul and speak from his lips. In the midst of a crooked and perverse generation he should shine. That the Christian should provide or take thought for such a coarse of action is in harmony with our reasonable and reflective nature. Deliberate preference, diligent pursuit, steadfast adherence to things honourable, are thus enjoined. Impulse is good when directed to what is right; but principle is better, for it is more trustworthy. When the apostle commends such conduct towards all men, he provides for the social influence of Christians being felt by all around. Not merely within the pale of Christian society, not merely amongst personal friends and associates, but in the sight of all men, uprightness and honour should express the power of religion. The advantages accruing to the world in consequence of such a practice as is here commended are manifest. The credit of religion will be promoted, and the favour of men conciliated towards doctrines so fruitful of good works. Christianity and morality will appear as twin sisters, bringing congenial blessings to an ignorant and misguided world.

II. PEACEABLENESS . The New Testament makes it evident that the introduction of peace to a distracted and discordant humanity was one of the great ends of Christianity. Christ is the "Prince of peace;" his coming was the advent of peace; his kingdom is the reign of peace. From enjoyment of peace with God, and of peace of conscience within, the Christian passes to a wider sphere; cultivates peace as a mark of the Divine presence within the Church, and seeks its diffusion throughout human society generally. Amongst Christians there should prevail mutual forbearance, sympathy, and co-operation. But in saying this we do not exhaust the reference of this passage. "All men" are contemplated by the inspired writer. Men of all stations—superiors, equals, and inferiors; men of all characters—the litigious and quarrelsome as well as the meek and yielding—are all to be treated in the distinctively Christian temper. Sometimes opinions and interests conflict, sometimes natural temperaments differ; still the peace is to be maintained. Yet the apostle, who was both a reasonable man, and a man who had large experience of life, mentions a condition. It may not always be possible to live peaceably. But the impossibility must not be upon our part; we must not make such excuses as, "I could not keep my temper;" "I could not treat such and such a person with my usual self-possession." But there will sometimes arise an impossibility on the part of others. The enemies of religion may resolve upon breaking the peace; persecutors may rage and imagine a vain thing; as we see from passages in the life of our Lord and his apostles, and in abundance at later periods of history. Violent and unreasonable professors of Christianity may resent the exposure of their errors, or the rebuke of their sins and follies. There is a higher duty even than that of peaceableness; peace must not be sought at any price; we must not, for its sake, sacrifice conscience and displease God.

Happy is the society in which this picture is realized! Let not our spirit and habits prevent or delay the delightful realization.