AfterWords | Shalom

A 3-Minute Read
by Joshua Benton

Shalom. Salaam. Shlama. Sälam. Eiréné. All these words come from the same Near and Middle-Eastern traditions for the same idea: completeness or wholeness. It is both a state of being and something to be acted out. We might equate it as simple peace, but this ancient word contains a deeper, more profound understanding that speaks to a reality that encompasses the entire world.

The importance of Shalom in the Christian tradition is both obvious and, perhaps, lost to us as a people so disconnected through time and space from its original context. On one hand, we can conceptually understand an ideal world where things are made right and peace abounds. On the other hand, we don’t often talk in such poetic language that is loaded with such deep meaning, thus we don’t think in this way. The idea of shalom is a cornerstone of the Faith and goes beyond the life of an individual. It is an all-encompassing vision of the world and the many connected relationships therein, and Jesus came to show us what it looks like.

There is a reason that it is a message of eiréné (Greek)—or shalom (Hebrew)—when Jesus’ birth was announced with the sound of angelic singing (Luke 2:14). Not a declaration of war, not of terror, nor a veil of dread.

There is a reason that, at the time before he was about to be taken away to be crucified, Jesus said with encouragement, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

There is a reason that, upon his first appearance to the gathered disciples, the resurrected Christ does not meet them with harsh words or rebuke, but, again, with “Peace (eiréné) be with you” (Luke 24:36).

From beginning to end, a core message of the story of Jesus is that he is not a Roman emperor or a god of war. He is a king that brings shalom to us all, for this is the way of the kingdom of heaven. True shalom—true wholeness and completeness—cannot be found in fierce vindication, violent acts of self-righteous judgment, or human law. Shalom is found in the reconciliation of all things. Broken things are to be mended. Things once lost are found again. Darkness gives way to the light of hope and wonder. This is the way of the kingdom of heaven.

If we are to be followers of Jesus, a people that bear his likeness in the world, we are to be a people that do shalom. This is, to no one’s shock or surprise, incredibly difficult to do the majority of the time. Whether it be conflicting interests, slighted feelings, miscommunication, cultural differences, or profound acts of hurtfulness, there is always a reason to run off the path of shalom toward that which is wide open and easy. But shalom is not easy. If we ever expected it to be so, we misunderstood the cross. Bringing shalom to the world will be filled with hardship, error, and moments of great pain and struggle. It is a brutal struggle of love that will leave us both metaphorically and physically bloodied and bruised.

But there is a great hope in all of this, despite the many worries we hold in this hurting world. Jesus understood the difficulty of our position. Knowing this full well, he said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace (eiréné). In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Even death did not confound Jesus. In all things, Jesus has overcome, and so shall it be with us.

This path we walk, this new kingdom-way of life we follow, will lead us to those we would rather not engage with, but there is no exception when it comes to the love of Christ. All are invited to the table, as equals in status and nature. This way of love, which leads to true life: that we find ourselves in the love of Christ, a love that so desperately burns for the good of neighbor. It is not easy, but it is deeply and immeasurably good.

As we move further up and further in to this kingdom now coming to earth, we will begin to see, more and more, the beauty of the vision of God’s shalom being made manifest. It isn’t a fantasy that is confined to the dreams of the night, or a story bound on the pages of a book. It is the here-and-now, bread-breaking, wine-drinking present reality of heaven’s reconciliation with all and between all people of the world, for this is the reality of the kingdom of heaven.

As we learn to fully embrace shalom, to what end will this lead us? I will not pretend to know, but I do have an idea. It is a beautiful one, a sparkle in my mind’s eye of what the world could be, and yet, it is always infinitely more than I could hope or imagine.