Loving Your Enemy

As Christians, we are commanded to live at peace with one another and with the government we live under.  Sometimes, this can be a very hard job to do.  Be it a neighbor, someone at Church or even in your family, somehow you are going to run afoul of someone, somewhere, sometime.  What is a person to do?

The history of the Hutterites, Hussites, Moravians and Zwigliists can be a neutral model of what we can and should not do.

All four of these Christian groups ran afoul their governments numerous times.  The problem mostly revolved around refusal to acknowledge the Catholic Church as the true faith.  The Hutterites moved from Switzerland to Austria to Germany to Czechoslovakia to Poland to Ukraine to Siberia to Canada and finally to America after World War I.  First, it was the issue with the Pope, then it was the issue over Baptism, then it were problems with accepting Luther instead of the Pope, and for being of German descent.  Each time the Hutterites were slaughtered by the tens of thousands because they would not take up arms and defend themselves.  You can not say they did not try to live their faith……  Eventually, they joined into closed communities where they were no longer required to deal with the world system.  And this was the wrong choice to my way of thinking.  We were put in the world to be the people whom give life its meaning and flavor, not to be hid away.

The Hussites and Moravians were strong Calvin supporters and where they fell from Grace was over the issue of whether God reaches out to man or man reaches out to God for salvation.  Over 250,000 of them died in one afternoon alone in the Bohemian forests.  They and their leaders were executed to extinction over this issue.  So many died the Hutterites where asked to take over the vacant estates in Czechoslovakia and Poland – as the land was mostly deserted following this very short war.  These two groups did not try to make peace but were more than willing to draw the sword and take on all comers.  But, I can not see in my Bible where we are told to physically attack one another over doctrine – we are told not to fellowship with those whom we consider to be heretics.

Noticed I have not hit on the Zwigliists yet?  Well, they may have done the best.  They stayed in Switzerland, minded their own business, kept themselves to their doctrines and in the rare cases of Catholic Princes attacking them, they did not take up arms except to defend their lives.  Well, they did do a few jail breaks as well.  So, even under extreme duress from the German Princes, they held to no offense as much as possible.  Which seems more reasonable to me.

But, how about the everyday pain you might run into?  It could be a teacher, a gas attendant, the dog catcher, whomever is making you life miserable at the moment – but they are going to be there.  You have to remember that it may well be because of whom is in you that you are being made to suffer.  The world system killed Jesus, you might get by with less.  But you still have to live in the world.  Jesus told us to:

1)  Live in peace with all people. 

2)  Be blameless before the government. 

3)  Forgive all within the body of believers (save for those actions which would lead to disfellowship). 

4)  When we run afoul the world over our faith, we stand firm. 

5) When we run afoul someone over something other than faith – well, we leave it to God for resolution.

1)  Live in Peace With All People

In our everyday lives, there are a thousand ways to run afoul everyone!  My mentor Paul had his extremely expensive home destroyed by three of his neighbors.  Now he could have ended up owning their properties but he chose to cover any costs above his insurance levels himself.  I still marvel at this, I doubt those people understood the depth of Christian love he showed by not having them jailed and driven into bankruptcy…….

Another example I could use is the Puritans when they ran afoul the English.  In English society of the time, it was customary form of honor to tip your hat in respect to anyone whom appeared to be of higher breeding.  The Puritans decided they would tip their hats to no one, since we are all equal before God.  Eventually, the Puritans were forced to migrate to Holland to avoid the troubles in England they were causing with this and other outrages.

Of course, the natural and perhaps more Godly solution would have been to tip your hat to everyone, no matter their birth or position.  But, this would have meant lowering their own self esteem – something natural man is usually not very good at.

2)  Be Blameless Before The Government

When I was a Bible student in America, we had a severe problem with a group whom firmly believed it was their Christian duty to protest America’s many wars and stockpiling of nuclear weapons - by refusing to pay taxes.  Needless to say, using the Biblical principle, I do pay my taxes – on time – no fudging.  No matter what anyone could claim about me, I try to live as invisible as possible to the government.  I may completely agree with those whom did go to prison over their choice to not pay taxes – but if I am to be at peace with whatever  government I am under at the time – as commanded, I do what it dictates – as long as my faith does not get infringed upon.

Now, there is a way of protest I ran across several years later, which I still marvel at.  A group of Christians got together and bought a great deal of land where they built their homes – helping one another pay off the debt as quickly as possible.  Once this was done, they then all took jobs which paid below the poverty level so they would not have to pay taxes – legally!  Same statement, different approach and a completely legal way to remain at peace with your government.  Of course, it also means no medical for your children, probably no car, etc.  Tough way to exist, but if you feel strongly enough……..

3)  Forgive All Within The Body

Forgiveness never comes easy, especially when it involves a brother or sister in the faith.  Through the years I have to admit I have had more problems with ‘Christians’ than outright pagans.  The worst employee you will ever encounter will be wearing his religion as a badge.  The driver most likely to flip you off - will have a ‘Honk if you love Jesus’ stuck on their bumper.  And the sharpest knife which will ever get stuck in your back, will be owned by the dearest friend you have trusted in the faith.

And God says we are to forgive them!  Grrrrrr!!!!!  Forgiveness over time is easy, but forgiveness is never easy when the other party is not willing to resolve the difference - problem – or whatever…..

What am I saying?  You can forgive, but only if they are willing to be forgiven as well.  This is why we are to go to them to settle our differences rather than tithe or take communion.  But, what if they are unwilling?  (see number 5 below for more discussion in this vein)  Well, you have to just turn it over to God and let Him handle it – no dwelling on it lest you give into angry. He is pretty good at changing hearts.  And you live your life as normal, until they finally come to you for the forgiveness you have already offered.

4)  When We Run Afoul the World Over Our Faith

When I was a baby Christian in Bible school, I was drafted.  I never considered the question of serving in the military – I am a tri-national, due to the politics of the age I was born in and not eligible for any draft.  Wishing to avoid problems, I offered to serve as a medic or bed pan washer, as long as I did not have to carry a gun – but no, the US Army wanted me for other purposes.  As a Hutterite, I was not even required to serve in the military at all (by amendment to the US Constitution!) but no one told me that at the time. 

However, I was willing to serve without a gun.  Now you must understand that if I had a gun - I would logically have had to protect myself in a confrontation and then I would commit murder.  Unfortunately, I am extremely good with firearms.  And the US Army knew this, as I had won a 1969 competition against the 1968 US Olympic Silver Medalist – and I was now on US soil.  Yes, I do believe it is murder when you willing put yourself in harms way and then are forced to defend yourself.

For two years I held firm and the US Army held firm.  Finally, in Federal Court, facing 10 years for my refusal to carry a rifle and commit murder, the judge decided I was an East German citizen and closed the case.  (First I had heard of this!)  As this really was the only time I have ran afoul our government, over my faith – it is the only one I can use.  (And what an answer to thousands of prayers!)

Of course, being Swiss, I do my practices several weekends a year, as required by law.  Yes, I do carry a rifle.  However, I also know there is little if any possibility of my ever having to use it in anger or self defense.  Unlike the American Army which had several active conflicts at the time………

My cousin took the same approach as me and became a medic, which in Switzerland were not required to carry side arms.  Unfortunately, he was posted to Bosnia, where he was given a side arm – and he was killed by a sniper shortly after.  (I still get a little tight jawed over that one!  But our politicians are as much to blame as the sniper is.)

I do manage to run into confrontations over religious matters.  Traveling to Muslim and Communist countries is difficult at its best – extremely hard when you are a known Christian.  Arrests, unreasonable searches, being followed everywhere was not uncommon in my travels – even having to dodge large stones!  But, if my faith is in Christ – what ever happens, I know the Lord will use to His benefit……  And, my task remains to share His witness with those whom I meet.

5)  When We Run Afoul Over Something Other Than Faith

Since I am a living breathing male, it is only reasonable to consider I have angered a fair number of people through the years, being completely oblivious to the fact.

I still ache over a set of close friends whom suddenly decided I was the enemy and told me to go away.  To this day, no one has ever been able to find out what the problem was.  I tried to find out what was going on – to no avail.  I had friends approach them but this did not work.  I had the elders attempt to intervene but again utter failure.  My only guess is this is a ‘he said – she said’ situation taken out of context, but that is only a guess.  Because honestly no one knows other than them…..

I can only allow God to work on this in His time and to His end – as I am powerless to understand what it is I could possibly have done to warrant their actions against me.  And with their having moved quite some distance a way, it is unlikely I will be seeing them again in any event.  It still stings though.

So, as you can see there are many consideration in loving your enemy.  I hope these examples helped you.  If you can think of a situation not covered here, let me know.

Christian That Don’t Live It

Just because you are a Christian, does not necessarily free you from your sin nature.  You can be a Christian and very much in touch with your old nature!  If you are a liar by nature, then you may still tell lies.  Expand this to any of the less than desirable traits which can curse us as humans, and you have a potential for some very poor witnesses walking around!

But, no matter how bad our lives were, and may still revert to on occasion, we continue to have this darn ‘Call to Perfection’ - “To be perfect, as He is perfect”.  But, try as you may, you will never achieve this – because He is perfect, not us.  So, we struggle to overcome, we struggle to do better, we struggle to not allow Satan to weigh us down with the weight of our own sin.

And yet, in our own sin, we see other Christians sinning as well.  What is our responsibility when they sin?  We are told to examine ourselves first – this is so we are not puffed up when we talk with them about their sin.  We are to humiliated by our sin – if we are honest – and should lift up others in prayer for their strength through the next temptation which will lead them into sin.

Though, there are a few things we can know about other Christians.  To use lying as our example – a Christian may tell a lie, but lying is not the basis of their life.  If the Holy Spirit is truly in their life then we will see repentance and struggle – not comfort in the ability to lie.  I know of one whom calls himself a Christian, grew up in the church even, but he is about the smoothest liar I have ever seen, next to my own father.  And worse, he apparently is unable to admit he is a liar.  You are judgmental, you should not judge him since he is a Christian, you misunderstood, etc, etc, etc.  But, he is still a liar and unrepentant.  So, I have to lean towards the ‘you need Christ’ side of the discussion with him – even if he is a pastor!

Now certainly we know there are no murderers in Heaven, so they are not Christian if they take human life by choice and as a lifestyle.  The same is true for anyone whom practices sexual sin as a lifestyle.  (Sorry, all men have problems in this area, but it must not be the basis for their lives…  Oh yes, the rest of the men whom can not admit this, are liars as well as struggling with immorality!)

But what about all of the gossips in the Church?  Or how about thieves? Or any of a hundred other bad witnesses I can think of?  You could argue that they were never discipled correctly or even that they have been corrupted by the culture.  But, think on the parable of the seeds.  Some were eaten by birds, some fell amongst rock and could not germinate, but some did grow and grew strong in fertile soil.  Jesus was telling us that not everyone, whom claims to be of Him, will be of Him.  All the more reason to mind to our own spiritual growth and strength.  (I do not believe most whom claim to be a Christian actually are……..  Of course, God could be far more understanding than I!)

But, more on that thought at another time…..

Avoiding Evil

This was in answer to a question posed by a 16 or 17 year old girl about media, evil and her responsibility as a Christian in dealing with fear…..

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Several years ago, I was driving along listening to the Thru The Bible program on TRW (Trans World Radio).  Now I have to admit, I have always found this program perhaps a little naïve at times.  This day he was speaking on - how what goes into a person can cause a person to behave in ways he might not otherwise.

How could listening to Blue Oyster Cult or Alice Cooper change my world view or my behavior?  How could words that glorify the world, cause me, as a Christian, to somehow behave as the world does?  How could watching MTV make me less sensitive to sin?  And, my all time favorite TV show - was somehow separating me from God?  This sounded like utter nonsense. Well, I am a solid Christian and not much is going to change how I am going to act or respond to situations after all.  Still, I thought on it over a weekend.

Now certainly there are enough writings in Proverbs and in Corinthians to make one come up with a Christian opinion to support what this program was saying, but I just did not understand this was any form of truth.  So, I decided I would test this teaching and stop listening to my rock music, stop watching MTV and concentrate on listening to Christian radio while in the car for one month.  Instead of watching TV shows whose viewpoint I already knew was questionable – I had the cable removed and switched to only watching old movies.

At the end of one month, I found I knew a whole lot more about the Bible than the previous month and that radio program had been right.  What goes into our bodies – be that by our eyes or ears – does indeed affect our outlook on life and behavior.  I have since found this is true for whatever we concentrate on or make the object of our attention – good or bad.

After six months, I found I could not even watch TV without being extremely critical of the sin and anti-God attitude displayed.  I tried to watch Christian TV but honestly, they worship a god I do not know.  As for rock music, well, I guess a lot of the words are really embarrassing from a God-viewpoint.  So, I guess when worship of the drug culture and sex is all you have to sing about or make a joke of on TV, I do not really need to listen or watch.

Movies are certainly a weakness of mine.  As I have grown in my relationship with Christ, I have come to understand that many of the 1,600+ movies in my collection were not very uplifting to God and most are now gone.  There are lots of movies I can watch now without burying myself in those which glorify murder or sexual situations (which seems to be the basis of so many films).  And, I could probably lose a few more..…sigh…..

Yes, my friends now consider me ‘conservative’ or a ‘prude’.  I am actually not either, I am just careful, trying to guard my heart and my mind because I know all too well what I used to be like – even as a Christian.  Maybe when I am in a car I am apt to ask friends to turn their radios off when it is blaring 1960’s drug culture, and I have been known to walk out of a movie and wait for my friends outside.  But, I am answerable to God for what I willingly expose myself to – because that does become the basis for how I live my life and does affect the council I give others.

As for your question about Buffy, horror, vampires, slasher movies and their ilk, are all meant to instill fear.  Movies have a very limited range of emotions they can play upon and fear has always been a strong draw.  Why do people ride a roller coaster or visit a house of horror?  Fear is a rush!  But, on the negative side, fear is not from God.  It is not an emotion that He wishes for us – fear comes from the realm of Satan. 

Now, watching Buffy certainly is not going to condemn you to Hell, nor will it separate you from God.  But, it definitely does not reflect any part of God and can condition your mind to think in ways you might not otherwise – ways that separate you from finding God when you need Him or being able to hear His quiet voice when he tries to lead you.  It can train you to fear the unknown.  And, with fear, you become an easy target for evil to play upon your mind and emotions.  I have many friends whom are now adults and completely wrapped up in the Goth lifestyle.  I can show you where it leads, in flesh and blood - straight to drugs and an immorality.  None of them woke up one day and said, “Gosh, I’d like to spend this weekend watching slasher movies, getting total stoned and then wonder what it was I did with whom later!”  Remember, the goal of evil – once you are a Christian – is to neutralize your testimony.  Plain and simple.  It comes in easy to follow steps – each step leading you further away from Christ.  And you never see it coming!  Nor will you be the exception…..

Fear, mental anguish, physical pain, even violence are not beyond the other side in their attempt to neutralize your Christian witness.  Add to that drugs, sex, computer games, TV and sports – anything and everything to keep you busy and as far from being an active witness as possible.  As you get older, there are a ton more distractions out there waiting to lure you away from being any kind of a witness for Christ.  All you have to do is be willingly molded by the world around you, and failure will find you.

God’s desire for us is to live a life pleasing to Him and yes, some of the things we do in ‘innocence’ can cause us to have problems we might not have had otherwise.  Begin by asking God for forgiveness for what you may have done which was unknown to you as having been wrong.  Ask Him to show you things in your life which you need to correct – and then be willing to correct those things, be that attitudes with parents, what you see or listen to, and how you spend your free time.  Pray for your room, ask God to protect your room from evil, to protect you while you sleep, to protect your dreams, to keep evil from having any influence over you.  Then trust in God to answer your prayers and push this from your mind (do not worry about it!).  You may have to pray this way nightly for years until you find yourself free from fear, or maybe only once.  You only have to ask once– God will respond, He promises to.  So, when those fears crop up, know they are just fears – God has already protected you as you asked, it is just your mind playing tricks on you.  Have the faith to say, “Thank you God for protecting me” – then go to sleep.

No evil has anymore power over you than you allow it.  But exposure to evil does make you less sensitive to it, until you can not see it even if it hits you in the face (remember my friends?).  Do not go looking for evil or trouble, but do not be bashful about praying for your own protection when you think you are in difficulty.  Prayer should always be our first response!

In the end, only you can decide what it is you will expose yourself to.  Only you can control what will go into your mind and therefore become the basis for how you will live your life in the future and how you will make your decisions.  Yes, sometimes that means we have to choose the less fun path, less fun activities, less fun movies-tv-music; but, in the end, it is how we face God that is the point of our entire existence.

As one last thought, I do not know where you stand in your beliefs nor what your gifts are.  But, I would caution you that should you have the gift of discernment (the ability to know good and evil, when no one else around you seems to understand the difference) you must be extremely careful in what you expose yourself to.  We can chat on this another time but if you just ‘know’ things about people or situations, you probably have it for now.  It is a fragile gift and there is a responsibility that goes with it.

Take care, I will add you to my prayers.  Remember that Satan was defeated long ago and has no power over believers.  Let me know if this brought up anymore questions. 

Healings

(Continuing to answer questions for the young lady in America, still restoring what was lost this year to hackers…)

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Oh, how I long to either have or to know someone with the gift of healing!  Imagine the ability to easy people’s sufferings with the wave of a hand or the touch of mercy.  How great a day that would be!  But, alas, I have never known of anyone with this gift!

This is does not mean this does not exist, I just have not been convinced it exists any longer.  If you look to all of the healings in the New Testament, they were all a call to belief for those whom were healed, even to whole communities.  So, it was never, “Let’s cure uncle Bob of cancer!”  Or, “Raise him from the dead so he can believe!!”  It really was a confirmation of Jesus’ claim to be God, then a witnessing tool for the early church, not a power someone possesses, as people would like to envision it.

But, I have known people whom were miraculously healed, including myself on several occasions, but this was through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, not through some human vessel.  I have known a man whom lost an eye in a rubber band fight – I was the one whom took him to Emergency, there was no mistaking the shattered remains of his eye!  (BARF!)  The following day, when I went to visit him – the eye had been restored to him.  My church had been in prayer for him the night before, but no one thought an eye would appear in an empty socket! He knew it was a miracle and accepted Christ because of this.  The doctors all agreed he was an impostor – eyes to do not grow back – and escorted him out of the hospital.  My friend now decided to set right some wrongs he had committed and was murdered only a week later.  God knew what it would take for him to come to Him – because this was his last chance. 

When God heals, it is for good (unless you are just plain stupid and like broken bones for instance!).  The ailment is not passed on to another or any such superstition as you commented you saw on TV.  It is gone from your life for good (unless you are stupid).  It is a miracle.

I was healed of cancer in 1995, in fact when diagnosed I only had an estimated 8 weeks left.  It blew my doctor’s socks off as this cancer is rapid and fatal, period.  He knew I was going to be losing body parts and still die, but at my pre-op the tumor was gone!  It did not relocate somewhere else, it was not passed on to someone else, he definitely had not been wrong - it was a healing straight from God.

Of course, I did eventually have to be carved on for cancer several years later, but it was a different form of cancer.  And though it hurts to admit it, God had a purpose in that surgery – to change the direction of my life.  I guess I just was not ready yet the first time around and He healed me – I am guessing so that I could continue my studies and prepare for what I love to do now as a ministry.

Outside of the Holy Spirit stepping in, the only other healings I have seen are when elders have prayed over a Christian and anointed them with oil.  But, even then few are healed.  We do have to allow God His authority over our lives, no matter how broken we may become, or how badly someone is needed.  But, how I weep for those whom are never healed and leave this Earth soon after.  (I am almost out of friends, so many have been lost in the past 3 years, 99%to cancer alone - 67!  Yes, no exaggeration!)

So, yes Healing does happen, it is rare, it serves God’s purposes not our own when it does occur and usually it is a call for the healed one, and those around them, to come to Jesus for salvation.

Rules For Christian Living

Continued answers to the young girl’s questions.

******

Through my walk, I have seen God work as probably few have.  So I know, with no shadow of doubt, He is still in control and when we get in His way, we can pay some terrible costs. 

Rule One: there is no such thing as coincidence.  God stages all aspects of our lives - if we allow Him to. 

Rule Two: God can only work in our lives to the amount we have the faith for Him to. 

Rule Three: God demands everything we have.  What you hold back or take pride in, He will take.  He requires you to lean on Him for your life and ministry, anything else is not of Him. 

Rule Four: With your total faith, comes total freedom to serve and live for Him.
Rule Five: In order to know whether you are being led or doing the leading – always ask yourself this question, “Would I have thought of this on my own?”  If the answer is yes, it probably is not of God. 

Rule Six: You may be very well asked to do something that God really does not want you to do.  He may just be testing to see if you are willing. 

Rule Seven: God talks to you, not anyone else, in order to direct your life (as an adult Christian).  “Yes, thank you very much, (insert their name here), I will pray about this first…..” 

Rule Eight: Just because you are faithful, doing His will, does not mean that bad things can not happen to you.  Yes, we get cocky and stupid sometimes – so we have to expect some trauma along the way.  Well maybe that is just true for me! 

Rule Nine: We never ‘lead’ anyone to Christ, there is no perfect witness, there are no magic words!  Everything is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit.  We are just vessels to demonstrate His authority and blessings through. 

Rule Ten:  God does not need any millionaires to get His mission accomplished.  He needs volunteers of a single mindset, willing to only eat beans, maybe only a few days a week, but willing to be used no matter the cost or hunger level.  Yes you may not have great health or perfect teeth and drive a Jaguar parked in your upscale garage, but you will have far more to call your own later…..

Okay, maybe these ten ‘Kris-isms’ are a little rough to choke down right now, but save them for later in your life.  One day you may find I am right – or completely wrong!

What Goes In, Stays

Several years ago I was listening to the Thru The Bible program on TRW (Trans World Radio).  Now, I have to admit I have always found this program a little naïve at times.  This day he was speaking on - what goes into a person can cause a person to behave in ways he might not otherwise. 

Well, I am a solid Christian and not much is going to change how I am going to act or respond to situations.  How could listening to Blue Oyster Cult or Alice Cooper change my world view or my behavior?  How could words that glorify the world, cause me as a Christian to somehow behave as the world does?  How could watching MTV make me less sensitive to sin?  And, my all time favorite TV show, was somehow separating me from God?  This sounded like utter nonsense to me.  Still, I thought on this over a weekend.

Now certainly there are enough writings in Proverbs and in Corinthians to make someone come up with a Christian opinion to support what this program was saying, but I just did not understand this was any form of truth.  So, I decided I would test this teaching and stop listening to my rock music, stop watching MTV and concentrate on listening to Christian radio while in the car for one month.  Instead of watching TV shows whose viewpoint I already knew was questionable – I switched to only watching old movies.

At the end of one month, I found I knew a whole lot more about the Bible than the previous month and the radio program had been right.  What goes into our bodies – be that by our eyes or ears – does indeed affect our outlook on life and behavior.  I have since found this is true for whatever we concentrate on or make the object of our attention – good or bad.

After six months, I found I could not even watch TV without becoming extremely critical of the sin and anti-God attitude displayed.  I tried to watch Christian TV but honestly, they worship a god I do not know.  As for rock music, well, I guess a lot of the words are really embarrassing from a God-viewpoint.  So, I guess when worship of the drug culture and sex is all you have to sing about or make a joke of on TV, I guess I do not really need to listen or watch.

Movies are certainly a weakness of mine.  As I have grown in my relationship with Christ, I have come to understand that many of the movies in my collection were not very uplifting to God and so are now gone.  There are lots of movies I can watch without burying myself in gory murder and sexual situations – which seems to be the basis of so many films.  And, I could probably lose a few more……

Yes, some of my friends consider me ‘conservative’ or a ‘prude’.  I am actually not either, I am just careful, trying to guard my heart and my mind because I know all too well what I used to be like – even as a Christian.  Maybe when I am in a car I am apt to ask friends to turn their radios off when it is blaring 1960’s drug culture, and I have been known to walk out of a movie and wait for my friends outside.  But, I am answerable to God for what I willingly expose myself to – because that does become the basis for how I live my life and does affect the council I give others.

I sure wish I had Christian parents whom could have taught me this…..

Edelweiß

The Edelweiß, originated on the Russian Steppes and in antiquity has been spread throughout the higher elevations of Eastern Europe and the Alps.  There are numerous varieties of this flower.  Edelweiß, which in German literally translates as ‘noble’ and ‘white’, denotes purity.  The Greeks named the plant, lion’s paw, while the Roman’s referred to it as the Queen’s Flower.

Edelweiß plants do not produce snowy white blossoms, as Rogers and Hammerstein‘s lyrics to the song ‘Edelweiss’ suggest; the showy, hair covered rosettes are not flower petals at all but silvery white leaves, with a tinge of green. The actual flower centers are golden yellow from pollen.

The Edelweiß is found in its alpine form generally between altitudes of 5,500 and 8,800 feet.  However, the flower can be successfully grown at sea level, though will have green leaves rather than white!  The Edelweiß prefers light soils with excellent drainage and a southern exposure, where it can to form large herbal mats, growing from 3 to 8 inches tall.

Edelweiß flowers are classified as short lived perennials, which after being picked during a number of growing seasons from the same plant, are unable to propagate by seeding and will disappear from a formerly established area.