Is It Really Possible To Be A Peacemaker?

Jesus assumes that it is! “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9

In commenting on Matthew 24 and the horrific events surrounding the abomination of desolation, DA Carson writes, “None of this means that we should treat any particular war as inevitable, or that we should be complacent about suffering caused by wars and natural disasters. There may be many responsible steps to take as we work at the role of being peacemakers.” (How long, O Lord? (2nd edition) D. A. Carson) Jesus boldly declares that peacemakers are the Sons of God. Because everything in scripture that God images upon us is found first in His nature, God is the original…peacemaker! Yet, He is also the Judge. Ezekiel eloquently puts justice and peacemaking into balance. ““Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.” Ezekiel 18:31-32 Justice will be enacted upon the disobedient, but that is not God’s heart. It is our choice, if, when we fall under His judgement, we reject His admonition to cast away the sin. Somewhere in the middle of all of God’s peacemaking nature, expressed in the gift of His Son for our rebellion, is a model of peacemaking for us, His children. Peacemaking on a scale much beyond people to people, or, of smaller entities, like local churches, is maybe impossible for all but a very few of us. There are a handful of Christians globally who could serve as peacekeepers between cites and nations. Their role extremely complicated by dealing with unregenerate people. But, trying to restrain evil, and conceivably negotiate a “peace,” is not only good for society, it is in the very nature of God. I think that for most Christians, the call to be a peacemaker is much more relevant to our interpersonal relationships. We have all been privy to stories of church and Christian interpersonal conflict that defies our name, Christ followers. As the apostle James reminds us, we often struggle to put a bridle on our tongues. The real source of the uncontrolled tongue is found in the uncontrolled mind. We struggle to think good thoughts about others, as that might say something about my own thoughts about the significance of my self. At the root of the issue is the pulsating leftover from our flesh: we don’t like to lose. Having been crucified with Christ because I was a sinner, and came face to face with my incompleteness, I still get regularly tugged into directions of defending my self. But, peacemaking is the very nature of our Heavenly Father. In Jesus, He has imaged that nature, renewed capacity, desire on us, His children. I am sure that we can think up many appropriate rules for peacemaking. It seems to me that these rules of necessity must rise from places much deeper.

1. I have been crucified with Jesus. The old dominating sins and bitterness are on the way out of my daily life.

2. I have been in-dwelt with the Holy Spirit. He compels me everyday to walk in this new life in Jesus.

3. I can chose to lose.

4. I can chose to keep my “rights,” thoughts and words to myself. Trusting instead to allow God to protect me.

5. I can hope for peace in spite of animosities that are so prevalent.