Articles
The Peacemakers
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"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matt. 5:9)
Let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. (Rom. 14:19)
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (Jas. 3:18)
He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit, let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. (1 Pet. 3:10-11)
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When four New Testament speakers call for God's people to be peacemakers, it's a sure bet we're dealing with a serious topic. The sad history of discord and conflict among humans, even in the church, bears witness to a glaring deficiency in this area. We should study the contexts of all four passages to learn more about how to be peacemakers.
Jesus' blessing upon peacemakers introduces His Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 5-7), a discourse on personal character that deals extensively with interpersonal relationships. In this sermon, Jesus addresses themes like anger (5:21-26), retaliation (5:38-42), unconditional love (5:43-48), forgiveness (6:14-15), and harsh judging (7:1-5), all of which play a role in how we get along with others, especially our adversaries. Those who successfully implement His teaching on these topics come closest to being "sons of God."
In Romans 14, Paul offers counsel on how to handle "disputes over doubtful things" (v. 1). Before we start drawing lines over the minutiae of God's law, we need to weigh the impact of the battle we're about to engage. Is this issue worth the damage that we will inflict on others and on the cause of Christ if we push it? Or would we all be better off by simply respecting the scruples of others? (v. 3)
James contrasts the behavior of peacemakers with those who are driven by "bitter envy and self-seeking" (v. 14, 16). Most fights are sparked by somebody who is miffed that they are not getting their way. Peacemakers, on the other hand, are people who are "willing to yield" (v. 17). They recognize a higher principle in play beyond their own selfish interests, and figure out a way to adapt to the needs of the larger community.
Finally, Peter borrows directly from a psalm of David (34:12-16) that emphasizes the primacy of the Lord in all our affairs. If we fear Him (v. 7, 9), seek Him (v. 4, 10), and trust Him (v. 8, 22), we will have no need to defend our interests at any cost, for we know that the Lord will deliver us in His own good time (v. 6-7, 17, 19, 22).
Peacemakers are a rare breed, but the world would be an even darker place without their calming presence. We all need to learn how to do it better.
--David
