Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9 (ESV)
For most of us, peace is hard to find. Every day we hear about global conflicts and persecutions or local troubles in our communities and families and signs of peace are hard to see. While we can’t control how others pursue peace, we can control how we engage with the pursuit of peace. We have two options before us: We can either be peacekeepers or peacemakers.
Peacekeepers
A peacekeeper is a more passive role. Peacekeepers will avoid conflict or try to smooth things over without ruffling any feathers. Their goal is to maintain superficial calm. To achieve this calm they may sacrifice truth, avoid tension and try to appease all parties whatever the cost.
Peacemakers
Peacemakers actively address and navigate conflict to achieve real reconciliation and lasting solutions. Peacemaking is hard work. The peacemaker engages in deliberate prayer, examines their own heart for sin and culpability and addresses problems in a way that brings about genuine and lasting peace.
There is a reason Jesus calls peacemakers blessed in the Beatitudes. God’s children are to do the hard work of peacemaking. It is also interesting that Jesus mentions peacemakers before addressing those who are persecuted…but that’s a different article.
In these tense and turbulent times, we need peacemakers. When conflict comes, let’s not avoid it but rather think through how to engage with it. Jesus calls you and me to the tough work of engaging each other patiently and intentionally when things get tense.
Consider these two scriptures:
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Matthew 5:23–25
“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Matthew 18:15–17
The last thing we should do is lob verbal or written bombs at each other online, in emails or in conversation. Throwing verbal or written grenades without thoughtful interaction just sprays shrapnel and causes damage. Instead, let’s think through how to engage in conflict, especially when we are passionate about the issue at hand.
Seek Reconciliation
Witnesses have a role to play as well. Paul instructed the Philippian church to help two congregants to agree (Philippians 2:2-3) for conflict often injures more people than those at the center of it. If you witness conflict, prayerfully consider how to engage in a way that brings healing and reconciliation. This takes wisdom, patience and humility (1 Thessalonians 5:14).
Church leaders, as you interact with one another and your church family, engage with wisdom and temperance. Internalize and pursue Paul’s instructions in Romans 14:19, “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” Speak in a way that brings peace and builds up your brothers and sisters in Christ. Each time you engage conflict biblically, you will be leading by example and teaching those in your flock to be peacemakers.
