Blessed Are the Peace Makers

Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God." Probably, first of all, it is necessary to define what peace really is. Certainly, it is a lack of ill-intentioned confrontation. Certainly, it is a lack of war, fighting, arguing, etc. But mere “peaceful coexistence" is not the Biblical concept of peace. Peace includes harmony, wellbeing, communication and the like. Romans 12:18 Tells us, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." For most of us this is a difficult position to take. But it is possible to project the peace we have within in Christ even though it is not reciprocated. After all, we really have no control over others and they will ultimately have to give an account of their own actions. Jesus, in His sermon on the mount, is not satisfied with this more or less passive approach. He is calling His disciples to a proactive approach; to be peacemakers. To bring peace into situations where there is no peace. To bring about peace between persons and peoples, often where there is little chance of conflict resolution. To be a peacemaker requires that one remain outside the conflict — that he not take sides. A peacemaker needs to know and be able to illustrate and exemplify Scriptural principles without preaching. He needs to be able to offer third approaches. A peacemaker often has few friends because he refuses to take sides. Sounds like being a peacemaker is a bad deal; but it is the peacemakers that God claims as sons. Jesus came as a peacemaker. He came to bring peace between men and God. In so doing, it cost Him His life. The body of Christ needs peacemakers in our day. Before there can be peace between denominations and local churches, there needs to be peace made within the local church itself. I believe that God would like to raise up peacemakers in the local churches — Praise Baptist being one of them.