The Gospel Union: September 2005

Thursday, September 01, 2005

Blessed are the peacemakers

“Blessed are the peacemakers,” Jesus said. But do we Christians really take that to heart as a call to action, or is it just an abstract beatitude that we have our kids memorize?

I never thought I’d identify in the slightest with the “peace movement.” When it comes to politics, I’m a law and order kind of guy who sees the need for peace through strength and for good to confront evil in the world. The government, alas, does not bear the sword in vain, as Paul so plainly wrote.

On the other hand, (and it’s somewhat painful to admit), when it comes to personal relationships between brothers in Christ, I find myself very much on board with the peaceniks. In fact, in that context, I would have to say that Jesus himself was one.

Is it really necessary to state the obvious, that a peacemaker is highly valued in Jesus’ kingdom? Is it necessary to point out that a peacemaker sets out to make peace where it doesn’t exist? Making peace between brothers is a proactive calling, one worth the greatest of investments in time, effort, and personal discomfort to bring about.

The call to peace is also supported repeatedly by the revealed Word of God:

Psalm 34:14 - Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Psalm 37:11 - But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.
Psalm 37:37 - Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.
Proverbs 12:20 - There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace.
Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Mark 9:50 - "Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other."
2 Corinthians 13:11 - Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Galatians 5:22- - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
Ephesians 4:3 - Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Colossians 3:15 - Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-14 - Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
2 Timothy 2:22 - Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Titus 3:1-2 - Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
James 3:17-18 - But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

(NIV)

I encourage all of my brothers and sisters in Christ to lay down arms against each other. It is absolutely imperative that Christians stop biting and devouring one another and start living in peace. Until that happens, we believers will be impotent in our efforts to share the blessings of Christ with the lost.

Christians are not immune from human failings. We all slip up and forget to forgive as we have been forgiven. Unfortunately, it feels good at first to hold a grudge, especially when we can rationalize it under the guise of a few choice scriptures. But in the end, it will eat up the people of God like a cancer until there is nothing left.

Sometimes, myself included, we just need a gentle reminder to go out and make peace, not war, to reconcile with our brother even if we feel wronged. Let’s get first things first:

Matthew 5:23-24 - "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. (NIV)

Peace out. ;-)

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Choice scriptures:

Romans 15:1-7 - "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up...May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."
(NIV)

2 Thessalonians 3:1 - "Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you."
(NIV)

Romans 1:16 - "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile."
(NIV)

John 17:20-21 - "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
(NIV)

Choice quotes:

Alexander Campbell - "We will not hearken to those questions which gender strife, nor discuss them at all. If a person says such is his private opinion, let him have it as his private opinion; but lay no stress upon it; and if it be a wrong private opinion, it will die a natural death much sooner than if you attempt to kill it."

Alexander Campbell - "But men cannot give up their opinions, and therefore, they can never unite, says one. We do not ask them to give up their opinions--we ask them only not to impose them upon others. Let them hold their opinions, but let them hold them as private property. The faith is public property; opinions are, and always have been private property. Men have foolishly attempted to make the deductions of some great minds the common measure of all Christians. Hence the deductions of a Luther, and a Calvin, and a Wesley, have been the rule and measure of all who coalesce under the names of these leaders. It is cruel to excommunicate a man because of the imbecility of his intellect."

Alexander Campbell - "Dear sir, this plan of making our own nest, and fluttering over our own brood; of building our own tent, and of confining all goodness and grace to our noble selves and the "elect few" who are like us, is the quintessence of sublimated pharisaism. The old Pharisees were but babes in comparison to the modern: and the longer I live, and the more I reflect upon God and man--heaven and earth--the Bible and the world--the Redeemer and his church--the more I am assured that all sectarianism is the offspring of hell; and that all differences about words, and names, and opinions, hatched in Egypt, or Rome, or Edinburgh, are like the frolics of drunken men; and that where there is a new creature, or a society of them, with all their imperfections and frailties, and errors in sentiment, in views, and opinions, they ought to receive one another, and the strong to support the weak, and not to please themselves. To lock ourselves up in the bandbox of our own little circle; to associate with a few units, tens, or hundreds, as the pure church, as the elect, is real Protestant monkery, it is evangelical pharisaism."

Alexander Campbell - "I have tried the pharisaic plan, and the monastic. I was once so straight, that, like the Indian's tree, I leaned a little the other way. And however much I may be slandered now as seeking "popularity" or a popular course, I have to rejoice that to my own satisfaction, as well as to others, I proved that truth, and not popularity, was my object; for I was once so strict a Separatist that I would neither pray nor sing praises with any one who was not as perfect as I supposed myself. In this most unpopular course I persisted until I discovered the mistake, and saw that on the principle embraced in my conduct, there never could be a congregation or church upon the earth."

Alexander Campbell - "I have no idea of adding to the catalogue of new sects. I labor to see sectarianism abolished and all Christians of every name united upon the one foundation upon which the apostolic church was founded."

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Thursday, September 01, 2005

Blessed are the peacemakers

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