We live in a world characterized by fighting, wars, and animosity at every level of society. It’s everywhere.
Lady Astor once said to Winston Churchill, “If you were my husband, I’d put poison in your coffee.” Churchill responded, “And if you were my wife, I’d drink it.”
We laugh at this, but it shows how all of us are inclined to quarrel. Some of us have clashed with so many people that we don’t know how to live peaceably with others. I’ve known some people that don’t seem happy unless they’re fighting with others. Let’s face it – we enjoy being the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s.
History shows that most peacekeeping efforts by and large have failed. In fact, in nearly 4000 years of recorded history, the world has been at peace a total of only 286 years including over 8000 treaties made and broken.
Tonight we are going to look at another attitude that Jesus says we are to have to be His disciples. Matt. 5: 9; “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
It’s easy to be naïve about peace, yet peace can be very elusive. One moment you can have peace at home, at work, or in your relationships, and the next it’s gone. I heard of a group of people walking across America on a mission of peace. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get along so they divided into (2) groups halfway thru the trip.
Sometimes even at church peace is hard to find. Somehow many believers have managed to take the words of Jesus – “Where two or three are gathered in my name I will be in their midst,” and turn that verse into, “Where two or three gather together in Jesus’ name, eventually there will be conflict.” It’s pitiful! But true.
The fact that the lack of peace is so prominent is nothing new. We can trace it back to the book of Genesis. Humans have been at war with God ever since Adam and Eve sinned. And, beginning with the conflict between Cain and Abel, which eventually led to one brother killing the other, we’ve been in battle w/ one another.
So when Jesus said “Blessed are the peacemakers” he totally shocked those around Him. How could the Jews hope to overthrow Rome and restore their nation to a place of prominence if they were going to have to be “peacemakers?” The Romans weren’t going to just lie down and let Israel have their way.
It‘s within this context that Jesus promised to bless the people who’d become His agents for peace saying that the peacemaker would be called the “sons of God.” This means that every Christian, according to this Beatitude, is responsible for being a peacemaker in their home, church, community, nation, and ultimately, the world.
Before we proceed, let’s describe what biblical peace is not: It’s NOT the absence of hostility. The biblical concept is much deeper than an absence of conflict or a vacation to get away from it all.
In the O.T., the word for peace is shalom referring to a state of wholeness and harmony intended to be in all relationships. When used as a greeting, it was a wish for outward freedom from disturbance and an inward sense of well-being.
It’s vital to understand that Jesus isn’t referring to being a peacekeeper but rather a peacemaker. The difference is that a peacemaker actively overcomes evil with good. But not everyone is a peacemaker – some are peace-breakers or peace-fakers.
Concerning Peace-BREAKERS, Paul wrote, “I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” Rom. 16:17-18
Pease-breakers enjoy causing division and enjoy throwing obstacles in the way of others to prevent them from following and accomplishing God’s will. They do this because they are far more concerned with their plans and appetites being satisfied.
Yet notice how they do it – predominantly with their words. You know, it’s easier to create conflict than it is to promote peace. It only takes a word. The quickest ways to settle if you’re a peace-breaker is to consider your words. Do you use your words to unite or separate – to encourage or discourage.
Paul wrote, ”Don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen. Do not grieve the H.S. w/ whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, and slander, and every form of malice.” Eph. 4:29 (Grandma said, “If you can’t say anything good about someone, don’t say anything at all.”
Concerning Peace-FAKERS, Peace-fakers are people who will do anything to have peace at any cost in an effort to avoid conflict. They prefer peace over truth, over healthy relationships, and over what’s right. Peace-fakers see ‘peace’ as the absence of any kind of argument or discord. They’ll go to great lengths to avoid conflict, confrontation, and unrest.
But in doing so, they’ll settle for a counterfeit peace based on avoiding reality. Peace-fakers know there’s a problem but won’t say anything because they don’t want to disturb the peace. Peace-fakers don’t understand that sometimes to have peace, someone might just have to take a definitive stand for the truth by confronting a peace-breaker.
”Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Eph. 4:25
We couldn’t have peace with God if Jesus hadn’t confronted sin on the cross. It was a very costly confrontation – but Jesus made peace through his blood.
So what about being a Peace-MAKER? It’s much easier to either break the peace or fake the peace than it is to make peace. Jesus used a very strong word for “maker,” meaning “to do” or “to create.” In other words, peace must be actively made because it never happens by chance. When left to ourselves, we drift toward being divided. Why? Because peacemaking is messy work. But Jesus asks us to be peacemakers.
Peacemakers are disciples who strive to prevent arguments and strife. They are harmonizers, reconcilers, and bridge-builders who stand in the gap, no matter the cost, to usher in peace. NO MATTER THE COST.
Telemachus was a 4th century monk who sensed God’s call to leave his monastery for Rome. When he arrived in Rome people were mobbing in the streets because the gladiators were fighting and killing each other in the coliseum. He thought, "Four centuries after Christ and they’re still killing each other for enjoyment." He ran to the coliseum to find the gladiators saying, "Hail to Caesar, we die for Caesar" and he thought, "This isn’t right."
He jumped the rail and went to the center of the field. He stood between the gladiators, holding up his hands, he said "In the name of Christ, forbear." The crowd protested shouting, "Run him through." A gladiator hit him sending the monk sprawling. He got up and said, "In the name of Christ, forbear." The crowd continued to chant, "Run him through." A gladiator plunged his sword through the monk’s stomach and he fell, turning the sand red with his blood. One last time he gasped out, "In the name of Christ, forbear." A hush came over the crowd. Soon one man stood and left, then another and within minutes the crowd emptied the arena. It was the last known gladiator contest in the history of Rome.
Peacemakers are willing to stand in the gap – violently if necessary – to usher peace. So how should we respond to all this?
First, Make Peace w/ GOD. Sin is our greatest enemy. Sin is the great separator that causes our fellowship with God to be broken. This broken fellowship with God has led to inevitable conflicts between people and nations.
You see, Christ IS Our Peace. “But now in Christ you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He himself is our peace. . .” Eph. 2:13-14a
Christ PURCHASED Our Peace. “Being justified by faith we have peace with God through Jesus Christ.” Rm. 5:1
Second, Be at Peace with YOURSELF. Once a person has found peace with God, it should translate to peace within. God not only provides for our eternal peace of mind, but also for our daily peace of heart. Most conflicts arise because a person has little or no inner peace.
Paul wrote about the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7
This is the kind of peace that will sustain us in the storms of life. Our sense of self-worth and well-being comes from understanding that we are valuable to God. So make peace with God, be at peace with yourself, and then live in peace with others. In a Peanuts episode – Lucy said, “I hate everything. I hate everybody. I hate the whole wide world.” Charlie Brown responded, “But I thought you had inner peace.” Lucy replies “I do but I also have outer obnoxiousness.”
Those who have made peace with God don’t have to settle for outer obnoxiousness. The peace of God can give you peace within and peace with others.
There’s something wrong with people who always seem to be looking for ways to create discord and confusion – people who enjoy destroying peace in others.
James wrote, “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but you don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God." Jm.4:1-2
James is saying that the cause of all human conflict is man’s deep rooted determination to get his own way – pride, greed, anger, pleasure, power. Our lust for self always leads to conflict with others. Overcome the battle within and you can live at peace with others.
So make peace with God, be at peace with yourself, live in peace with OTHERS and then proclaim peace to the WORLD. We who have made peace with God and know God’s peace within must strive to live in peace with others by proclaiming and living the gospel of peace before the world.
You see, The Work of the Peacemaker is EVANGELISM
”How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings; who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, Your God reigns!” Is. 52:7
The Work of the Peacemaker is RECONCILIATION. We who have been reconciled to God must help others to be reconciled to God. So now we have our instructions on being the peacemakers. So if we follow God’s call what is His PROMISE to us? The benefit of being a peacemaker is that you will be called a child of God.
Being a peacemaker is a quality of being a Christian. But if you’re continually disruptive, divisive, and quarrelsome, then you have good reason to question how valid your salvation is. A person who isn’t a peacemaker either is not a Christian or they’re a disobedient Christian.
Not only does God determine how a person will be saved (by faith in the cross), He also determines the qualities which determine the genuineness of a person’s faith. In this particular case, Jesus says that being a peacemaker is a distinctive quality.
”Called” means “to give a name to…to bear the title of…sons of God.”
“When Alexander the Great ruled the world, his policy was to allow people charged with a crime to appeal to him, but once an appeal was made, his judgment was final. He was known to be fair but ruthless, so appeals weren’t often made.
However, one soldier was brought before him. The young man wore the tunic of Alexander’s army. Upon discovering that the solider was charged with cowardice in battle, Alexander asked the soldier for his name.
Upon discovering that the soldiers name was Alexander, Alexander the Great angrily replied, "You say your name is Alexander? You are found guilty of your crimes and must pay the penalty. I sentence you to either change your conduct or change your name. For no man can bear the name Alexander – my name – and do the things you have done."
And to wrap this up, that’s really what Jesus is telling us in this beatitude. In declaring “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God,”
Jesus is expressing that those who bear His name, must also bear His character. It is Jesus’ character to be a peacemaker – and in ushering in peace we bear His name.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
