Peacemakers Our Lord is looking for peacemakers are you and I? Heb. 12:14; Mt. 5:9; Psa. 34:14 Mt. 5:9: ”Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God”. The word peacemaker in the Greek: 1518. eirhnopoiov eirenopoios i-ray-nop-oy-os’; from 1518 and 4160; pacificatory, i.e. (subjectively) peaceable:— peacemaker. • pacific, loving peace Webster’s: Etymology: Middle English pacifique, from Latin pacificus, from pac-, pax peace + -i- + -ficus -fic — more at pact 1. a: tending to lessen conflict : conciliatory b: rejecting the use of force as an instrument of policy 2. a: having a soothing appearance or effect b: mild of temper: peaceable Every Christian should desire to be a peacemaker, one who is at peace with God and themselves. This person will then be able to promote and encourage peace within the brotherhood and others. Rom. 5:1; Rom. 15:33; Rom. 12:18 Can a Christian contend for the faith, correct a brother, and/or address scriptural issues in the local body of Christ, and be a peacemaker? The scriptures command and encourage us to do all of these things. However, it would seem that contending and correcting would be in conflict with one who is a peacemaker? The very word of God is for correction and disciplining of mankind (II Tim. 3:16) yet God is said to be the Prince of Peace. Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. There is no question that being a peacemaker is not in conflict with our duty to correct error as God has directed us to. Peace at the cost of truth is not taught in the scriptures. Jesus came to this earth to upset the thinking of men, to cause men to humble themselves, and to lead men to salvation. Teaching truth leads to peace, true peace, peace that is only found in God. Mt. 10:34 "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword." Our understanding of what a “Peacemaker” is as defined in the scriptures will help us see the balance needed to contend for the faith and be a gentle and conciliatory Christian at the same time. These concepts are not mutually exclusive! The Lord’s church needs more Christians who are seeking and promoting peace. The remainder of this article will focus on what it means to be a peacemaker and a defender of truth. Who is a peacemaker? • Those who are at peace with God and themselves. Rom. 5:1; Rom. 15:33 • One who is loving, kind, diligent, rejoices in hope, patient, prayerful, and is not vengeful. Rom 12:9-21 • The kingdom of God is peace and joy. God commands Christians to follow after, to pursue those things that encourage or promote peace and joy in His kingdom. These things will build-up the body of Christ. Rom. 14:17-19 • Peace makers are ones who are of the same mind, who are complete, and live in peace….it is their natural inclination. God is love and peace and so should His children be. II Cor. 13:11 • II Tim. 2:19-26: o One who is obedient to God o A vessel unto honor o Set apart for the work of the Lord….a useful servant for God o One who has matured and put their youthful lust behind them. o One who follows after righteousness, faith, love, and peace. o One who has learned not to ask foolish or rude questions. o One who is not contentious. o One who is gentle with all o One who is a skillful teacher o One who is patient with all o One who is gentle and mild when instructing those who are in error. o One who understands that their approach, their heart, and their words are critical to restoring and erring brother or sister. How does a Christian set about to make peace and to have the disposition of a peaceful person? • Col. 3:12-17: o Show mercy as God has shown us mercy. o Be a kind and humble person o Be a gentle and mild person o Be a person who has the capacity to endure those who are not kind or gentle toward us, one who is patient and willing to suffer long. o A forgiving person. o Show love toward the brethren o Let the peace of God dominate your thinking. o Be thankful for what God has provided us in Christ. o Let God’s word saturate our very being. o Warn and encourage one another by singing songs that are spiritual with grace in our hearts to the Lord. o Do only those things that are authorized of God o Give thanks and praise to God. • Philippians 2:2-5: o Be of the same mind…..spiritually minded and have love for one another. o Never say or do anything out of selfishness or rivalry. o Let others have the last word…..place others over ourselves. o Consider the needs of others…..be considerate. o Study Christ and let your mind be as His. Php. 2:7-9 James 3:18 The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace Observe brothers and sisters who are actively pursuing peace in every endeavor and you will see the fruit of righteousness. Spiritually minded Christians promote peace. Rom. 8:6; Psa. 34:14 The opposite of peace is discord & strife. If we see confusion and evil work in the Lord’s church, our homes, where we work, and/or in our country, you can be assured that the root-cause is envy and strife. James 3:16, 4:1-11 God has a higher calling for Christians….we need to be above such things as envy and strife and speaking evil of one another. God expects us to be holy as He is holy. 1Peter 1:15-16 However, we all have experienced men and women who seem to bring out the worst in people and situations. They are always involved in some way of sowing discord and troubling the waters. Some look for the smallest bit of controversy or trouble and exploit it to the fullest. These men seem to get some satisfaction from having disrupted or destroyed any peace that may have been present. They are quick to spread something negative and plant seeds of doubt, controversy, and dissension. Christians should never be the instruments for such sinful behavior, but sadly we see this very thing from time to time in the Lord’s church. Eph. 5:1-12 Occasionally there are those who are instigators of strife/confusion, and discord among the brethren in some congregations…it ought not to be so, but it is. James 3:10 God hates discord/strife and so should we – Prov.6:16-19……..there is no innocence in this. Men do not accidently become sowers of discord. This is a learned behavior and one that is cultivated and refined over time. Some who sow discord do so with great skill and cunning…cloaking their evil work as workers for the Lord. It may be that those who sow discord do so because they have convinced themselves they are correcting what they perceive as a wrong against them or an unscriptural work in the church? Others may believe that their activities and cunningness will bring about change in a person or the work in the Lord’s church...using the “End justifies the means” wisdom of the world? Regardless of the motivation, those who sow discord are sinning and the devices used are not in accordance with God’s word. Let’s not be ignorant of these devices! Some of the tactics/devices of those who sow discord and strife (2Tim. 2:22-24; 1Tim. 5:13; 2Thess. 3:11; Lev. 19:16; Prov. 20:19; 1Pet. 4:15; Acts 20:30; James 3:10): 1. Using humor to communicate what they do not like…hoping the receiver will “Get It”. 2. Using sarcasm to communicate….hoping this will shame the receiver and cause change more in line with their thinking. 3. Using subtle hints or ambiguous comments…..hoping the receiver will get it and respond the way we want without fully exposing our intent. 4. Talking to other brethren and dropping subtle comments of our disgust, disappointments with someone or the work in the local congregation. 5. Gossip and innuendoes…hoping to gain allies to strengthen our position without being too direct, exposing our sinful nature. 6. Some drop all pretense and directly attack brethren and /or the work with little regard for anyone but themselves. Do we really desire to do God’s will, then we need to follow His pattern for correcting a brother or addressing problems in the church (Mt. 18:15-17; Gal. 6:1; James 5:19-20; Titus 1:10-13; 1Tim. 5:19-21; Gal. 2:11,14). Wisdom that is from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, and easy to persuade, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. James 3:17 Peacemakers are Christians who seek peace with God, themselves, and within the Lord’s church. Peacemakers resolve spiritual matters in accordance with God’s word. Peacemakers consider others and provoke unto love and good works. Heb. 10:24 Mt. 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God”. - John Smith
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 04:56:15 +0000
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