FEATURE
Blessed are the
PEACEMAK
BY DR WILLIAM WAN
P
EACE IS A FUNDAMENTAL TENET of the Christian faith . Paul the Apostle reminds the early Church , “ For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit ” ( Rom . 14:17 ).
There are two aspects of peace . Firstly , the individual inner peace which we have with God personally . This is what Jesus promised . “ Peace I leave with you ; my peace I give you . I do not give to you as the world gives . Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid ” ( John 14:27 ). This is the peace of having been reconciled to God through the completed work of Christ on the cross . It is a sense of knowing that our sins are forgiven and we are accepted into the Kingdom of God .
The other aspect is the peace we mediate to others as peacemakers . Genuine peace always includes right relationships and just treatment of all persons , regardless of race , religion , language and gender . It is nondiscriminatory . This is what the Hebraic idea of shalom conveys – the wholeness in all dimensions of life .
What does all of this mean for us personally ? No matter how much we enjoy peace with God and within our own hearts , we are to mediate this peace to others , for we are both peace beneficiaries and peace benefactors . We are , after all , called to be peacemakers .
Jesus , in the Sermon on the Mount , declares , “ Blessed are the peacemakers , for they will be called children of God ” ( Matt . 5:9 ). There is no doubt that one of the characteristics of a child of God is the fact that he is a peacemaker . The New Testament reinforces these words over and over again . The Apostle Paul ’ s letters include such injunctions , “ Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification ” ( Rom . 14:19 ). And again , “ Bind yourselves together with peace ” ( Eph . 4:3 ). The writer to the Hebrews exhorts , “ Try to live in peace with everyone ” ( Heb . 12:14 ).
These passages set peacemaking within the context of Christian community . We seek to live in peace as part of our fellowship together . But in reality , the Christian community is fragile and often plagued with petty quarrels and divisiveness . It is not , however , a modern challenge . Paul had to deal with that in the early church . Writing to the Church in Ephesus , he urged the congregation to “ Be humble and gentle . Be patient with each other , making allowance for each other ’ s faults because of your love . Always keep yourselves united in the Holy Spirit , and bind yourselves together with peace . We are all one body , we have the same Spirit , and we have all been called to the same glorious future ” ( Eph . 4:2-4 ).
The way to peacemaking is laid out for us . First , have the right attitude – “ Be humble and gentle ” ( Eph . 4:2 ). This addresses the way we see ourselves . Don ’ t be conceited , thinking too highly of yourself . If we can “ consider others better than yourself ” ( Phil . 2:3 ), our approach to others who do not agree with us will reflect a willingness to listen and learn from others .
In my work , I have had detractors on the internet . Though I ignore most because they are frivolous , I do invite those whom I assess to be serious and genuine to meet with me . One of them , after five minutes with me in my office , said , “ I told my wife that if I sense that you are not listening , I will just walk out . But I am staying because you are listening .” Though we ended up agreeing to disagree , we parted as friends sharing the same concern , though disagreeing on the approach .
26 ASIAN BEACON 48 # 1 December 2016 - January 2017