Matthew 5:9
"Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God."
I started to ask the question, "in a world focused on war, can we be instigators of peace?" Instead I will use the word "initiator" because sometimes "instigator" has a negative connotation and there is nothing negative about being someone who is a catalyst for peace. An initiator is to be the cause or to begin something. So what better thing to initiate than peace? As we continue our discussion of the "Beatitudes" we are now looking at being blessed for initiating peace. The blessing is being recognized as a "son of God". I've been called a lot of things, some bad, but many positive because of what scripture says about who we are in Him and how people recognize us as Christians. I wonder if we truly understand the significance of that.
Peter, in one of his sermons recorded in Acts, says this about peace, "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all." Paul says this about peace in Romans 5:1-2; "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." So I would say the first and most important point of peacemaking is recognizing we can be at peace with God. Paul wrote about the enmity that exists between God and man and only through the work of Jesus and faith in what He accomplished can we be at peace with God.
Paul also refers to Christians as "ambassadors." In 2 Corinthians 5:20, Paul wrote, "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God."
So, when Christians fulfill their role in what we refer to as "The Great Commission," we are ambassadors. I call it "The Great Co-Mission" because we are on mission with Christ. The mission is to make disciples of Jesus as we are going through life. We are functioning as ambassadors by seeking to offer peace between God and man.
Another place where we need to be working to establish peace is within the church itself. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints."
Paul wrote this while he was addressing ongoing issues within the church where people were seeking personal attention and taking the attention off of Christ. The result was confusion that overshadowed the gospel. (that never happens today. . . Oh wait). Paul was advocating for peace and order in times of worship so that the gospel could be understood clearly. Christ is the focus. this is the purpose for the existence of the church and should be our goal for all things: Jesus glorified and His Good News heard.
Paul addressed another issue within the church in Romans where people were "out of focus" by attributing special significance on certain days and making a big deal out of inconsequential man-made rules to such a degree that other Christians were being alienated (this never happens today. . . Oh wait).
In Romans 14:16-20, "Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food."
So, we should be seeking to make peace between man and God, within the church, between one another and inside ourselves? (hmmm, really?)
Romans 8:6 says "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Do you ever consider your inner self as somewhere to make sure peace is prevailing? Unfortunately, I think most of us don't. I think that most Christians, who are students of the Bible, understand the importance first of all of being at peace with God, which is the result of faith in Jesus, and the importance of peace with others to share that message, but how many of us recognize the need for peace inside? Paul tells us it is possible to have inner peace when we are "spiritually minded" focusing on our relationship with Jesus and communing with the Holy Spirit verses submitting to the old or "carnal" self.
Ergo, I will postulate (what a phrase, its like I'm writing a term paper to impress a prof) let me sum up (Princess Bride reference). We have been given a charge with an expectation of recognition when we see peace as achievable. Not at this time between all nations, factions and people groups (that is coming later). But we can work toward peace between humanity and God, within the church, between individuals and within ourselves. That leads me to the question, in a world focused on war, can we be recognized as initiators of peace?