“Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.”
Matthew 5:9
I was preparing a lesson for Children’s Church this past week. We are currently working on a theme of “Hero or villain?” and getting the children to really get inside the stories and look at things from different aspects. This week was on Cain and Abel. In looking at the way forward I was looking at what it means to be a peacemaker in our world? I am also currently using the Lectio 365 devotional App and they have been working through The Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes.
It turned into quite an exploration that went beyond Sunday, and here I am with a blog on it all. Don’t worry the children only had a very brief overview of some of these points and then wrote down how they can be peacemakers in our world. This is for all of us. We sure can do with followers of Jesus actively seeking peace in our world right now. As you will see, there are endless ways for us to think and live when we look to Jesus as our example of how to live.
What does peace mean? A child’s answer on the internet - “Calm, getting along, treating people kindly, not fighting or arguing.”
What does it feel like in our world, look like, sound like? (This is a great exercise for all of us.)
Jesus is called the Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6
He is our ultimate example – He shows us how to bring peace and get along with everyone.
Jesus made peace/brought peace when he died on the cross.
We make peace with God through the blood of Jesus.
Then our aim is to become more and more like Jesus everyday.
Jesus is a peacemaker. He showed us what to do.
Jesus is the son of God. When we follow Jesus by making peace, we are showing that we are children of God.
If peacemakers are connected with being called children of God. It means we have taken the step of becoming a child of God and being a part of his kingdom, so we need to be kingdom children/people and think about our kingdom response in every situation. Making sure at all times it falls in line with the gospel too in being good news for all people. So that peace on earth can be a reality.
We make peace when:
We follow the greatest commandments – Love God and love your neighbor.
We make peace by loving God.
We make peace by loving our neighbors.
We make peace through any action that creates peace, harmony and peaceful reactions.
We make peace when we bring peace into the brokenness of the world. It’s all about restoration and making things right again. All things made new.
We make peace when we make people feel welcome in spaces. When we include people. That they feel like they belong. We care about how people feel and are treated. That if there was a table to sit at, there would be space for everyone and everyone would get an equal chance to speak and be a part of what is going on. That we look around the room and table and ask who is not there and why they are not there.
We make peace when we create fairness, equity and equality in our world.
We make peace when we care about refugees, immigrants and asylum seekers.
We make peace when we love and care for human beings in the womb and outside the womb.
We make peace when we look after God’s creation (Conservation of land, resources, environment and animals) and care about the impact of climate change on our world. The earth cries out for redemption. Let us hear it.
We make peace when we make sure that our political policies are about making everything better for everyone. That all people are thought of and cared for in the policies that we make.
We make peace when we advocate for proper rehabilitation programmes to help people in prison to become better citizens whether they are released or not.
We make peace when we take addiction and alcoholism seriously and make sure there are enough rehab centres for those who need them.
We make peace when we take mental health seriously and help those who are struggling and facilitate the help they need.
We make peace when we stop exploitation of anyone (especially those who are vulnerable, where there is a power imbalance, any kind of abuse of a child or adult, people in the sex industry, victims of trafficking, homeless people, segregation of people, Apartheid practices.)
We make peace by honoring the image of God in every person.
We make peace/we are peacemakers by having mercy on people who are hurt or being hurt and treated badly by others (minority/marginalized groups in society, bullying, war, violence, gossip). (The Good Samaritan, Mark 12:30-31)
We make peace as children of God by working to bring everyone together.
We make peace as children of God when we practice forgiveness.
We make peace as children of God when we practice confession and repentance.
We make peace when our speech reflects our kingdom values with healthy, uplifting, wholesome and kind words.
We make peace by being known by our love and kindness, that draws people towards putting their trust in God.
We make peace when we practice welcome and hospitality.
We make peace when we listen to one another. An incredible gift. To have hearing hearts.
We make peace when we are filled with truth and always truth seeking. Honesty is a top priority.
Col 1:19,20 All God’s fullness dwells in Jesus. Through him to reconcile to himself all things. Making peace through his blood shed on the cross.
James 3:17 Wisdom from heaven – pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
Rom 12:18 As far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone
We make peace when we love our enemies. When we pray for them. When we treat them well and talk about them with respect and dignity.
Being a peacemaker is about helping people get along.
Getting involved in a conflict takes wisdom, discernment and courage. We are there to lead them towards sorting it out themselves. We are the mediator. We can give guidance or helpful advice. This can sometimes lead to persecution if people don’t like the advice or solutions suggested.
The very next Beatitude speaks to this - “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.” Jesus himself experienced this when he spoke about being kingdom of God people. He died because people got so angry with what he was suggesting and saying about himself. We should expect similar if we are following him, his words and his ways.
We make peace when we work towards ending any violence or harm against anyone.
We make peace when we care about and take seriously the healthcare, education, housing, safety and security that all people receive in any country.
We make peace when we make sure people are as safe, secure and protected as possible.
We make peace when we care about the well being and safety of all children in our world.
We make peace when we take a stand against injustice and fight for justice.
We make peace when we think ahead and ask the question - “will this action or idea work towards peace and harmony for all in the world. If not, what can we do differently?”
We make peace when we are in the kingdom of God and we follow all that the kingdom stands for. We cannot serve earthly Empire and the kingdom of God at the same time. This is where 'in the world but not of the world' applies.
We make peace by praying for God’s kingdom to come on earth as in heaven. To recognise that we too are strangers, immigrants and refugees. A people on the move with a purpose and not calling this place home. We are merely passing through.
We make peace when we work towards redemption, renewal and restoration over and over again.
We make peace when we resist death with life. Life to the full. Live and let others live too. Be joyful in the journey. When we put fear behind us because perfect love casts out fear.
We make peace when we resist anything that has a mandate of steal, kill and destroy. This is not of the kingdom of God.
We make peace when we are filled with love, faith and hope.
We make peace when we rest and care for ourselves.
We make peace when the Fruit of the Spirit is evident in our lives – Gal 5:22-23 Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
We make peace when love is evident in all we do and say–
1 Cor 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs, it does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes and always perseveres. Love never fails.
If we follow our own way or the way of the world we become enemies of God. James 4:4 (Cain was disobedient and had a hard heart and Abel loved God and wanted to follow his ways and be obedient)
What is Shalom?
Everything works how God created things to be
We love each other well
Restore what is broken (restorative justice)
Protecting the vulnerable – children, old people, people who are poor, people who are homeless, people who have been abused, those who are being badly treated by others.
Create justice and peace.
Mutual flourishing for everyone.
There is no need that goes unmet (the early church is our example)
Everyone has what they need
Gathering of a diverse people – different religions, male and female, different cultures and ethnicities, differently abled people, all skin colors, those who are neurodiverse, different languages.
Micah 6:8 Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God.
How can we practice being peacemakers? (this was part of the lesson with the children, but absolutely applies to us as adults too)
Showing kindness to a nasty person or someone we don’t like
Always choose to be kind and show mercy, empathy and compassion
Being careful with the words we use
No name calling
Treat people with respect and dignity, even if they have made different choices to you, even if they are not following Jesus, even if they have done something really bad, even if they are in prison or taking drugs.
Becoming friends with a new child at school.
Look after each other. Keep each other safe.
Obedience to parents brings joy/don’t back chat parents.
Play nicely with your siblings and friends.
(What is one thing you could do this week to make your relationship better with them?)
Sharing with those who have less. Caring for those with less. Treating them well.
Work on your anger issues (Are you cross with someone? Ask Jesus to help you forgive them)
Holding onto anger is harmful to us and those around us. We need to find ways to deal with our anger. Self regulation of our emotions is important.
Practice humility and don’t see anyone as less than you. Esteem each and every person.
Isaiah 26:3 When our mind is stayed on Jesus = peace. We look to him as our example as to how we must live and get to practice making peace in our world.
Choose one thing to work on/change.
Use these Scriptures as a guideline for change.
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (To regularly repeat God’s design in my thoughts and actions) Romans 12:1,2
Developing good peacemaking thinking and habits will take time.
Be consistent with aiming at living and loving like Jesus.
It involves taking some old thinking out and replacing it with new thinking and then training our minds to think differently.
Setting our minds on things above. (Colossians 3:2)
Thinking about things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. (Philippians 4:8)
Praying for God’s kingdom to come, his will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)
What changes can you make at home, work, school, church, extra murals, going to a conference, out shopping, going on holiday? What can you do differently?
Choose to be a peacemaker each and every day.
“The person who lives in love
Reaps the fruit of life from God
And while yet in this world,
Even now breathes
The air of the resurrection”
Isaac the Syrian
