THE BLESSING OF PEACEMAKING by William Boekestein for Core Christianity
The world needs peacemakers. Sometimes our cities look like war zones. Even when we aren’t literally on fire, digital media invites the spreading of incendiary words. We have been burned by people assuming the worst about us, escalating conflict, digging in their heels, and trying to win at any cost. We have done the same to others.
God’s remedy to the wars of this world is to create a new, peace-loving humanity. Jesus began his peacemaking ministry by “proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom” (Matt. 4:23). In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus issued a kingdom charter. The community cleansed by his blood and renewed by his Spirit will be distinct from the world. In The Beatitudes Jesus pairs a kingdom trait with a promise of blessing for those who walk like him. Here’s the seventh beatitude: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9). Jesus invites us to promote peace in a world of war (Ps. 120:7). How do we answer his invitation? Three things are true of every peacemaker.
Peacemakers Are Pacified by the Gospel
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James Boice put it well: “Only those who have first tasted peace with God at the cross of Christ can become peacemakers.” By nature everyone is hostile to God (Rom. 8:7). The disease of original sin inclines people to pass their “days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another” (Titus 3:3). That has been true of all of us.
When the Holy Spirit comes into a person’s life he begins to extinguish their hatred toward God and others. He gives viciousness and aggression a bad taste to his children. Before meeting Jesus the apostle Paul was a “violent aggressor” (1 Tim. 1:13 NAS)—his own words. After meeting Jesus he believed that God’s people should “live peaceably with all” (Rom. 12:18). Before Paul would change the world he had to be changed himself.
