The Beatitudes Part 7

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called sons of God.

This verse is most often used by pacifists to justify that position as a Christian principle. This interpretation is an accurate one but not just in a political way. This is a call to all who believe to not live lives of violence or hatred toward our neighbors, even if they persecute us. It is not a passive thing to live as a peacemaker, in fact it has it’s a very bold and sometimes militant thing. To strive for peace in a world where war and violence is common place is not easy nor should it be. Jesus was speaking to a crowd of people who knew oppression and knew war very well. Violence is no stranger to the bible especially the Old Testament nor was it a stranger to their situation under Roman rule. Even in their own community Jews were subjected to violence as punishment for sins carried out by the religious leaders. This idea of being peacemakers in a world of violence and oppression was a radical idea. It still is a very radical idea that often leads to long debates and heated arguments. Jesus says that peacemakers will be called sons of God is a very big statement. It is a powerful way of calling believers to do the work of God on earth.

Being a peacemaker is more than just living a non violent lifestyle or protesting a war. Those can be done even if you do not believe and often are done for selfish reasons or personal gratification. To serve people in love and even those who persecute you is different. To live peacefully amongst people who hate you for simply believing different is what Jesus is talking about. To be truly a follower of Christ is to strive to live a life of humbleness, faithfulness, community and of course peace. The word peace has become a joke amongst many simply because of what most people think of when they hear it. They think of a long haired hippie holding a sign that reads “Make Love! Not War!” That is a prime example of political pacifism and not what Jesus was alluding to. While he what he was suggesting could very lead to political situations his words were about leading a life of biblical pacifism. The bible speaks of peace in many places and specifically about living peacefully in the New Testament. In Romans 12 verse 18 Paul says “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live in peace with all people.” This verse is also speaking of living as peacemakers but it also seems to allude to the fact of how hard this really is. To say “as far as it depends on you” seems to make a case for failure in striving for this. It allows for forgiveness and an understanding of the limits of human beings to be completely non violent. None the less it is a very clear message just as what Jesus is saying in Matthew. We are called to be peacemakers and specifically to serve one another in love. It is harder to serve lovingly then it is to react violently to confrontation. I believe Christ was also talking about our language as well as our actions. The way we confront others with our words can be just as violent as physically harming someone.

The reason he says you will be called Sons or Children of God is because he is the father of peace. The Gospel is a gospel of peace and those who live out that gospel are the children of God. In this way we must understand what this truly means in regards to our lives as Christians. A peacemaker is a person who strives to create unity, resolve conflicts in a non violent way and repair relationships with in his community. It is in this way that he is doing the work of Christ on earth and representing him a peaceful God. Though many may argue the place of violence and war with in the Christian faith, and there are many arguments for and against, no man can argue that Jesus was calling his people to live lives that represent peace. No one can argue that we as believers are called to love one another in love and strive to find a peaceful end to our differences. Those who oppose peace, cause division and create hostility are not properly representing the words of Christ. This is a basic principle of the Christian faith; this is not a call to become a pacifist in the modern sense but to simply live a life apart from violence and hostility towards one another. Jesus knew he would meet a violent end but he also knew his return would free the world of damnation. He faced death without resistance and his return was not to pay revenge but to save even those who killed him. This is the idea behind Christian peacemaking, to be able to lay down ones life for a neighbor despite what they may say or do to you. To stand up to evil and oppression without using force but relying on God for our protection. The bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:4 “For the weapons of our warfare are not those of the flesh. Instead, they have the power of God to demolish fortresses. We tear down arguments” Thus saying we do not need to fight others with weapons on man because we have God’s word and his promise to protect us. Would I call myself a pacifist? No! Am I a peacemaker? I am striving to be one and I am hopeful that I will continue to give it all I can. I have hope because of the words of Christ that I will be called a child of God. I have hope because of what it says in Romans 8:38-39 “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor anything above, nor anything below, nor anything else in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It is because of this hope that God will prevail and that good will conquer evil that we can live with peaceful, hearts, minds and actions. The world will always have war, violence and oppression, but the Christians will always have God as our protector and deliverer. May we learn to rely more on him and trust that his will be done.

Amen