First a disclaimer: My sermon introduction has nothing to do with a recent discussion that many of us have been involved in on Facebook. Although it may add a different dimension to that discussion, that was not my reason for using this topic for my introduction.
Colt made a .45 caliber revolver in 1873 that was called the Peacemaker. It is hailed as the gun that tamed the Wild West. [pistol]
I have been watching an old western TV series called, "Have Gun Will Travel". The main character of the show is a businessman who lives in San Francisco. He hires himself out to people who are in disputes with others that they cannot solve on their own.
He wears a gun low on his right hip and his hat, boots, belt, pants, and shirt are black. Anyone who sees him, stereotypes him as a gunfighter just looking for a fight. He's really a good guy but his appearance and the threat of his gun are usually the determining factor in his resolution to a problem.
That is the typical idea of a peacemaker in our world today. [rifle] I do not dispute the fact that sin has made that a necessity sometimes, but Jesus had a different notion of what it means to be a peacemaker. To Jesus, a peacemaker did not take a stand of some kind of force or intimidation. Jesus' idea of a peacemaker was someone who took a stand of love.
Matthew 5:9 (NASB)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
As we do with most important topics, we need to take a look at the Greek meaning of the word for peacemaker.
Peacemaker 1518, masc. noun from (1517), to make peace. Peacemaker. The one who, having received the peace of God in his own heart, brings peace to others (only in Mt 5:9). He is not simply one who makes peace between two parties, but one who spreads the good news of the peace of God which he has experienced.
(CWS-NT)
This Greek word is only used this one time in the New Testament. There are two aspects to this word:
We often think of a peacemaker as one who is quick to try to break up a fight or to resolve issues between other people who are having trouble between each other, and to a certain extent that is true.
However, the Greek meaning of this word includes another aspect that we must consider as we search out what Jesus meant by this beatitude. Jesus seems to be telling us that before we can be peacemakers between others, we must first make peace with God in our own lives.
Much of the turmoil in our world would be resolved if we understood this truth of Scripture. In fact, I would like to propose to you that this beatitude, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." is another way to state God's law for mankind.
Matthew 22:36-40 (NASB)
[36] "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"
[37] And He said to him, " 'YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.'
[38] "This is the great and foremost commandment.
[39] "The second is like it, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.'
[40] "On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."
Jesus' statement about the greatest commandment is a familiar passage to all of us. But, I think we often overlook the fact that this proclamation of Jesus is taught throughout the New Testament in many different ways. It is made clear in many ways so that everyone has a chance to understand it clearly.
Another example of Jesus' attempt to make the great commandments clear is in His statement in Matthew 5:44 when he told us we are to love our enemies. So, how do we apply the peacemaker beatitude to our lives today? To answer our question we turn to the Apostle Paul.
Paul is a master at putting together passages that show the flow of our faith. Concerned, as all Christians should be about the unity of the Body of Christ, Paul shows the key factors necessary for unity. These key factors are a good exposition on the kind of peacemaking that Jesus promoted in the beatitude we are studying today.
It is important to understand that the teaching on peacemaking is not just a message to the church for internal unity. It is much more than that. Peacemaking is a message of opportunity for the church to show the love of God to the world.
John 13:34-35 (NASB)
[34] "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
[35] "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
Romans 14 is about relationships with others. That's what peacemaking is all about - others. This passage has elements of our relationship with God - He is master/Lord. We cannot truly love others until we love God. So, to be a peacemaker we must first make peace with God.
This passage also has elements of our relationships with others. A relationship with others should lack judgment of them, but should include love for them.
In his effort to instruct the Roman Church on this vital topic, Paul uses five key elements. These elements will help us to understand how we can live out the command Christ gives us to be peacemakers.
Romans 14 (NASB)
[1] Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions.
[2] One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.
[3] The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.
[4] Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
[5] One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.
[6] He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.
Paul shows two common issues that the people of his day were facing. They were worried about what others were eating or not eating. They were also concerned about the day that should be observed for worship.
It is not too helpful to go into the details of the cultural reasons for these controversies because we deal with different controversies in our culture. It is however important to understand the principles of dealing with controversies in general. Paul's resolution here can be applied to any controversy.
Paul's resolution - proper focus. Problems start when we focus on what others are, or are not doing. We begin to apply to others, the personal light and convictions that God has given us. Paul's advice - focus on your personal relationship with God.
The Scriptures teach that it is not our job as individuals to dictate the light and convictions of the individual Christian. That is the job of the Holy Spirit. If an individual will not listen to the Holy Spirit, they certainly will not listen to you.
That is not to say that the Holy Spirit does not use the convictions and light that He has given others for instruction. Christ made it clear that the church is to instruct.
Once we understand that we are to focus on ourselves and not others, Paul takes us to the next level and that is understanding who is Master or Lord of our lives.
Romans 14 (NASB)
[7] For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;
[8] for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
[9] For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
Paul presents two possibilities for master in the life of the individual: self or the Lord. The Scriptures clearly show that only when He is master and Lord of our life can we be successful in our standing in God's eyes.
As has been explained, we must take self off the throne of our lives and allow Christ to occupy that throne. We surrender to His lordship, and He cleanses the intentions of our hearts. From that day on, we are bent on doing only that which pleases God and fulfills His will in our daily lives.
Romans 14 (NASB)
[10] But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
[11] For it is written, "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."
[12] So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
[13] Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this -- not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.
In talking about judging, Paul makes it clear that we are not to judge others for there is only one judge. Just think about this for a moment. "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD."
Part of the talk about our responsibility as Christians is the truth that we need to be careful that we don't do something to cause someone to fall away from the Kingdom of God. This is a heavy responsibility, and impossible to accomplish without the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.
In the next section of Romans 14, Paul gives more detail to the caution about becoming a stumbling block or hurting someone else. He relates this to the principle of love.
Romans 14 (NASB)
[14] I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
[15] For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
[16] Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;
[17] for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
[18] For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
We are to love others over personal preference, convictions, or light given to us as an individual member of the body of Christ. This section is where Paul talks about peace, relating it to what Christ said in the peacemaker beatitude.
Peacemaking is an action of love over the personal comfort, safety, and preferences of the peacemaker. That's what the cross is all about. To make peace between God and sinful mankind, Jesus set aside His personal comfort, safety, and preferences.
Jesus loved us without limitations. That is the bottom line of peacemaking; it is love without limitations. In the last section of this important passage, Paul talks about the faith that makes peacemaking possible.
Romans 14 (NASB)
[19] So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
[20] Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.
[21] It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.
[22] The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
[23] But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.
Faith in the pursuit of my daily life keeps me from being distracted.
Faith in the pursuit of my daily life helps me to trust the one who is on the throne of my life.
Faith in the pursuit of my daily life teaches me not to judge others who are on the Christian Journey.
Faith in my life helps me to love the unlovable.
Faith is the key to understanding and living out the peacemaker role that Jesus would have us fill in our daily lives.
I don't pretend to know how far we go to apply the New Testament teachings on peacemaking, to our world today. Sin has made it seemingly impossible, for the time being, to apply peaceful love in every conflict in our world today.
I ran across an interesting website in my research this week. It is for an organization called Christian Peacemaker Teams. Their motto is, "Getting in the Way". Perhaps this organization is making a correct application of the New Testament teaching on peacemaking. Taken from their website, here are some details about their purpose and methods.
"Enlisting the whole church in an organized, nonviolent alternative to war, today CPT places violence-reduction teams in crisis situations and militarized areas around the world at the invitation of local peace and human rights workers. CPT embraces the vision of unarmed intervention waged by committed peacemakers ready to risk injury and death in bold attempts to transform lethal conflict through the nonviolent power of God's truth and love." (www.cpt.org)
It might be the sacrifices of time, money, and life that make this so distasteful to most of us today. I know personality plays a big role in the way we react to the world around us. Having the kind of personality that can explode at the thought and sight of injustice, I have learned over the years that the Holy Spirit can override my emotions and feelings.
As a Christian, I have learned several things:
If I truly want to find eternal satisfaction in this world, I must look to the teachings of the creator of this world and universe. Only He has the answers I need.
Matthew 5:9 (NASB)
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."
Matthew 7:24 (NASB)
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock."
Pleas stand for a closing prayer.
NASB - New American Standard Bible (NASB). Cedar Rapids: Laridian, 2002.
I want to thank my research assistants, Debi Peck and Robyn Harper (HARPER), who do hours of research to provide some of my study resources. I also want to thank Vonda Watson-Bostick and Robyn Harper, who help me with editing.