Last night my wife and I attended a costume party for our college ministry. We dressed as hippies - complete with bell-bottoms, flowery clothing and peace-symbols. We had a lot of fun, but as people were snapping photos of us flashing the peace sign, it got me thinking...
Peace. What images come to your mind when you read that word? Do visions of laying on the beach, hiking in the woods or snuggling up with a good book on a rainy day describe peace to you? What about getting along with others in your family, world leaders coming together with diplomacy rather than war, or the idea of every hungry child having food in their stomachs? Peace means different things to different people.
We are currently in a series at Valley Church focused on Jesus' teachings in Matthew 5. This coming Sunday, we will be diving into the issue: "Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God." For followers of Jesus, working for peace goes much deeper than simply helping others learn to get along or share their blessings. To this day, Orthodox Jews will greet one one another with the phrase "Shalom."
Commonly translated "peace", the word "Shalom" means much more. It expresses a desire for God to bestow His very best upon another person - and to be open to being a conduit through which that blessing can flow. It essentially says, "If you need to be uplifted or upheld, you can count on me as long as God supplies." Shalom is the pronouncement of the full orb of God's blessing and the willingness to BE that blessing to someone else.
In light of the Biblical concept of Shalom, what does peacemaking look like in your world? Peace in the realms of political, financial, and relational realms is important - but can those things truly be realized apart from God's people becoming wholistic peace-makers toward others? Please feel free to comment and I invite you to join us this Sunday at 9AM (2 services simultaneous - traditional or contemporary) or 11AM (contemporary).
Good questions Jer!! I'd suggest that the work of a peacemaker is hard and risky. It involves confronting the unpeaceful attitudes and acts of combatants. Both combatants might be so committed to their "cause" that each might turn his attitudes and acts against anyone who interferes with his fighting, or who points out that his attitudes and acts might be wrong.
ReplyDeleteHence, when Jesus attempted to bring peace between His Father and the Jews, the leaders killed him. Hence Paul, when he called the Corinthian leaders to quit their divisive practices, was attacked as they apparently united in opposition to undermine his apostolic authority in the church.
The model of Paul peacemaking with Onesimus and Philemon is beautiful and striking in its simplicity. Oh that Church leaders would have the wisdom and courage to do true peacemaking in marriages, in church conflicts, and in the communities in which they live. Oh that Christians would be properly equipped to practice biblical peacemaking as they help one another deal with life's conflicts.
If interested, check out TerrifyingGrace beginning at Oct. 13 for a three-part post detailing the work of the peace maker.
Thanks for posting good questions like this!!
Rob Bell puts a lot of emphasis on the order and flow of the beattitudes. He comments that it is no coincidence that the one right after this is "Blessed are those who are persecuted...". As a culture we have trouble separating peace from passivity, as christians we don't have that luxury. I think peace is not the absence of conflict, but rather the presence of right-standing with God.
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