“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5.9).
One need look no further than one’s own Twitter feed to see that conflict engulfs our world. Political, economic, racial, and social strife abound. As Christians, we mustn’t waste time being shocked by this outrage, nor devote our time to offering colour commentary to the latest trends in cultural bloodsport. Instead, we ought to devote ourselves to being biblical peacemakers, to fulfilling our calling as sons of God. That in mind, let’s consider what it means to be a peacemaker.
Peacemakers are not truce-makers
Scripture does not extol the blessings of being a pacifist or a truce maker; rather, our gracious Lord promises blessings to peacemakers. Far too many believers view peace as a simple absence of conflict. This understanding is no more than a caricature of true peace, a sketch bearing a minor resemblance but without much-needed depth and clarity.
Biblically, peace ties itself to the concept of wholeness and well-being. The Hebrew word shalom (we often translate it “peace”) speaks of a restoration to wholeness, well-being, and blessing that can only come from God. The biblical concept of peace is also closely connected with righteousness, purity, and holiness (James 3.17; Hebrews 12.14; Psalm 85.10). Genuine peace is a state of wholeness and well-being based in righteousness. This is what we are to pursue.
We cannot rightly think ourselves peacemakers if we are content with a truce, with the worldly notions of agreeing to disagree, with vain pretensions of laying down our arms and living without conflict in our “own truth.” Instead, we must seek true peace, a common commitment to righteous wholeness.
Peacemakers must battle sin
Because true peace is based on righteousness, if we are to be peacemakers, we must be committed to battle sin, for it is the violent enemy of righteousness. This battle must begin in ourselves, as we live by the Spirit and put to death the deeds of the flesh (Romans 8.13; Galatians 5.16–26). We must constantly war against the sin in our own lives, lest we disqualify ourselves and undermine our testimony to the world.
If we truly love our neighbours, we will not sit idly by while they wallow in their sin, afraid of the battle, terrified of causing offence. The answer to the pervasive outrage in our culture is not to ignore evil, to shy away from conflict. This approach will only give rise to greater evil. We can not throw up our hands and proclaim, “The world is the world. Sinners gotta sin.” We must fight against the temptation to ignore sin, pretend it doesn’t exist, and—especially—the temptation to compromise.
If we are to be peacemakers, we must battle sin. We must proclaim the holiness of God and His standards of righteousness. We must call men to turn from their wickedness to the Savior—man’s only hope of righteousness and peace.
Peacemakers exalt Christ
This point may seem obvious, but we often find ourselves in need of being repeatedly told the obvious. God is the source of peace (Job 25.2; Psalm 4.8; 29.11; 85.8, 10; 119.165; Proverbs 16.7; 1 Corinthians 14.33). Christ is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9.6–7). The proclamation at His birth was peace (Luke 2.14).
When the saviour miraculously healed people, He proclaimed peace (Mark 5.34; Luke 7.50). As he prepared his disciples for the suffering He was about to endure, He promised them peace (John 14.27). When appeared after the resurrection to the disciples, he proclaimed peace (Luke 24.36; John 20.26). Paul began many of his epistles with a greeting of grace and peace from the Lord (Romans 1.7; 1 Corinthians 1.3; 2 Corinthians 1.2; Galatians 1.3; Ephesians 1.2; etc.). Peter and John did as well (1 Peter 1.2; 2 Peter 1.2; 2 John 1.3).
By Christ’s atoning sacrifice, we have peace with God (Romans 5.1; Colossians 1.20). True peace—purity, righteousness, wholeness, well-being—is impossible without Christ. We, as Christians, have the only message of true peace.
Since the fall of man in Genesis 3, the effects of sin have ravaged the human race—sickness, disease, war, greed, sexual immorality, idolatry, pride, strife of every kind. Scripture tells us that humanity at its highest levels rages against God (Psalm 2.1–3). The whole race is in open, violent rebellion against Him. If we are to be peacemakers in the midst of an outrage-filled, violent, dying world, we must exalt Christ. If we are truly the sons of God, we must proclaim Him.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5.9).
