ON BEING A PEACEMAKER
Matthew 5:9

In 1968, a major newspaper reported that, since the year 36 BC, there had been 14,533 wars.  The article continued by stating that since 1945 there had been over 70 wars and nearly 200 international outbreaks of violence.  Over 100 nations have been involved in some type of armed warfare since 1958.  In fact, if one make the calculations, less that 8 per cent of the time of the recorded history of mankind is that of peace.

The world is in conflict today in places such as Sudan, Liberia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India, Northern Ireland, Turkey, and the Middle East.  The world knows little of peace.  In fact one writer defined peace as that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading. 

We ask ourselves why there is no peace?  There are two answers.  The first is because of the opposition of Satan, and the second, because of the self-centeredness of man.  The results include strife, division, hatred, resentment, and war. 

Before we begin our little study in this seventh Beatitude - Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God - I want us to understand that this statement of Jesus has nothing to do with politics, armed forces, or world councils.  It has nothing to do with compromise or negotiated treaties.  It has nothing to do with peace at any price.  But it does have everything to do with confronting problems, seeking to find solutions to those problems, and building bridges between the parties involved in the problems.

The dictionary defines peace as "freedom from war or strife."  In other words, it is the absence of conflict.  Yet I believe Jesus is describing something more than this.  Jesus is describing the presence of righteousness.  Listen to these words of James:  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness (James 3:17-18).  Friends, peace cannot be attained at the expense of righteousness.  Peace is the acting upon a problem as God would act.

But, you might ask, what about Jesus' statement in Matthew 10:34?  There Jesus says, Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth.  I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  Is this a contradiction to the seventh Beatitude?  The answer is no because the peace that Jesus brings always brings conflict.  This is a peace based upon truth, while the world delights in the false.  This is a peace based upon purity, and the world continues to pursue that which is evil.  It is a peace that has a standard of right and wrong, which standards the world has lost.  The peace which Jesus provides brings discomfort, antagonism, and ill feelings. 

In our next study, we shall address the source of such peace. 

Father, peace is not something the world knows a lot about.  Oh, the politicians talk about peace.  The world leaders continually seek peace.  Even a prize of notable repute is given to those who pursue peace.  Yet, so few people have real peace - the peace that only Jesus brings.  Father, in these days of our study of this Beatitude, help us to understand the significance of this particular blessing and then help us to model it before others.  We pray this in the name of Jesus, our Prince of Peace.  Amen.

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