Christians under construction Peacemakers 9/1/19 Carroll UMC

Christians under construction

Peacemakers 9/1/19

Carroll UMC

Good morning fixer-uppers.

How is your remodeling coning?

Are you starting to get what Jesus is doing in your hearts? I know it is a lifetime worth of work and someday we’ll come back to the beatitudes.

This week we come to “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of  God”. This is like Jesus’ top 10 list except there are only 8.  By that, I mean that many of Jesus’ other teachings can be listed under one of these top 8. Some have said that there are only 7 beatitudes with persecution being different because it is a likely outcome of the other seven. They further argue that the list is in ascending order. So, it would be like.

 number 7 beatitude: poor in spirit

Number 6: Those who mourn

Number 5: Meek

Number 4: hunger and thirst for righteousness.

Number 3 beatitude: Merciful

Number 2: pure in heart

 And the number one beatitude and goal of the Christian life is (drumroll please?) Datadada! Peacemakers.

Now I don’t know if that was Jesus’ intention, but I do know that Jesus was all about peace. Helping people to make peace with God. Helping people to make peace with others.

Before we address those three areas of peacemaking. Let’s talk about the word peacemakers. Obviously, there are two words here knit together as a compound word: “peace” and “maker.”

  It won’t surprise many of you to know that peace is the Hebrew word is shalom. It is a blessing word used for either coming or going.  It is like “hello” and “goodbye” all rolled into one.  Shalom covers health, prosperity, harmony, and wholeness. Shalom wishes serenity, fulfillment, trouble-free living, and contentment. When a Jew said “Shalom” they were wishing the other person Peace with others (like the family) peace within themselves and peace with God. Now we must be careful because in the bible there is no peace without justice and righteousness.  It goes both ways, you can’t have peace if you don’t have justice and righteousness. And if you have justice and righteousness, you very likely have peace.

 The word “make” in “peacemakers” comes from the Greek verb that means “to do” or “to make.” But it is more than that. It is filled with energy and commitment and it demands action right now. It is filled with passion and urgency.

 “Notice Jesus did not say “Blessed are the peacewishers or the peacehopers or the peacedreamers or the peacelovers or peacetalkers.”  Peace must be made. Peace never happens by chance. We can’t wish, hope, dream or talk peace into existence. It is hard work and takes someone who is committed to getting it started and seeing all the way through. A peacemaker is never passive. They always take the initiative.

The peacemaker, then is one who actively and energetically works toward peace.

They are likely to run TO a conflict rather than away and they may possibly cause more conflict before peace can come and they might become targets themselves.

Jesus calls us all to be peacemakers actively working for a righteous and just peace in every sphere of life.

Peacemakers seek peace in the family, between neighbors, between different cultures, between the police and the public, between different religions, and between nations. You know as well as I do that there is plenty of work to be done.

 You know the song “I’ve got peace like a river?”  When I look at the world around me, I don’t see rivers of peace.

I see rivers of conflict, road rage, bullying and more. I see political parties entrenched stubbornly and unreasonably in a seemingly permanent standoff.  I see rivers of hate between races, classes, competing interests, and competing values.

I see rivers of mistrust and animosity between people and their government (actually I get that), and between nations.  There is so much mistrust and suspicion between so many nations right now China, Russia, Mexico, and North Korea seem to top the list. And that isn’t even taking in to account our epidemic of mass shootings, domestic terrorism and the multiple terrorist cells hiding around the world.

In a world with so many rivers of anger, and hatred, and fear, and mistrust, and extremist hate, and wars and rumors of wars…we are supposed to be peacemakers?

Yes. That is what Jesus says.  And remember peacemakers are by definition “makers” doers, workers… peace will not come if we sit back and wait for it. Peacemakers are those who actively seek a wholistic, comprehensive peace with God and our neighbor. We are peacemakers… and Kent Hughes says, “If we aren’t peacemakers, we are troublemakers.”  No one wants that label.

 So, let’s start with the vertical aspect. Peace with God. We aren’t at war with God. But the sin in us is against God.  And Paul describes the war that robs us of peace when he says, “the evil I do not want to do is what I do. And the good I do want to do is what I don’t do.  It is sin that lives in me.”

It is a good thing for us that God is the God of peace.  Isaiah predicts the coming messiah using the title “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). At the Nativity, the angels sing “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!” (Luke 2:14). Jesus’ often told sinners and those whom he had healed to go in peace.  And his last will and testament included the words, “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful” (John 14:27). After the resurrection, Jesus’ first word to the disciples was “Shalom.” "Peace to you!" We could follow the theme of peace through all the new testament because it is a very prominent theme.

Instead, let's talk about what it means in real practical terms.  Paul writes about the work, of Jesus, “Through Christ, God was pleased . . . to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20).

So, the truth is that from God’s perspective, Christ has already given us the gift of peace with God.  He gave himself up for the sake of removing the barrier of sin that separated us from God. With the simple gift of faith, we can have peace with God.

Do you feel that peace? … Do you feel the forgiveness flowing through you from all sides as Jesus’ peace washes over you as though you are standing under a big waterfall?  Grace is everywhere. It is on us, in us, around us, it flows through us, it fills us… Grace is everywhere. Does your heart feel the peace that comes from God? If not, ask and you will receive. So, I want each of you to think of someone you know who needs God’s peace. Maybe it is you maybe a friend. And let’s pray.

God, there are so many people in this world who do not know your peace. There are probably some in this room who really struggle with trusting in the peace you made by the blood of the cross. There is a whole company of names we lift in prayer right now. We offer them to you and pray that they would come to know and accept your peace.  We claim for them the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Draw them close to you and grant them your peace AMEN

Se we seek peace with God for ourselves and those around us.

That is vertical peace. 

 Now the horizontal peace.

For most of us, it starts at home. Working for peace in the family, with neighbors and with each other. Peace with our bosses, coworkers, and those who report to us. Peace with the cable guy, the food server who is more than a little slow, or the clerk at Casey’s. Those are the things we can control. We can be peacemakers in all those situations. Remember, however, there is no peace without righteousness and justice. Without being in right relationship with God and making sure that everyone is being treated justly, there can be no peace.  Can you think of one your relationships into which you could put some energy and time to work toward peace?  I can, so I’ll bet most of you can.

Let’s pray right now.

God, it is hard to have peace in our hearts when we have broken relationships all around us. We want to be peacemakers. We want to take the initiative, we want to be the makers of shalom.  Fill us up with peace to overflowing. Give us courage to face problems we would rather not face and give us the humility to admit where we may be part of the problem. Walk with us, O God, as we work for peace with the people around us. AMEN

In this same horizontal making of peace in relationships, we also run into situations much bigger than ourselves. The lack of peace between police and the public, for instance, or between racial groups, socioeconomic classes, political parties, and nations.

We can’t individually solve those problems. We are too small to make a difference. It is like David standing up to Goliath… wait who won that battle? … Right. The little guy who was too small to make a difference... Paul has an important point in Romans 12:18 “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  If possible, and as far as it depends on you. These issues seem so big we don’t know where to start.  But get your sling and a stone and go after those goliaths. Do what you CAN do.  Join a protest, sign a petition, use the power of your vote, write letters, boycott, take a stand, be the Rosie parks or, Itzhak Rabin or, like one of the untold hundreds or thousands who died in Tiananmen Square.

It takes all the preparation of the other Beatitudes like a pure heart, and mercy and humility, but we can do it.

So, one more time chose a situation that needs the peace that seems out of reach.  And let us pray.

God, you call us to be peacemakers. Sometimes we don’t want to, but usually, we just feel inadequate. Help us each to find a way. Even a small way, to be makers of peace in this world. Draw us to the right people, the right organizations, give us the right words for our letters and strengthen us as we stand to face those who block peace.

God, we truly want to be peacemakers: we desperately seek peace with you, peace with each other, and peace in our world.  God make us instruments of your peace.

AMEN and AMEN