After writing my post on peacemakers,I was challenged to think about what being a peacemaker means for me in particular and for Christ followers in general. Continuing to ponder peacemaker as a personal virtue, I realized I did not have a well formed theology of peace. Without theological foundation, peacemaking can become a convenient justification for exercising power to achieve a desired outcome.
Here are my thoughts, so far:
Theology of Peace
- God is a God of peace.
- God’s creation was peaceful, but peace was broken by mankind.
- God is redeeming peace through Jesus, his life, death and resurrection.
- Divine, incarnate peace is demonstrated and defined in the life and teaching of Jesus
- Divine peace transcends understanding but exists and is effectual.
- Divine peace is a gift of the Holy Spirit
- Peace reigns in the Kingdom of God
- Peace, like the Kingdom of God, “is but not yet”
- Christ followers live in the “is” of the Kingdom of God.
- Christ followers are peacemakers
- Peacemaking is not exclusive to Christ followers but Christ following peacemakers are exceptional.
Scripture is replete with counsel and encouragement to be people of peace. I have found Romans 12 to be particularly helpful in putting flesh on what is looks like to be a peacemaker as a Christ follower. The passage is deserving of in-depth study, but for this post, a summary will have to suffice.
Being a Peacemaker
Christ following peacemakers:
… are recipients of and understand the mercy of God.
… thinking has been transformed by God, shaped by His undeserved grace.
… their character and nature is forged in the crucible of community.
Peacemakers in community
… have sincere love for others.
… hate evil and hold tight to good.
…love each other and honor others more than themselves.
… follow the Holy Spirit and serve the Lord.
… their hope makes them glad.
… they are patient in time of trouble and never stop praying.
… they live in harmony
… Take care of needy people and welcome strangers into their home.
Peacemakers in the world
… ask God to bless everyone who mistreats them.
… when others are happy, they are happy with them.
… when others are sad, they are sad.
… they are friendly with everyone.
… they aren’t proud or feel they are better than others.
… they make friends with ordinary people.
… they don’t mistreat someone who has mistreated them.
… they try to earn the respect of others.
… they do their best to live at peace with everyone.
… they understand that not everyone wants peace.
… they don’t try to get even, they trust in a just God.
The body of Christ, the church, should exemplify peace, a glimpse of God’s kingdom on this earth. Every Christ follower should be a testimony to that reality.
It seems that vision has been lost.
We live in the paradox of “is but not yet”, sustained by confidence of what will be.
“A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse’s stump, from his roots a budding Branch. The life-giving Spirit of GOD will hover over him, the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding, The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of- GOD. Fear-of- GOD will be all his joy and delight. He won’t judge by appearances, won’t decide on the basis of hearsay. He’ll judge the needy by what is right, render decisions on earth’s poor with justice. His words will bring everyone to awed attention. A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked. Each morning he’ll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots, and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.” Isaiah 11:1-5MSG
Still on the Journey