17 Apr Blessed are the Peacemakers
Being the peacemaker isn’t always peaceful. As a former lay-counsellor who has always felt a calling to commiserate and be a safe, judgement-free space for people, it quite often happens that family and friends come to me to talk about their problems. The prospect of being even just a small help means that I don’t mind this in the least. That is, until the problem just happens to be a mutual friend or family member in conflict with the person confiding in me — especially when said mutual friend or family member has also come to confide in me.
Such an instance has happened to me recently, where the parties involved were all very close to one another, but unresolved past feelings had bubbled to the surface over a disagreement, and events led all of them to come to me to vent their frustration. I found myself confronted with two choices: either I could avoid getting involved, or I could take charge and suggest that everyone come together to talk it out. Remembering scripture, I chose the latter for in James it is said that “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:18 NIV
However, in orchestrating the open communication to heal the relationships, something was said which was misunderstood by one of the people involved, who then began to mistakenly suspect that I had betrayed their trust and relayed information that was not mine to share. Suddenly, I was the target of anger and hurt, and I truly regretted getting involved.
While thankfully it was resolved quite quickly, it was not the first time that I had been caught in this kind of situation, and it’s clearly a test I will need to keep writing until I get it right. However, what I have learnt, is that there is a time to be a peacemaker, and there is a time to hold our peace: “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV
But how do we know which one is appropriate for which instance? As always, only the truth of scripture can answer that for us and most of the time, this is directly related to our intentions; are we serving God’s agenda, or our own?
When action leads to peace
While I can’t yet give an answer as to whether my involvement in the above incident was God’s agenda or my own, I can say that being the target of anger however briefly made me feel mildly persecuted as it was not based on truth, and this led me to reflect on Jesus.
For Jesus was the ultimate peacemaker. He came to make peace between humankind and God, but this was not done peacefully. He spoke out against the Pharisees calling them hypocrites, he spoke up for tax collectors and adulterers, over-turned tables in the temple and even said, “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10: 34-35 NIV), all ultimately leading to his torture and death on the cross.
Oftentimes, we will be persecuted for being peacemakers especially if the conflict is within a worldly context, but we must trust in God for being our ultimate vindicator. For Jesus did not vindicate himself when he stood before Herod or Pontius Pilate, and he did not try to vindicate himself by proving his deity to his accusers. But through his death he restored humankind to God and he was ultimately vindicated when he rose from the dead, the empty tomb a reassurance of the complete redemption and restored peace of our relationship with God, but more importantly, the evidence that he was who he claimed to be. But despite our joy and celebration of this event, it came at a great cost in the form of persecution.
When inaction leads to peace
Earlier I mentioned when Jesus stood silent didn’t try to defend himself against His accusers, this was an example of complete surrender to the father’s will. He did not need to defend himself. For as God, He knew His righteousness, in the father’s will He knew peace, and in the knowledge of His purpose to restore humankind to God, He went willingly.
Similarly, God will call us to speak when it will cause our own persecution, but there are times when He will also call us to be silent. When He calls us to be silent, it is normally a call for inner reflection of our agenda to speak out. Sometimes we believe we are speaking the truth to fight for what is right, but our real agenda, is something more self-serving. We are offended, or we are simply angered by someone else’s action because it presses a self-righteous button, and we want to display this by bringing someone else to task, which is especially common in church relationships.
While it can be just as difficult to call someone out in their sin, if our agenda is self-righteous, the best way to restore peace who be to understand why we have a self-serving agenda, so that we can repent and be at peace on that issue. For me personally, I find it particularly difficult to remain silent when I’m feeling offended. It can be very difficult when the offense is fresh and we feel hurt, but if we obey God to “hold our peace”, we often will find a much greater peace in the silence as we rely on God alone to heal us.
I have a good friend who asks herself three simple questions every time her instinct is to speak out to someone, whether it is because she is offended or because she believes they are in the wrong: Is it kind? Is it true? Is it necessary?
It can be tricky trying to navigate the waters of conflict, whether it be between other people or simply within ourselves, but the best way to understand our own agenda, is to ask whether speaking out glorifies God, or serves our own pride? When we are silent, is it because we are afraid of the conflict that we may find ourselves in? Will our action or inaction bring peace to others, and will it bring peace and growth to ourselves? Ultimately, it comes down to faith versus self-preservation. It is only through prayer and deep reflection that it is revealed which of the two is driving our decision.
Father God, we lift to you all those who are currently experiencing conflict in one way or another. Please Lord guide them through your Holy Spirit to either speak your truth courageously to bring peace to others, or to stay silent and to turn to you for their comfort and peace. In Jesus name we pray, Amen
I am a volunteer blogger with a passion for God and writing. My hope is to help others choose faith – or to walk deeper in their faith – through my own introspections and observations.
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