Where Are the Peacemakers?
Listen: “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Bob Dylan
Peacemaker is a compound word—a word made famous by Jesus in his most memorable message “The Sermon on the Mount.” It’s one of the beatitudes (beati is Latin for “happy” or “blessed”) in Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.” The idea is that the person who “makes peace, works for peace, or helps bring about peace” is a child of God. I like to think of building bridges with people, instead of making enemies. It’s a characteristic to which I have always aspired. In my mind, we have a shortage of peacemakers in the world today.
In the Greco-Roman world, peace was basically the absence war. For example, the Pax Romana (“Roman Peace”) was roughly a 200-year-long timespan of Roman history (27 BC to 180 AD) with relative peace and prosperity. However, in the Hebrew worldview, shalom (“peace”) has a rich history. Shalom can mean an absence of war, but it also means wholeness and health from a physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual perspective. It is also a beautiful greeting for both coming and going. The Greek New Testament draws upon this rich Hebrew context of meaning for its use of “peace” (eirene). This is what Jesus had in mind when he spoke of peacemakers.
So what does a peacemaker look like?
Politics and war. When I was a seminary student in the 1980’s, I had the privilege of studying with Dr. William Estep. (I took every class he offered at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and he encouraged me to do PhD studies with him. I pursued pastoral ministry instead, but always cherished my studies with him.) Dr. Estep taught Reformation history, but he was a world-renowned scholar on Anabaptists history. (For a wonderful history, read The Anabaptists Story by William Estep.) The Anabaptists were birthed out of students who were studying with the Swiss reformer, Ulrich Zwingli. The Anabaptists were pacifists and consequently were killed by all of the Magisterial Reformers, Catholics and Protestants alike. For this reason, among others, I have always admired them.
The Anabaptists were the forerunners to the Mennonites and Amish. They took the teachings of Jesus about nonviolence (“turn the other cheek”) and loving your enemy very seriously. They withdrew from state sponsored war and violence, serving in the military, and policing because of their desire to follow the teachings of Jesus. In my opinion, anyone who follows Jesus should lean towards pacifism. I have always leaned towards pacifism, especially in personal relationships and social interactions. I stop short of calling all followers of Jesus to abstain from military or police service. I do think there is a place for Jesus followers to serve in these roles, but their purpose should always be to protect, serve, and keep the peace. State sponsored violence is a last resort. By the way, for an excellent presentation of this perspective, watch the movie Hacksaw Ridge. Pfc. Desmond T. Doss was a pacifist who served in World War II. Truly inspirational. Jesus followers would do well to draw inspiration from this powerful story.
Peace with adversaries. All human beings are created in the image of God and are people of worth and dignity. Regardless of race, nationality, gender, religion, or politics, we have far more in common with each other than we often imagine. I have had spiritual conversations with people around the world from every walk of life, and I have always been amazed at how easy it is to find common ground. I believe peacemakers seek to build bridges rather than build walls with those whom we disagree. Even in the face of injustice, peacemakers seek nonviolent ways to stand against injustice while advocating love, peace, and forgiveness. I think we have a lot to learn from Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr. to name of few shining lights. In the words of MLK: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Peace with self. The mental health movement is a peacemaking movement. Healing from emotional wounds, trauma, shame, and addiction are vital for personal health and wholeness. Health professionals and grace-based people are following Jesus’ call to be peacemakers.
Peace with others. Every person on the planet will invariably be the source of hurt for another human being. I often hear parents talk about why their kids will need therapy as a result of their parenting. I think we are all aware of how we have the potential to hurt others even when we have the best of intentions. Learning how to make amends to those we have harmed is a work of peacemaking, for ourselves and others.
Peace with God. Having a relationship with something greater than yourself that is loving and caring is transformational. A “higher power” according to one’s understanding has brought peace to millions around the world. It was for this purpose that Jesus suffered a loving, sacrificial death on the cross. This ultimate act of nonviolence in the face of oppressive injustice while forgiving those who inflicted the suffering is inspirational. This kind of sacrificial love is disarming and liberating from the oppressive forces of sin and darkness and hatred. “For God in all his fulness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross” (Colossians 1:19-20; NLT).
Shalom
©realfredherron, 2021
