What is peace? Is it something that can be manufactured? Is it something we do? Is it something we can actually make? God seems to think so. When Jesus said “blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God” he was not speaking to statesmen or politicians or activists. He was teaching a group of ordinary women and men who were gathered around him on a Galilean hillside as he spoke the first words of the kingdom of Heaven.
He did not say blessed are the peacekeepers, or peace lovers, but peace makers. Peace does not simply happen; it must be made. Peace is not our default condition, anyone who tells you it is has not lived long enough or knows nothing of history. Our default setting is enmity, strife, jealousy and anger. Humans in proximity inevitably become humans in conflict. The story of Cain and Abel is there to show us that it is not our environment or our tribe that brings strife, it is our hearts.
We hear much of “tolerance” these days, yet nobody seems to know what it is. We seem incapable of accepting the existence of those who disagree with us, especially on fundamental issues. But if you are only capable of being at peace with those who tow your party line then, we must ask, who exactly are you tolerating?
Are you at peace with people? Even those who you know are wrong on things that are very important to you. I confess, too often I am not. Too often I walk the earth as a loaded weapon ready to brutally detonate those who disagree with me, default setting. Too often I am Cain and those around me are my poor brother Abel waiting to be slain. I need to be more like Jesus and less like me. Being winsome and deferential, being peaceful, is not an indication of weakness or compromise, just as being obnoxious and confrontational is not an indication of strength or faithfulness. The book of Proverbs tells us “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger… the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”
You may have your own definition of peacemaker. Mine is someone who is actively seeking to reconcile people to God and to each other. Peace is not simply the absence of conflict. The Hebrew word “shalom” implies a general sense of well-being and contentment regardless of most circumstances. You are at peace with God and with your neighbor. Do you have peace? You cannot give what you do not have, neither can I.
We just finished the twelve days of Christmas. Part of that story tells of a great Heavenly Host appearing and shouting “Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace…”. Why is this significant? On the night of the birth of Christ God sent an army to earth, not to declare war, but to declare peace. In the eyes of Heaven we have always been armed rebels but, in Jesus, God has dropped his weapons; he has lowered his shields. How we respond to this act by the Almighty is up to us. There is a reason that one of the many titles he has bestowed upon his son is Prince of Peace.
I cannot bring peace to our toxic political environment; I have no such ability; apparently neither does anyone else. But I can have peace with God, and I must grow in that peace for the sake of my own soul. And I can make peace. I can make peace every day, everywhere I go, with my words and with my deeds. I can make peace with you, and you can make peace with me. If enough of us do it in private perhaps those in public will catch on, God willing.
Shalom
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Never repay evil for evil to anyone but give thought to what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” Romans 12
“If you don’t know the guy on the other side of the world, love him anyway because he’s just like you. He has the same dreams, the same hopes and fears. It’s one world pal. We’re all neighbors.” Frank Sinatra