Peacemaking

Today I came across a blog that made me start thinking. You can read the blog here
The following are the thoughts/comments I made to that blog...

Well, those are deep questions. I'm not sure I am any closer to answers on them than you are, however, a thought popped into my head as I read your post...I hope I'm not hijacking...

Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons and daughters of God." (Matt. 5:5)

So, being a peacemaker is part of our identity...right??

Problem. I've always interpreted that to mean being a doormat... "giving up one's 'rights' to vindication"...because after all revenge is His, right?

Well, what does it mean to be a PEACE-maker? NLT says "God blesses those who work for peace..." What are wars about? Two opposing sides...that can't seem to come to an agreement... Often a third party joins the fight...in order to RESTORE peace...to reconcile differences for the greater good...

Three different concepts come to mind...

Pacificist= a person who believes in pacifism or is opposed to war or to violence of any kind.

Peacekeeper= a person who maintains or restores peace and amity; mediator

Peacemaker= a person, group, or nation that tries to make peace, especially by reconciling parties who disagree, quarrel, or fight.

Are soldiers peacemakers? Technically, yes.

Soldiers (in theory, at least) are people who fight for peace.

Ok...so this is not about war vs. peace...but it is.

In relationships, in reconciliation especially, things can begin to feel like war. One caustic statement produces a self-protecting and equally damaging response... et cetera, etc.

So...if we are to be peacemakers, if we are to spread this gospel of reconciliation...are we not people who are to fight for peace... we are to be people who intentionally enter into conflict for the sake of ending the conflict. Hm...how does that work?

Honestly, that answer still evades me somewhat...but a few things DO come to the surface...

One, we do not enter the conflict with the motive of self-promotion, if we do...we are sure to wreak havoc on our own souls and to leave a bloody trail.

Two, we must enter into the conflict from a stance of Love. That love that's patient, kind (which also means to be patient), not rude, always hoping for the best...

Three, We must seek to understand before seeking to be understood... MUCH easier said than done.

Finally, we must enter into the process of peacemaking and reconciliation with the understanding that reconciliation is a process that often takes place in a series of encounters...it requires a commitment until the resolution...peacemaking rarely makes an easy or immediate appearance.