Peacemakers

[McDLT]

I'm curious as to what others think.

How can we show Christ's peace and be peacemakers actively seeking peace in this day and age?

 

[aReformedPatriot]

I'm curious as to what others think.

How can we show Christ's peace and be peacemakers actively seeking peace in this day and age?

Like meekness, peacemakers are not to be weaklings to be walked on. Be strength under control.

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God."

No one likes criticism, but the best way is the route of 2 Timothy 2:24-25:

2Ti 2:24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,
2Ti 2:25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
2Ti 2:26 and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

Also bearing in mind the words of 2 Timothy 3:16-17:

Study your bible, prayer for humility and a gentle spirit, ask God to build you up in strength to overcome all temptation to be mean-spirited.

- My advice
Mark

 

[SonOfThunder]

ditto The Lords Envoy, well said.

All any of us can do as believers is to be of the same mind as Christ Jesus.

Non Christians and the world have us under a very fragile microcope. Sometimes any wrong doing by the Christian Body will be publically displayed for the wold yo see.

We must imagine this giant spotlight is on us as individuals and everything that Lords Envoy spoke about above.

James

 

[McDLT]

What about violence and wars? How do you be a peacemaker in that environment? Would you join the military?

 

[SteveR2021]

What about violence and wars? How do you be a peacemaker in that environment? Would you join the military?

That is a heavy subject. I would say that true peacemakers must go to war at times. In a fallen world peace does not always beget peace. We have a criminal justice system for that very reason. We don't like to put people in jail (and maybe there is a better solution) but we must punish offenders or we'd live in a chaotic world.

Would I join the military? Not unless I thought I had to. I would avoid it as much as possible.

 

[eldermike]

We don't go to war for our peace, we go to war for our children's peace. Yes, I would join the military again if I could.

 

[newbeliever02072005]

I'm curious as to what others think.

How can we show Christ's peace and be peacemakers actively seeking peace in this day and age?

A smile is always infectious!

 

[rural_preacher]

Our primary task as Christians is not to promote peace. We are to promote the Truth and be witnesses of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.

Jesus said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughterinlaw against her motherinlaw" (Matt. 10:34,35).

We are at war with sin, Satan and worldliness:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

But we are waging a warfare that is different from this world's warfare:

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (II Cor. 10:3-5).

However, sometimes the battles we fight take us into various aspects of this world (we are in the world but not of it). We need godly Christians serving in our military and our law enforcement departments. God uses us as His instruments in many different ways.

David was a man after God's own heart and he was a warrior. God used him to bring justice and judgment on the pagan nations that surrounded and infiltrated Israel. Jesus is the same God with whom David walked.

Sometimes war is necessary to bring about justice and peace (albeit temporary). No peace is permanent until the Prince of Peace defeats the unbelieving nations and sets up His Kingdom. But His perfect and permanent peace will be preceded by war to defeat those nations.

-----

"Be selfcontrolled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings" (I Peter 5:8,9).

--

 

[BT]

Like the rural preacher said

Our enemies are
1. The Flesh
2. The World
3. The Devil

cool beans rp

 

[Flynmonkie]

Start by reading Galatians! ALL OF IT! Paying special attention to the verses that speak of differences of opinion in Chapter 6. To uplift each other as Christians, not tear down in our individual learning processes. Galatians 6

Keeping in mind these verses where ever we go.....

36Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38This is the first and great commandment. 39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.Matthew 22:36-40

Christ sent you to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech 1 Cor. 1:17.

Do not preach with superiority of speech or wisdom 1 Cor. 2:1. (being assured and being condecending are two different things!) Humble ourselves...

A man reaps what He sows Gal 6:7

Prov 12:18 Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal.

For as He thinks in his heart...so is he! Prov 23:7

Gal 5:22-23 NLT But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.

Once we realize these things.....peacemaking becomes easier. Having self control is keeping your self in touch with the relationship with God - via the Holy Spirit living inside you. We choose when to foster that relationship or not. When we are allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us, peacekeeping becomes second nature. This is just for starters....IOW.....start looking at how we can improve ourselves....and how we can serve others..

 

[Lockheed]

Rual Preacher nailed it.

Being a "peacemaker" in Biblical terms is not merely someone who makes peace between people but one who promotes the peace of reconcilliation between men and God.

2Co 5:19-20 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

​

This is how we make peace between men and God and by that peace, men find peace with others, not through false truces and guile, but through a genuine love for others that comes as a result of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Col 1:20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

​

 

[TwinCrier]

Excellent responses! I have never yet seen a pacifist or war protestor in any way bring about anything resembling peace. The key to showing Christ's peace is to show Christ.

 

[McDLT]

I agree with rural preacher on these points:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

But we are waging a warfare that is different from this world's warfare:

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (II Cor. 10:3-5).​

I disagree with rural preacher on this point:

Sometimes war is necessary to bring about justice and peace (albeit temporary).​

I do not believe there is any justification for physical violence (war). We are under a new covenant. Did not Jesus say in Matthew 5:38 & 39, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

Just a few more thoughts.

 

[Lockheed]

The friendly fast food item said:

I disagree with rural preacher on this point:

Sometimes war is necessary to bring about justice and peace (albeit temporary).​

I do not believe there is any justification for physical violence (war). We are under a new covenant. Did not Jesus say in Matthew 5:38 & 39, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also."

Just a few more thoughts.

In quoting the "eye for an eye" law, Christ was correcting the misconception of the people that it gave them a personal right for vengence. Christ does not however tell the centurion or other soldiers to quit their jobs.

In Romans 3, Paul lays out the idea that the government is given a sword for a reason, to secure the peace of the land and punish transgressors. Let's be clear, we're not talking about personal revenge or rebellious war, we're talking about the government of a land making war on its enemies.

God's nature hasn't changed from the Old to New Testaments, and the New Covenant, while a fulfillment of the Old, doesn't change the nature of God and His attributes. God sent the children of Israel into battle many, many, many times against their foe. God also rose up Assyria to go against Israel. Likewise now, it would be unjust for a country to allow an agressor to kill its citizens without defense or response. Hence we have police and and armed force.

 

[BBAS 64]

Good Day,

"When principles that run against your deepest
convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your
calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the
price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare
before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your
faith. "

Abraham Kuyper cited in Farrar,
Steve Standing Tall: How A Man Can Protect his Family [Multnomah, 1994],
p.
113)


Peace to u,

Bill

 

[BBAS 64]

Our primary task as Christians is not to promote peace. We are to promote the Truth and be witnesses of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world.

Jesus said, "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughterinlaw against her motherinlaw" (Matt. 10:34,35).

We are at war with sin, Satan and worldliness:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

But we are waging a warfare that is different from this world's warfare:

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (II Cor. 10:3-5).

However, sometimes the battles we fight take us into various aspects of this world (we are in the world but not of it). We need godly Christians serving in our military and our law enforcement departments. God uses us as His instruments in many different ways.

David was a man after God's own heart and he was a warrior. God used him to bring justice and judgment on the pagan nations that surrounded and infiltrated Israel. Jesus is the same God with whom David walked.

Sometimes war is necessary to bring about justice and peace (albeit temporary). No peace is permanent until the Prince of Peace defeats the unbelieving nations and sets up His Kingdom. But His perfect and permanent peace will be preceded by war to defeat those nations.

-----

"Be selfcontrolled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings" (I Peter 5:8,9).

--

Dito...

 

[ZiSunka]

I'm curious as to what others think.

How can we show Christ's peace and be peacemakers actively seeking peace in this day and age?

Love your enemies with the same love you love your own family. If you do this, you cannot think of them as enemies anymore.

 

[McDLT]

Here's a brief description of what Anabaptists believe about peace.

Here Anabaptists differ from many other Christians. Anabaptists believe that the peace position is not optional, not marginal, and not related mainly to the military. On the basis of Scripture, Anabaptists renounce violence in human relationships. We see peace and reconciliation – the way of love – as being at the heart of the Christian gospel. God gave his followers this ethic not as a point to ponder, but as a command to obey. It was costly for Jesus and it may also be costly for his followers. The way of peace is a way of life. (Taken from Anabaptism: The Basic Beliefs MB pamphlet www.mbconf.ca/believe/pamphlets/anabaptism.en.html)
​

And from the MB Confession of Faith, Article 13 (www.mbconf.ca)

Love and Nonresistance

God's Community of Peace

We believe that God in Christ reconciles people to himself and to one another, making peace through the cross. The church is a fellowship of redeemed people living by love. Our bond with other believers of Jesus transcends all racial, social and national barriers.

Christian Peacemaking

Believers seek to be agents of reconciliation in all relationships, to practice love of enemies as taught by Christ, to be peacemakers in all situations. We view violence in its many different forms as contradictory to the new nature of the Christian. We believe that the evil and inhumane nature of violence is contrary to the gospel of love and peace. In times of national conscription or war, we believe we are called to give alternative service where possible. Alleviating suffering, reducing strife, and promoting justice are ways of demonstrating Christ’s love.


Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 5:17-28; Romans 12:9-21; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Peter 2:19-23
​

I think this better explains my position. Maybe some other Anabaptists could say how their denomination handles war and violence.

 

[rural_preacher]

God is Love. But God hates all that is in opposition to Him; therefore, hate is an integral part of true, godly Love. We are not truly loving if we do not hate sin and all that is in opposition to God and His righteousness and justice.
Jesus was very combative in His rebuke of the Pharisees and other "religious" leaders in Israel. He also took the time on two occasions to forcefully drive out the money changers from the Temple. He will also one day come in power to wage war on the unbelieving nations to defeat them and establish His perfect reign of peace. In a sinful world there can be no peace without first a purging of evil which requires conflict.

Consider the words of David in Psalm 139:

"If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

The peace that we are promised as believers is an inner peace in the midst of a violent world. We should always be at peace because we have the peace of God in our hearts. But being at peace in our hearts and minds does not mean that we can live peaceful lives. This sinful world simply does not allow that.

There is only one, true living God. He is the same God in the OT and the NT. I see no difference between the God who led Joshua & David and the God who walked this earth in the Person of Jesus Christ.

--

 

[ZiSunka]

therefore, hate is an integral part of true, godly Love

Well, then, I hate you a lot! (kidding)

How can it be possible to love someone by hating them??