Peacekeeper or
Peacemaker?
Craig A. Gorc
Sunday, July 22, 2001
Matt 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
I believe all of
us long for authentic relationships marked by integrity and open communication.
We have all had
relationships that are marked by hidden hostilities and unspoken hurts. But,
unfortunately we don’t always want what makes for open honest communication and
relationships. There is a work involved
and RISK involved, and there is sacrifice
involved.
Honesty is the
key factor in this. It seems that we beliove only in theory that honesty is the
best policy. When we stand face to face with someone peacemaking does not sound
like such a great idea after all.
Most of us will
do anything to avoid conflict. And we will do all in our power to “keep the
peace”.
But, when people
submerge their true feelings in order to preserve harmony, they actually
undermine the integrity of the relationship. They buy the peace they are
looking for, but it is only on the surface – underneath they are hurt and
troubled: questions and hidden hostilities are waiting to erupt. It’s a costly
price to pay for a cheap peace and it inevitably leads to inauthentic
relationships.
We learn to
develop relationships only on the surface level. No one says anything that is
“unsafe”. You never discuss misunderstandings, reveal hurt feelings, air
frustrations or ask difficult questions. Sure we have peace – but it’s a
counterfeit peace, bought at the price of the relationships integrity characterized
by safe and mature dialogue.
WE all desire to
live a life that is free from conflict. However, everyday interaction and
situations with fellow employees, roommates, classmates, parents, even children
give us many instances for misunderstood dialogue, uncommunicated desires &
mixed intentions.
IN time these
relationships deteriorate. Feelings of love begin to die.
Relationships are
built upon trust and open, honest communication. So, to not communicate a
problem undermines the trust upon which this is built. This also speaks of our
personal responsibility to care for and nurture our relationships.
Jesus himself did not come just to keep peace, but to real
peace, that he said will bring conflict. It will turn a father against in son
and a son against his father. Even in Jesus case the path to true peace goes
the road of conflict. Luke 12:53 They will be divided, father
against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter
against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law
against mother-in-law."
Guidelines to truth
telling are found in…
Ephes.
4:15-16 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into
him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and
held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love,
as each part does its work.
NIV
Remember the vow that is made in a court of law? WE are
to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Many times we
shrink back from telling the whole truth. We will tell part of it, and try to
get in and out as easily as possible.
¨
Ephes. 4:25-27 Eph 4:25-27 Therefore each of you must put off
falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one
body. 26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while
you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
Putting
off false hood means does not mean putting it on hold, but casting it off just
as one would cast off an unwanted garment. Putting it away never to be taken up
again.
Ephes.
4:29-32 Eph 4:29-32
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your
mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their
needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy
Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid
of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form
of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ God forgave you.
1.
Identify the real obstacle
2.
Meet with the person face to face
3.
Make observations rather than sweeping
generalizations or accusations
4.
Attempt to resolve – not destroy
5.
Don’t be long on truth and short on
love
6.
Gentleness is the controlling
temperament (gal. 5:22). This describes a person who is so in control of
himself that he is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong
time.
We
can easily learn to settle with regrets about actions and learn to live with
decisions that are inconsistent with our professed values. We allow our daily
lives to speed us past the God we claim to worship leaving our devotional lives
weak and spiritual disciplines lax. Our spiritual walk has a serious limp.
James
1:19-20 Dear friends, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20Your anger can never make things right in
God's sight.
1.
Don’t rush into denial, retaliation or
rationalization
2.
Being “quick to hear” shows a readiness to listen
3.
“Slow to
speak” a continual talker
cannot hear what anyone else is saying & cannot hear what God wants them to
hear. Could be God is using that person to tell you something.
4.
Slow to anger. Anger will close the mind to God’s
truth. An argumentative/challenging attitude is not conducive to the humble
reception of the truth.
There are people
here, which before the day is over, will need to make peace with someone.
Simply stated you’ve KEPT the peace for far too long & the day has come.
It’s time to dig below the surface to the heart of what will bring the peace.
There are others
here who need to make your peace with God. You have (in your own mind anyway)
kept the peace with God. You come in the church building and it does NOT tumble
in on top of you. You show up to church once in awhile just to “check in” with
the “man upstairs”. In your own mind you have kept the peace with god by not
trying to sin too much; not too many boo-boos on the books, only a few “white
lies” to make things easier at home. But today you know that you have only
tried to keep the peace with God an that there is no real peace. Only Christ
can bring the peace that you are looking for – that is why he is called the
Prince of Peace.