Peacemakers, Not Peace-Seekers

“Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Jesus did not say, “Blessed are the peace-keepers,” He said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

So, what’s the difference between peace-keepers and peacemakers?  Plenty!  Pastors, other leaders and many in our churches have misunderstood the important difference. Churches and organizations in general often possess troubled individuals who remain potentially divisive, and have to be constantly monitored by leaders who work feverishly to “keep the peace.”  Really, what’s needed are leaders who decisively and wisely act to bring about permanent solutions, thus ridding the church or whatever group of on-going root issues.  The end result will be lasting peace and guaranteed perpetuity.  In other words, they will be healthy!   

I have pastored six churches and was called to be a peacemaker in each one.  Peacemakers are never popular, but when righteous leadership confronts counter-productive believers, who act in ungodly ways, the church is better off in the long run.  After all, souls hang in the balance and we dare not allow unruly hearts to thwart what God wants to do in a given situation.  Literally, entire communities are at stake.

I’d rather lead 100 people living in peace than 200 living in strife!  Peacemakers confront in love and at times firmly, but when it’s all said and done, God’s house is worth fighting for! That’s why I go to great lengths to righteously shepherd Hope Community Church.   

Did you know that Christians can operate under demonic influence?  Put a peace-keeper in the mix and the kingdom of God suffers defeat. In 2 Timothy 2:23-26, Paul writes to believers in conflict:  “Refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.  The Lord’s bondservant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, HAVING BEEN HELD CAPTIVE BY HIM TO DO HIS WILL.”  The pronouns “him” and “his” refer to the devil.

Peacemakers move forward in boldness to confront such wrongdoing.  When these types of issues go unchallenged, the enemy literally declares “open season” on the church or whatever group might be involved, and wreaks havoc. Vision is destroyed and precious lives are short-changed. 

These things must not be allowed to fester.  You may say, “Pray about it, and God will take care of it.”  I say, “Yes, pray.  Pray hard.  Then act!”  During the English Civil War (1642), General Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Edgehill was overheard to say, “Yes, pray.  Have faith.  But keep your (gun) powder dry!”  Righteous strategies prevail!

I have seen churches struggle year after year because Christians have never been taught the necessity of having peacemakers in leadership instead of peace-keepers. And sadly, good people often leave rather than being caught up in drama and division.  Why then does Jesus extol peacemaking over peace-seeking?  Because peacemakers make possible the uninterrupted flow of God’s Spirit; while peace-seekers try to please everyone and never see real peace. 

This principle holds true for any group of people. Confusion continues to reign where an undercurrent of strife is allowed to remain.  Loving confrontation is necessary. The word “confrontation” conjures up negative feelings; however, to confront does not mean having to yell, scream, threaten, or overtake someone by force.  Everyone deserves wise instruction and the right to express themselves in a quiet, non-threatening manner.       

The necessity of peacemakers vs. peace-keepers works in every office, school, family, business, organization and church.  The principles are still the same.

Let me explain through definition. What is a peace-keeper?  Peace-keepers are fickle. They operate in fear and allow loud voices and controlling spirits to rule the roost.  They are fearful and often reel under the weight of public opinion and high intensity voices.  They cave in to manipulative and threatening schemes. They try to appease instead of confronting the canker within.

Peace-keepers hate confrontation.  For them, to confront requires more than they’re willing to lose.  That’s why angry people often go unchallenged -- they work in the dark and behind the scenes, and peace-keepers seldom meet their nemesis head-on. Peace-keepers usually end up losing their integrity and self-respect.  They become chameleons, “championing who they’re with at the time.”  They try their best to please everyone and to KEEP everyone happy.  In the long run, they end up pleasing no one! 

Peace-keepers often are aware of underlying currents of discord and upheaval, where peace is crowded out, and tension reigns.  But fear keeps them from acting with boldness and self-assurance.  They live in frustration until they move from “keeping” to “making.” Sadly, spiritually discerned people are often held at bay because of the intimidating spirit they face. They often find themselves caught in the middle of battles where opposing minds are led by peace-keepers.  When strong leaders take on troubled situations, those in their charge feel a sense of protection. 

Put a peace-keeper in leadership and you have a mess on your hands -- a weak church, business or organization.  Chaos is apt to reign.  Remember, Christians sometimes operate under demonic principles.  Strong peacemakers are necessary to call them out.

What is a peacemaker?  Peacemakers deal with root issues.  They expose the underlying problems. They get to the bottom of conflict.  And they make decisions based on what’s best for the whole, instead of the one.  They sometimes make unpopular decisions, all the while keeping their integrity and self-respect intact. In short, they are willing to be misunderstood.  And many times they are.  Accusations of playing favorites, being unfair, and harsh often surface.  But peacemakers stand firm in their convictions AND decisions -- right or wrong! 

Timothy, at the request of Paul, functioned as a peacemaker when two women in the church at Philippi became embroiled in a conflict that threatened the unity of the entire church.  He writes, “I urge Euodia and I urge Synteche to live in harmony in the Lord...I ask you to help these women…” (Philippians 4:2-3). 

The Scriptures provide no details, but you can be sure that two women were called to task and a potentially divisive situation was righteously resolved, as Paul fought diligently to keep his beloved church moving forward.

Naturally, there are some battles not worth fighting.  However, when the health of your church, your home, your business or whatever is threatened from the inside-out, you need to rise up and become a peacemaker.  If a pastor refuses to do what’s best, the church may suffer permanent decline. Jesus emphatically tells us that peacemakers are recognized as “children of God.”  And heaven backs those who do the right thing, regardless of what others think. 

Are you a leader?  Remember, being a peacemaker may not always be popular, but it will bring health and stability into any group of people.  In all probability, people will leave, but any fallout must be seen as a preventive measure that curtails even worse end results.  And most important, the favor of God!