In his Sermon on the Mount our Lord issued this exhortation:
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called
children of God.” (Matthew 5:9)
BUT WHAT HAPPENED?
Why is there so little peace in our homes, within our
own hearts and minds, in our churches, in our nation and
throughout the world?
The Church has been around for two-thousand years, yet
this biblical concept of peace appears to be beyond our
reach. What can we do as followers of Christ to help make
peace happen in our own lives, in our churches and in
our world?
Two Major Views in the
Church:
History reveals that in the earliest days of Christianity
Christians were pacifists. This caused them considerable
difficulty living in the Roman Empire. Refusing to serve
the Emperor caused Christians to suffer persecution which
led many to their death. As followers of Christ they refused
to declare Caesar their ‘lord’ and refused
to serve in the military. To these Christians there was
but one Lord and his name was Jesus. Throughout the Empire
Christians boldly declared: “Jesus alone and only
is Lord!” See – Acts 10:36; Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor.
8:6; Eph. 4:5; Phil. 2:11; Rev. 17:14.
As increasing numbers of people professed Christianity
many brought baggage from their pagan backgrounds with
them. Sadly this compromised the simplicity of the New
Testament faith. Hierarchy developed.
Augustine, a North African, who had come from a pagan
background became a Christian. He forsook his paganism,
became a presbyter, and rapidly rose within the ranks
of church leadership. He was extremely influential through
his preaching, teaching and writings. By this time the
majority of Christians no longer took a pacifist position.
Christians were now serving in the military. It was this
Augustine who took the position that it was not contrary
to Christian belief to defend one’s country in times
of warfare. His theology, which is now accepted by the
overwhelming majority of Christians, is what is referred
to as “the just war” theory but the problem
is:
What is a ‘just’
war? Are the wars that our nation engages in “just
wars" or have we become the "aggressors?”
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Unfortunately
the institutional Church has often deviated from
the position held by Augustine and has engaged in
wars that have been anything but just. Often Christian
is pitted against Christian, killing and being killed,
and that in senseless and unwarranted warfare.
The
infamous crusades are a prime example of senseless
and godless action taken by the institutional Church
hierarchy. The crusades promised God’s blessing
upon sincere but misguided Christians seeking to
do God’s will. Somewhat similar to the present
day militant Muslims as they seek to do what they
believe to be the will of Allah [God].
At
the time of the Protestant Reformation there were
groups of Christians who once again took the New
Testament position as basic to their belief and
faith in Christ. |
These Christians, known as Anabaptists, gave rise to some
of the pacifist Christian groups we have today: the Mennonites,
various Brethren groups, the Friends (Quakers), and others.
Many early Pentecostals and Seventh Day Adventists were
also pacifists.
Because
of the fact that the Reformers held the same position
as was held by the Roman Church both groups persecuted
the Anabaptists. Many of these non-violent Christians
were martyred for their belief.
At this point you may be wondering if I am a pacifist?
The answer is ‘Not exactly’. I believe that
Christians have an obligation to their nation to protect
it even if it means taking up arms during a war forced
upon it. However, as a Christian, I am opposed to wars
of aggression. At this point I am going to step-out-on-a-limb
by stating that I am convinced that the war that the United
States has directed at the sovereign nation of Iraq is
a war of aggression. I have no doubt that the leaders
of Iraq were misguided and evil men. However, I am not
convinced that our government acted appropriately by provoking
and then invading Iraq. There have been needless deaths
and maiming to both ordinary people of Iraq as well as
to members of our own armed forces while the politicians,
some of whom are professed Christians, sit in their comfortable
offices, making decisions that I believe are contrary
to Christ’s call for his followers to be peacemakers.
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Even
if you do not agree with my position I do ask that
you not falsely accuse me of being unpatriotic.
I love my country. I am convinced that God has and
continues to bless this nation of ours. Yet, I believe
that I am obligated to raise my voice in protest
as to what I see our nation doing in the world today.
I am not convinced that God has called America to
police the world. Christians are called to be peacemakers
(Matthew 5:9) and to live in peace (2 Corinthians
13:11). Being a Christian peacemaker takes considerable
work on the part of the Christian often subjecting
the individual to abuse and misunderstanding by
fellow Christians. |
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The
apostle Paul in writing to Timothy exhorted him to “pursue
peace.” See – 2 Timothy 2:22.
Pursuing
peace takes time and effort but it must be done if we
are to be fulfilling our mission as Christ’s disciples.
Of all people on earth it is the followers of Jesus Christ
who should be known worldwide as the people of peace under
the “Prince of peace”. The peace that we have
is the peace that comes from God (Philippians 4:7), from
Christ (John 14:17) and is a fruit of the Spirit in the
life of the believer (Gal. 5:22).
As
a Christian believer I like the way the apostle Peter
put it as to how we Christians are to live allowing peace
to rule in our lives and in our churches, “Finally,
all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one
another, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay
evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the contrary,
repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called
– that you might inherit a blessing. For ‘Those
who desire life and desire to see good days, let them
keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking
deceit; let them turn away from evil and do good; let
them seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord
are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’
Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?
But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you
are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be
intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.
Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands
from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet
do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience
clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse
you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering
should be God’s will, than to suffer for doing evil.”
(1 Peter 3:8-17) NRSV.
What Can We Do as Christians?
Christ calls Christians to be “lights in this world”
and to be “salt”. I am convinced that this
exhortation is to be taken seriously by his followers.
The call to be peacemakers must not be ignored. In obedience
to this call:
