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Some years ago while I was pastoring a local church in the Midwest, a terrible stir arose in the community. It appeared a fight broke out in a nearby fundamental church. Apparently the pastor and the deacons had been feuding for some time. The disagreement and tempers rose so much, that the deacons had secretly met and planned to forcibly remove the pastor at the next Sunday service by rushing forward just before the message and bodily carrying him out the door. Well, word somehow got to the pastor, so when Sunday came he was ready. Behind the pulpit be placed a baseball bat and waited for the moment. Sure enough, after the pastoral prayer preceding the message, three men got up out of their pews and rushed forward. The pastor saw them coming and reached for his baseball bat. Well the rest is history. The next day the newspapers reported that after it was all over, the ambulances were screaming to the hospital with three men who were seriously injured. The pastor had won … or had he? Sadly, scenes like this are not uncommon. News reports are peppered all over this nation of other ugly scenes. Reports of board and a growing reality. We hear of congregational and board meetings where tempers flair, and even chairs are flying, fists begin fighting -- these are all too common among God's people who name the name of Christ. But my friend as the Scripture says, "these things ought no so to be!"(James 3:10).
Of all the words in the Bible that encourages the seeking of peace, there is none greater than that which our Lord Jesus Christ spoke when He gave the world what we call "the Beatitudes." This portion of Scripture, found in Matthew's Gospel, is the heart of God's kingdom message to His children who love and serve Him. As Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, He broke forth with a series of teachings that every human being, especially those who claim the name of Christ ought to ponder and practice. Particularly, the seventh beatitude which is found in Matthew 5:9. We read,
Mat 5:9 (NKJV) "Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.";
Actually this word "blessed," can be translated, happy, joyful contented and filled with satisfaction! Yes, that is what Jesus said is the mind and heart attitude of those who dedicate their lives to being - peacemakers! Of course, if you read the Bible carefully enough you'll find that this idea of peace dominates the Bible. The Scripture opens with peace in the Garden of Eden, and happily the Bible closes it's revelation with peace in eternity itself. In between, is that which is the exclusive product of what God calls sin. Yes, man's sin, the angel's sin is what has broken God's peace, and wherever we find the absence of peace, you will find sin reigning.
Yet, for those who have been redeemed by the blood death of Jesus Christ, as James cries "these things ought not to be this way!" In fact, the apostles and their teaching cry out,
1 Cor 7:15 (NIV) "… God has called us to live in peace."
Heb 12:14 (NIV) "Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord."
You see my friend, peace is the commodity that best mimics God and His heart. In fact, Jesus says God has promised to bless His people who are His agents of peace, even to call them the true "sons of God" (Matt. 5:9). Therefore, I submit to you God indeed has a "peace corps," not the world's corrupted variety, but God's pure and holy kind, a sort of PEACE POLICE, if you will. And that is what I want to encourage you to join, God's Peace Police. That you become an officer in this important holy group of believers who are dedicated to being peacemakers in this world and in Gods holy institution the Church of Jesus Christ. Now let's ask ourselves how can we do this? Well, let me give you some helpful pointers from God's Word, and then to encourage you to join God's peace corps and police force.
To begin we must define what is this "peace," God is talking about. You see, many people have the wrong idea about peace. For most people they think peace is simply the absence of conflict or strife. However, this is hardly a definition or goal. You can go to a cemetery and you'll find the absence of conflict, but that is surely not what we want? As far as God is concerned, in the Bible we find that peace is more than the absence of something. It is rather the "presence of righteousness that causes right relationships." So peace is not stopping fighting, but establishing God's righteousness that brings enemies together in the bond of love.
So, how can we find this peace that God reveals is true peace? The answer is in conforming ourselves to God and His Word. Now the Greek word for peace [eirene] speaks of a positive state of harmony because of a right relationship to God Himself. Therefore the peace every believer is to seek in his or her membership in the Peace Police, is to bring lost and sinful humanity back to God, His word and way of righteousness. The peacemaker therefore is one who witnesses for Christ, who points rebellious souls to the Savior and His cross, that they might be reconciled to God. You see, when a man or woman, boy or girl surrenders to God, the relationship of being an enemy is over, and a new life and relationship begins. The Bible says,
Psa 119:165 (KJV) "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."
Isa 26:3 (KJV) "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."
Here God says peace comes to those who's hearts are in alignment with God's Word and will, those who have purposed to trust that God's ways are always right. As such, those who are truly born-again believers in Jesus Christ and have surrendered their hearts fully to God's will, have the fullness of the Spirit of peace ruling in their lives. This always brings a peaceful character and purpose in everything they do. Now sadly in the Church of Jesus Christ, regardless of the fact that we who know Jesus are saved from our sins, there is not the absence of conflict and serious disagreements. All too often, God's people break His peace by the sinful and selfish desire for our own wills to rule and reign. Churches today have split, friends and even families are broken up, hatred and heartache fill the lives of many believers, all because peace is not ruling in our hearts. So what are we to do? Well, let me give you some pointers in the work of God's PEACE POLICE.
First, I think everyone who is born of God can serve as a peacemaker by (1) SEEKING TO WIN THE LOST TO JESUS CHRIST. That is essentially what Jesus meant in giving the Beatitudes which included the promise of happiness and contentment to those who are peacemakers. When we get people reconciled to God through Christ, they become at peace with Him and their lives begin that wonderful journey of "peace that passes all understanding." However, things are not finished as we well know, for peace can be lost or illusive even in the church. This means the second most important thing a peacemaker can do is not only be faithful to win souls to Christ, to reconcile them to God, but (2) TO ENCOURAGE A CONTINUING RIGHT BETWEEN RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BELIEVERS AND GOD. Being a pastor for many years, I have learned that in every church there are some people who simply cannot be at peace with others. They are always stirring up strife, causing contention. Have you ever wondered why? The answer is although they may be saved, they themselves are not at peace with God. If you can dig deep enough into their lives I am sure you'll find they are living in some form of rebellion to God and his Word. As such, their lives are in turmoil, and that lack of peace spills out of their hearts into the lives of everyone around them. Your responsibility as a team member of the Peace Police is therefore to work towards bringing these contentious brothers or sisters to the place of peace with God, by trying to find the source of their rebellion and reveal it to them. Oh yes, to do that may well bring anger, rejection, even strife upon you, but God will honor those who seek to bring other believer back to having the peace of God reigning in their hearts.
How we need Peace Police in God's assembly of the saints. In fact the Spirit of God calls us to be Peace Police. We read in,
Prov 10:12 (NIV) "Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs."
Gal 6:1 (NIV) "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."
We who are Christians, let's seek to reconcile any and every saint who is at war with God and his people. Let us be willing to go to them and help them with their struggle to really love God. If we do that, this will be a sign of true love for God, and our fellow believer in Christ.
Now a third thing we can do serving as peacemakers is for Peace Police (3) TO SET THE EXAMPLE. It's easy to ask others to be reconciled to God, to submit to God's will over and against their own, but what about you and me? If you really step back far enough from every contest of strife and tension that arises in the church, you will find that it involves an unwillingness to submit to others, particularly at times, even the leadership of our churches. Yet this is exactly what God commands every believer to do, including we who are Shepherding pastors of the church. How often strife is found in those who lead the church as well as those who follow in the church. Remember, the Bible says,
Heb 13:17 (NKJV) "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."
We can be the best of God's Peace Police when we ourselves submit to the leadership of others God calls. As a pastor and serving on a board of Elders, I too must submit myself to their care and leadership, Yes, I may not agree with everything they may desire to do, but I will surrender my will to them in respect for God and for His church. I cannot be a true leader myself, a man of authority, unless I am under authority too. You see this is the meaning of God's Word in,
Phil 2:6-8 (NIV) "Who, [Jesus Christ] being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!"
Yes the Lord Himself submitted His rightful authority while on earth, to the Father in heaven. Although He was eternally equal to the Father and will always be, for awhile to serve as our servant, He submitted his will to the Father's will alone. I believe there would be a lot less strife and contention in the church if God's leaders our Deacons, Elders, Shepherds and others called to lead would set the example of surrender to the will of others. For then the people of God's congregations would find it easier to obey their leaders and submit to them. You know, this is no different than the relationship of a biblical husband and wife. The wife is to submit to her husband regardless of the quality of performance of his leadership. However, how much easier and more readily can she do this, when her husband himself is surrendered to Christ as his leader and guide. So when strife breaks out in the church, the first thing is the leadership must examine itself to see if they are not the cause by a poor example and disobedience themselves.
Now lastly, to be a peacemaker in God's peace corps, one of the best things we all can do (4) IS REFUSE TO COOPERATE WITH THOSE WHO CAUSE STRIFE. You see contention and strife usually surfaces in verbalized discontentment, tale bearing, gossip and criticism of others. Listen to what the Bible says about this,
Prov 10:12 (NIV) "Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs."
Prov 16:28 (NIV) "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends."
Prov 26:20 (NIV) "Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down."
If you refuse to be a talebearer, gossip and contentious person well and good. But, even better is the one who refuses to listen to those who are! " 'Without wood,' Solomon wrote,' a fire goes out.' " A real peacemaker refuses to play the game and pass on the negative complaints of others. More strife in the church would die a lonely death, if God's people will not listen! The Bible further says,
1 Tim 5:19 (NIV) "Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses."
When someone comes to you with a negative report, a critical complaint against another believer, every Christian should respond by saying. "Stop, I don't want to hear it. If you have a problem, have you gone to this brother or sister and told them your problem alone? You have no right to speak to me about it unless you've done this and gotten nowhere, and now you are coming to me, for us to go together to him or her to discuss it and let me be the judge of who is right or wrong!"
I tell you if every Christian would respond to those who stir up strife and break the peace of God's people, in this manner, there would be no fires of Hell breaking loose and far fewer disagreements, conflicts and church splits!
Yes, we must refuse to participate in building and propagating strife in the church and working the opposite, to help others find peace with God, and to keep peace with God. Jesus said, "Blessed, or happy are they who are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God."(Mat 5:9). Who is the maker of peace? It is the Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible encourages us,
1 Cor 14:33 (NIV) "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints,"
Eph 2:14 (NIV) "For he [Christ] himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,"
So my friends, my message from my heart to you today is to join God's peace corps, be part of God's Peace Police and serve the corps proudly among God's people and churches. But as a peacemaker, be sure of three things.
First, (1) continue to be at peace with God yourself. Every time there is sin in our lives our peace is disrupted. Keep short accounts with God, confess your sins, be submissive at all times, realizing that any inequities you may suffer, God will make it right and reward you for any loss experienced for the sake of peace. Only when we are at peace with God and experiencing the fullness of it, can we help others to find it also.
Secondly, (2) always work at helping others to make peace with God. In every assembly of God's children there are those who seem to be unable to have God's peace ruling in their hearts. Go to them, befriend them, find out the source of their problems and then pray for them and help them. The Spirit of God says
Rom 10:15 (KJV) "… as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!"
Third, (3) be sure that you yourself at not a source of conflict, trouble and broken relationships. Ask God to search your heart. Have you injured anyone with your words, actions or failure to act? Are you the source of hurt in the heart of brother or sister in the Lord? Perhaps right in your own family between your mate and children? If so, then get right with God, confess that sin and willful disobedience, and ask forgiveness of the one you've offended, and walk in peace. Paul the apostle encourages us,
Rom 12:18 (NIV) "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
Yes, it all depends greatly upon you and me. May we be peacemakers, may we be officers in God's peace police, and may we turn our homes and churches back to a state of brotherly love and peace.
However before I close, I want you to know this. The greatest peace I can offer anyone is first, to be reconciled to God. Our world is in turmoil, our nation is in disorderliness because we are not at peace with God. Our wills, millions of wills are ruling on the throne of our hearts, and until we surrender our wills to Christ, we will never know peace in our lives. I beg of each and everyone of you listening today. Examine your heart -- are you at peace with God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Have you surrendered everything to Him? If not, do it today, right now wherever you are, and invite the great Peacemaker, the Lord Jesus Christ, into your life. If and when you do, the Bible says, the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your minds and heart, through Christ Jesus our Lord. Herein I stand, praying for His peace to fall quietly and completely upon you.
Now, sadly the story I opened with did not have a happy ending. The Church split after the deacons were badly beaten, the pastor eventually left the church, and as far as I know the church has closed and ceases to exist. Would to God, His peace police would have been active earlier in the conflict and resolved the sins that ruled in the hearts of the leadership. May be you know of some strife right now brewing in your church? Then get busy and be God's man or woman of the hour, and work for peace. Not just the absence of conflict, nor maintaining a cold war, but reconciliation full and complete through Jesus Christ the Lord. That is the real work and calling of every saints who names the name of Christ. May God add His blessing to these words for Jesus sake. Amen.
The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries can be heard in selected areas around the nation. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 20 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of all messages is available upon request also.
For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan (wwyfin@sparc.isl.net)