Blessed are the Peacemakers (Matthew 5:9)

Conflict is unavoidable. Everyone, at some time or another, will be embroiled in conflict. Conflict may mean anything from harsh words to loss of property or life. A clear sign of Christian maturity is not how well you avoid conflict, but how you respond to conflict. Ken Sande, author of The Peacemaker, said:

As people reconciled to God by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that we are called to respond to conflict in a way that is remarkably different from the way the world deals with conflict.

This is because we have peace with God through Jesus Christ and we can pursue peace with others. Jesus was no stranger to conflict (as we have seen in the Gospel of John) and He spoke on the subject on many occasions. One of those is found in Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Let us pay special attention to the difference between peacemaking, peace-taking, and peace-faking. 

Christians are called to respond to conflict in a way that is remarkably different from the way the world deals with conflict.

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A Peace Taker

A Peace Taker Loves Conflict. A peace taker is someone who enjoys conflict, strife (Prov 16:28), gossip (Prov 18:8), etc. They seek out and seek to create conflict. They love the latest “news” and can’t wait to share it with others. They enjoy hearing about the misfortunes of others because they enjoy misery. Other times they enjoy hearing about other people’s problems so that they can sit in judgment against them. According to Ken Sande, when they find themselves in a conflict, peace takers put down, gossip, and/or fight.   

Conflict is an Opportunity. Peace takers love conflict because they see it as an opportunity for them to feel better about themselves. The more they focus on the failures of others, the less they focus on their own failures. This distraction helps them to avoid their conscience. This response is selfish and the peace taker is not blessed and is living in rebellion against God. The peace taker needs to hear the words of Jesus: “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matt 12:36).

A Peace Faker

A Peace Faker Hates Conflict. A peace faker is someone who does not enjoy conflict. Unlike the peace taker, they seek to personally avoid conflict at all costs. According to Ken Sande, when they find themselves in a conflict they will deny, blame, and/or run away. Often they do not care that other people are involved in conflict, as long as it does not affect them personally. The peace faker, when presented with gossip or slander, will either remain silent or join in so as to remain on good terms with the gossiper. As long as it does not affect them, the peace faker is content, but when they are personally involved in conflict they quickly run away and/or blame others. Many times they have “green pasture” syndrome. They feel that if they can find a new location and/or job the conflict will stop and they can be happy.

Conflict is Devastating. The reason a peace faker hates conflict is because it is devastating to their self-esteem. They want to project the image that everything in their life is fine and that they have no problems. Conflict, however, shatters that image. Instead of dealing with conflict they seek to escape either through fleeing, blaming, and/or denying. This response is selfish and the peace faker is living in rebellion against God. They need to “Pursue peace with all men” (Heb 12:14) and do the hard work of reconciliation. They need to find their worth in Jesus rather than in their presentation of perfection.

A Peace Maker

A Peace Maker Hates Conflict. A peacemaker is someone who hates conflict because conflict separates friends and family from one another. The peacemaker understands that no one wins these conflicts. The lies, bitterness, and resentment leave a trail of destruction that causes deep hurt in everyone involved. They hate conflict, but–unlike the peace faker–they do not run from it. Instead, they seek to resolve the conflict biblically. When they sin against someone, they confess and ask forgiveness. When they are involved in conflict, they seek to reconcile. They remember God’s forgiveness of their sins and they ask God to help them love the other person. According to Ken Sande, they will first try to overlook an offense. If they can’t overlook it, they will go to the other person and seek to talk through it together. If the two of them cannot talk it out together, they will seek help from others through coaching, mediation, and/or arbitration. This is in keeping with Jesus’ command in Matthew 18:15-20. They strive to live at peace with all men (Heb 12:14).

Conflict is an Opportunity. The peacemaker hates conflict but sees it as an opportunity for Christ to be glorified through the healing of relationships. Jesus has given us a ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18). Christ reconciles us to God and with one another. Peacemakers see the hurt that conflict brings and the disrepute it brings to the name of Jesus. Someone may see Christians fighting and think, “If that is what Christ brings, forget it!” Peacemakers also see how much reconciliation testifies of the goodness of God. Someone may see conflict resolved well and say, “Wow!  If Christ can do that, I want to follow Him!” Forgiveness and reconciliation are powerful witnesses for Christ. 

Sons of God

Resist the urge to hear this information and think, “I wish so-and-so was here to hear this.” Instead, pray and ask God to help you identify how you respond to conflict. Remember, Christians should respond to conflict in a way that is different from the way the world deals with it. That is because we have peace with God through Jesus and we can pursue peace with others. In Matthew 5:9, Jesus declared that the peacemakers are blessed and are called the sons of God. This is because they have peace with God (Rom 5:1) and have a desire to pursue peace with others. The peace of God is the fuel that helps you humble yourself, to forgive, and to seek forgiveness. Without sacrificing your convictions, do you desire to pursue peace with others? Conflict is unavoidable, but how you respond to conflict is up to you. Will you react selfishly or biblically? A peacemaker desires that God brings peace and reconciliation to the conflicts in his/her life. Do you have any bitterness or resentment towards anyone?  Do you have conflicts that are unresolved? Do you believe Jesus is able to bring peace? Are you willing to work for it? Seek to be a peacemaker with all. Reconcile today for the glory of God and the good of others. Lastly, consider: If the peacemakers are blessed, what does that mean for the peace takers and peace fakers?