Bridging the Unbridgeable: Becoming a Peacemaker In A Divided World Part II
- sharonstults
- Mar 18
- 4 min read
“Peacemakers are people who breathe grace.”
This quote by author Ken Sande, is a word picture for the heart of peacemaking, breathing grace into a situation that is currently lacking it. Our world needs grace breathers right now.
In part one of this series I shared Christ’s call for us to become courageous peacemakers. Here are some practical ideas about how to do it. As a novice peacemaker myself, I hunted for writers with the goods on this topic. I linked three of the best articles at the bottom of this one.
Here are my top seven takeaways from these articles, but I encourage you to read them yourself. They are goldmines of ideas for peacemaker wannabes.
1. We have confused peacemaking with pacifism.
Pacifism is keeping the peace at any cost. We had an elder in one of the churches we pastored in who refused to participate in church discipline with the other elders, when needed. His favorite saying was, “Just pour some oil on the water.” The living water at that church was smothered by a thick layer of oil that had been poured on it from situations with members openly sinning against one another with no consequences.
2. Christians need to be intentional, truthful and grace-filled on social media.
We all feel gut reactions to posts that clash with our personal moral code and values. The problem is, because we aren’t face to face with the authors, we sometimes hit and run with snarky comments.
God will lead us to present an opposing viewpoint or to put up posts ourselves that some will consider controversial. Jesus created controversy wherever he traveled. However, when he scolded religious leaders, he spoke truth with grace because he cared about their eternal souls. When we lack grace with our truth-speaking, we add to division and strife. We burn bridges instead of building them.
3. Joy is what fuels our peacemaking efforts.
Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before him. What was that joy? His death reconciled lost humans to his Father. There is so much joy to be found in helping people reconcile to one another and to God. Proverbs 12:20 says “Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace,” (NLT).
4. We often make conflicts worse because we either react impulsively or ignore a conflict.
Neither one of these human responses help peacemaking go forward. Ignoring a conflict usually gives people space to create even more conflict, like our oily church in point 1. Kingdom values hold people accountable for their words and actions. On the opposite end, reacting with angry words, emotional tirades or cold silences pour gasoline on the fire of conflict. This is why nations go to war. This is why churches and families divide.
5. Kindness and self-control can build a bridge across a conflict. Sarcasm, mocking, unrighteous anger, and arrogance burn them.
Kindness doesn’t minimize feelings and concerns. Kindness speaks firmly and calmly when others are ranting. Kindness remembers that it was God’s lovingkindness that drew their soul to Jesus. Self-control holds its tongue and thinks before it speaks. The world has elevated those who are quick with snarky, sarcastic takes on a conflict. Social media and late-night talk shows seem to run on the fuel of harsh, often unnecessary words. When we are not the target we Christians even laugh along. But that is not the way of Jesus.
6. Prayer needs to be earnest and humble for a peacemaker.
At the end of her article, Erica Ord crafted a powerful prayer for anyone who hears the Holy Spirit’s call to be a peacemaker. The dangerous waters of conflict resolution can end up drowning all who enter them without the anointing and leading of the Holy Spirit.
7. Ken Sande’s “Four Gs' of Peacemaking” are worth memorizing.
These are simple, easy to understand and remember. Ken offers a free e-book download on his site for more information on these points.
· Glorify God
· Get the log out of your eye
· Gently restore
· Go and be reconciled
Finally, experience teaches me that it is foolish to try to reconcile people who lack any desire to be at peace with one another.
People who demonstrate no humility or godly sorrow don’t want peace.
I’ve observed that people stuck in that mud often want sympathy or the power of manipulation and control more than peace. As sad as that is, we will burn through emotional energy and time for no good reason when we get involved with situations without a clear leading from God, who knows every heart.
It’s long past time for the body of Christ to take his words about peacemaking in Matthew 5:9 seriously. Are we willing to step into the canyons of conflict and start participating in God’s ministry of reconciliation? I hope so.
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