It’s Not “Blessed Are the Peacekeepers”

Blessed areĀ the peacemakers, forĀ they shall be calledĀ sonsĀ of God.

Matthew 5:9

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus started with what are commonly referred to as “The Beatitudes.” With this description of Kingdom life, he informed that peacemakers would be blessed. He didn’t say peacekeepers would be blessed.

Recently, someone pointed out this simple insight, but I have been processing it greatly.

When my mom used to leave my sister and I at home, she would often assign one of us to be the peacemaker and the other to be the peacekeeper. As a child, I don’t know if I ever understood the difference.

I’m starting to understand it now.

With all the unrest in our culture, I feel as if a lot of people are either troublemakers, peacekeepers, but we rarely find peacemakers.

  1. Troublemakers – People who stir up issues to create further division, polarization, and controversy.
  2. Peacekeepers – People who don’t want problems, so they steer clear from any type of debate.
  3. Peacemakers – People who acknowledge that sufficient peace doesn’t exist, and they try to alleviate the problem.

I know plenty of troublemakers. I am aware of many peacekeepers. I just know very few peacemakers. And yet, that is what Jesus calls his believers to prioritize. According to his words, to be a peacemaker reveals that you are a child of God. Why? God makes peace, and his kids should be a part of the same activity.

Oftentimes, when I seek to be a peacemaker, I have been labeled as causing trouble.

  1. Troublemakers get frustrated by peacemakers because they thrive in the chaos rather than the rest. They want to highlight the problem more than propose a solution.
  2. Peacekeepers get upset by peacemakers because they hope the drama will go away if people will just stop talking about it. Ignorance is bliss, and inactivity is safe.

Anarchy or avoidance isn’t peace. It is hard work, but it is worth it.

We are living in chaotic times. Peace is hard to find. We don’t need people to bring more trouble.

We don’t have peace, so no one can say they are just trying to keep it. We need people who will be willing to make peace. And, in so doing, they will get push back from every side.

Yet Jesus will be proud.

I think I will go that route. Will you?