Courage & Peacemaking

Christianity isn't for wimps. Every time I make that statement in a group I see a frightening look flash on many people's faces. I don't back down from that statement because I have had to exercise more courage as a Christian than I have ever known previously.

Jesus said, "My peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you."

If you study the whole life of Christ, you might recall that for every moment of his days on earth, he had an intuition as to what his final moment on this earth would be: the Cross.

He knew that he would be going through an agony, a scourging, crowning and a crucifixion. Yet, with this thought hanging over his mind, he still found time to offer peace to the woman taken in adultery, to offer peace as shown in the story of the prodigal son, to offer peace to the good thief. Never did Christ lose his peace of mind despite the abuses he endured, the mistreatment he experienced or the desolate kind of death that was his.

Jesus Christ was the most courageous man I have ever read of or have known.

In conversation with the woman at the well, He violated protocol of Jews with Samaritans, much less a "woman of questionable reputation."

He has promised me HIS peace; so courage is a given. Peacemakers don’t sweep problems under the carpet – they confront them, even if the process is painful. Peacemakers actively seek to resolve conflict, not just keep it under control. Peacemakers are rare, because peacemaking takes courage backed up with hard work.

There is a big difference between peacekeepers and peacemakers. Peacekeepers can be intimidating. They say: "If you will not keep the peace, you will be punished". Peacekeepers carry weapons to back up their threats. In military conflicts, the weapons are:

• guns
• missiles
• sanctions.

In family conflicts, the weapons are:

• violence
• emotional withdrawal
• financial deprivation
• separation/divorce.

In contrast, peacemakers pose no threat. They don’t issue ultimatums. They don’t give commands. Peacemakers first and foremost listen. Peacemakers take the time to hear a person’s grievance and understand things from their perspective. Peacemakers are patient – they understand when someone needs time to work through an issue. Peacemakers are in it for the long haul.

What do you say? How are you with this post's headline: Courage & Peacemaking?