The People of Peace – Conflict (His Perfect Peace 3)
I don’t know about you, but my first thought when I hear the word peace, relates to our relationships with others. Since the Fall conflict has plagued all human relationships both individually and corporately. The Bible is filled from start to finish with accounts of conflict. The news is filled with reports of nations rising up against other nations. People everywhere fight in an effort to get things their own way. The consequences of all such conflicts are significant for all.
Everyone of us has, is and will continue be connected to some degree of conflict. It is not restricted to other people! No, this is something very close to home for all of us. Christians and even Christian leaders are not immune to it. Why is this the case? In James’ letter he addresses the question of what causes conflict:
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James 4:1-3
These verses helpfully root the cause of conflict in our own desires. These are the desires which battle within us. Because we do not have, we kill. Because we cannot have what we covet for, we quarrel and fight. Conflict is therefore inevitable because of the state of our hearts which Jeremiah describes as deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). We have a natural tendency towards division, disagreement and conflict. All of this is part of living in a fallen world. When things go wrong there are huge implications for the degree of peace we experience with others. There is also an impact for our own sense of peace within. There is much that could be said about this topic, but in this blog I want to offer three suggestions that will help us to be people of peace.
1. Qualities of Peace (Romans 12:1-13):
Romans 12 begins with some well known verses in which Paul urges the Christians in Rome to offer their bodies as living sacrifices. He also urges them to not be conformed to the world around them, but rather be transformed by renewed minds. But then Paul says this: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: do not think of yourself more highly than you ought…(3a). Having a right view of ourselves is crucial if we are to be people of peace. Many a conflict has arisen from those who think too much of themselves. Instead, Paul says but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you (3b). People of peace are people who recognise the grace given to them and respond in accordance with their faith!
Secondly, in v4-8 Paul explains that we are one body with many members. These members do not have the same function, but according to the grace given to us, enjoy different gifts which we are to use in accordance with our faith. A brief reflection of Paul’s letters to the Corinthian church shows that a misunderstanding of these spiritual gifts brought huge division.
4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Romans 4:4-8
Thirdly in v9-13 Paul encourages sincere love and a hatred for evil. He says we are to be devoted to one another and honour one another above ourselves (v10). His great mantra in these verses is: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer (v12). Taken together these qualities describe someone who knows who they are in Christ, who knows their contribution to the body, who honours others above themselves and who is faithful in prayer. If we are to become people of peace we need all of these qualities because there are going to be times when conflict arises. Humble, community minded, spirit-filled and prayerful people are not by any means immune from conflict, but I believe these qualities are a great starting point for diffusing it. In some of the deepest conflict I have experienced, I recognise that things like my pride, ego, agenda and vision have often been centre stage.
2. Live at Peace (Romans 12:14-21, 14:17-19):
The 2nd half of Romans 12 includes some very practical advice for how we relate to others. To those who persecute us, we are to bless and not curse. To those who rejoice, we are to rejoice also. To those who mourn, we again are to mourn. Paul wants us to live in harmony with one another and he is so motivated about this that he lists off a number of things that rob us of this harmony:
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
On Paul’s list are some of the things that oppose that which we mentioned above: pride, conceit and revenge. We all have an inclination to put ourselves first, to act in pride and to try and get our own back on others. Yet Paul says we must not do these things, but rather be careful to do what is right. Paul continues on this track in v18-21 where he makes another pivotal statement:
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. 20 On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Notice the challenging words of v18: as far as it depends on you. Paul does include the words, if it is possible, acknowledging that it may not always be possible. But if we have any influence on things, Paul wants us to live at peace with everyone. This sentiment is repeated again in 14:19: Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. This of course really sets us apart from the world around us – those in Christ do all that is possible to live in peace. Being at peace with people is a great thing. It brings unity and togetherness within the body of Christ and it makes a huge witness to the watching world. On the other hand, I know first hand that an absence of peace bring anxiety and stress!
3. Promote Peace (James 3:13-18, Matt 5):
Many will be familiar with Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon Jesus declares: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9). This final exhortation goes even further than living at peace and says we must become peacemakers. In that same chapter Jesus goes on to speak about avoiding being angry with a brother or sister (v21-26), turning the other cheek / going the extra mile for others (v38-42) and loving our enemies (v43-48). Jesus’s teaching is radical and transformative. But I want to turn finally to some words at the end of James 3:
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13-18
In these verses James contrasts earthly wisdom (v14-16), with the wisdom from heaven (v17-18). The former is caught up with bitter envy, selfish ambition, disorder and evil practice. Wisdom from above, however, is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. These is a complete disparity between these two lists. Then comes the clincher in v18 – those who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. This harvest of righteousness is what comes to those who sow in peace. Over the past few years there have been situations going on around me where I’ve felt called to be a peacemaker. I believe that God has put this on my heart although the outcomes have not always been what I had hoped. We do not need to look far for conflict, but it is a rare thing for someone to stand up and be a peacemaker!
So there we have it – three ways that we can grow into people of peace. First we must work on the qualities that help bring peace, secondly we must do everything we can to live at peace with those around us and thirdly we must seek to become peacemakers. I don’t know about you but this feels like a huge challenge. The ingredients that bring peace do not come naturally to any of us. With God’s help we make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification in Christ…
See other posts in this series: