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[Editor's Note: This is part two of a three-part article by Dr. James Barnes]
Psalm 85:10 says, "Righteousness and peace kiss each other." We all want to avoid needless strife at home, at work, or wherever we are, but if we avoid it to the point of sacrificing truth - then we have merely compromised our principles and we don't have peace we are simply left with a truce, a ceasefire, a cold war, a time to reload. People who are easy-going, never making waves, who are always compromising and appeasing someone are not Biblical peacemakers, they just have no convictions. A true Biblical peacemaker will not let sleeping dogs lie. They will not accept the status quo. He or she will not say, "I know the person is doing wrong, but I would rather just keep the peace." A true Biblical peacemaker will resolve conflict by the truth so as to bring the righteousness of God's word to bear. We are to be peacemakers by speaking the truth in love. That is the meaning of peace. What is the menace to peace? What hinders peace? The menace to peace would be error and lies. Jeremiah said the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick. How does a wicked heart manifest itself? Isaiah said a wicked heart knows no peace. If two people are always fighting it is because of sin in their heart. Eliminate the sin and you have peace.
James 3 says, "The seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." Peacemakers sow righteous fruit. If you have righteousness, purity and holiness in your marriage, in your home, in your nation, then peace will be there. The world teaches us just the opposite: People will pay a fortune to go and watch two men beat each other to a pulp. The world has always given the highest honor to warriors. We are taught to 'take nothing from nobody." Don't let anybody take it from you." Assert yourself, fight back, don't take it, get in the last word, don't stand for that, tell them off. So there is a twofold menace to peace. The first is the presence of sin, a selfish, self-serving, attitude that produces conflict. But passivity can also be a menace to peace. Jesus was called the Prince of peace but he caused a lot of conflict. Lk. 23 says 'he stirred up the people." Paul preached a message of reconciliation, the gospel of peace, yet he created a riot everywhere he preached. Bringing truth to bear on falsehood will always cause conflict.
Casting a light on sin will always bring conflict. When you share with people that they are separated from God because of sin you will create conflict. When you share with people that their actions are a result of sin in their lives you will create a conflict. But that is what a peacemaker is supposed to do. That is the meaning and the menace of peace. Who is the Maker of Peace? God is. I Cor. 4:33 God is not the God of confusion but the God of peace. Romans 15:33 The God of peace be with you. II Thess. 3:16 May the Lord of peace grant you peace. God is the author, the maker, and the source of peace. Apart from Him, there can be no peace. I read a story of a couple that was arguing back and forth. Their four-year-old son watched and listened as tears rolled down his cheeks.
Finally, he walked over to his father and took his hand. Then reached up and took his mother's hand and pulled those two hands together and brought peace. In a sense that is what Christ did for us. He provided the righteousness that allows us to take God's hand. Col. 1:20 "To reconcile all things to Himself, He made peace through the blood of His cross." There was no peace at the cross yet the cross paved the way for peace. So, God is the source of peace. Jesus is the manifestation of peace. The Holy Spirit is the agency of peace. The next time you are involved in conflict, ask yourself, "Is what I am saying or what I am doing a product of the Spirit?" For the spirit produces peace and those filled with the spirit will do likewise. Who are the messengers of peace? We are the messengers of peace.
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Dr. James Barnes has pastored the White Memorial Church in Milroy for 25 years. The church is located on 68 S. Main St., Milroy.