Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God (Matthew 5:9 – New International Version).
More than ever before, peace seems like an otherworldly commodity. We are fed a constant diet of conflict, served up compliments of the digital information era. If it is not one country trying to gain the upper hand over another, it is a world leader denouncing the other, partisan politicians vilifying one another, scientists refuting the claims of other scientists, economists debunking the policies of other economists, religious leaders rebuking one another, civil unrest, injustice, and protests. Then there are the ubiquitous social media users and trolls calling out and canceling celebrities, public figures, and the unfortunate souls who happened to word their posts the wrong way. It is no wonder the peacemakers are called children of God, because this world seems to excel at producing the opposite.
Every so often, there are some who call for an end to the hostilities – especially on social media. Regrettably, their solutions can often be condensed down to a single cliché: “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” To be quite honest, I have never seen that work. Silence can never be a substitute for peace. Asking people to be quiet when they feel passionate about something is like trying to plug a broken water main with plastic bags. You made an effort, but it was doomed to failure from the start.
Since we are all part of the problem, how we move forward must begin at a more personal and fundamental level. It is the knowledge we bring to our conversations and relationships, and how we choose to use it, that perpetuates conflict. Therefore, we must first assume responsibility for our part if there is to be the hope of something better. Radio journalist and author Celeste Headlee framed it like this: “In conversation as in life, you can’t control what someone else does or says; you can only control yourself. But sometimes, that’s enough.”[1]
Peacemakers are a blessing because their endeavors are always bilateral. There is no such thing as a one-sided conflict, and those who strive for peace seek the betterment of both sides – even if one side is not their own. Peacemakers are community builders, whether that community is found in the bond of their familial relationships, those who live in their neighborhoods, worship in their churches, work with them, or share their digital spaces. They are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to move both sides towards solutions rather than continual conflicts.
END OF PART SIX
[1] Celeste Headlee, We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter (New York: Harper Collins 2017), 42.
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