"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God" Mat. 5:9

Ya-know, Jesus, the ultimate peacermaker/Son of God was majorly persecuted by the self-righteous religious community----and it seems to me that all who strive to walk in his steps need to be ready to receive the same treament...

Your thoughts?

Metal Blessings,
pb
www.guitarjams.net

We've been doing a study on the beatitudes in Sunday school for a month or so now and went over this one this past week. The thing that struck me was that this particular beatitude (much like the one about the meek inheriting the earth) is how much this had to have flown in the face of everything people were expecting of the Messiah. The people looked for this prophet like Moses that was going to come and deliver them again from oppression, give them a tangible, present-world peace and victory, and yet these exhortations of our Savior were almost 180 degrees out of phase with what the popular sentiment/desire was at the time.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." "Blessed are the peacemakers..."

"Peace?" I can almost hear them say. "Of course! We'll make peace! We just need to kick these lousy Romans out of our land and take the inheritance which is ours!"

Much is the same today. It's so easy (speaking also for myself) to ignore and obscure the greater peace that Christ accomplished in reconciling us to a holy God whom we were set in rebellion against in our sins, and instead hijack his name, image, and likeness for our own earthly "kingdoms" and movements. "We'll have peace, as soon as we get these atheists out of our government!" "We'll have our inheritance once we kick the Muslims out of the Holy Land!!" It's no wonder the gospel of grace, the truly "good news" gets lost when we caricature Christ in our own politically and personally-tailored ways.

Lord, forgive us for when we countermand your work and desires by imposing our own...

Great thought Shamax.... there is a LOT here... we could chew on this for a looooooooooong time!

I agree that one of the reasons the religious establishment had a hard time with Jesus's words here (and many other places) is that he was speaking of relational peace... not political or situational... he wasn't saying blessed are those whom come in and slaughter all your enemies and make is so that you have no problmes... but rather--blessed are those who strive to help others find peapce with God and with each other--------isn't it interesting how all of Jesus' teaching harmonize with one another---he also told us the greatest commands were to LOVE GOD and LOVE OUT NEIGHBOR.

Inevityably---in any generation---there will be those who thing of "peace" only through the lense of their own political/philosophical lenses and they'll miss what Jesus is saying here---so when a Christ follower comes along and has no agenda except to love others and help them be reconcield to one another and to God --- this always seems to freek those folks out....

I remember a little... well, it wasn't an argument.... but it was a little more than just a debate... about secular music between you and I on a different thread, Pastor Brad.

Rather than slapping me around with a Bible, I really like how you turned the topic to what's REALLY important. Christ's love, salvation, and fellowship with others.

You truly are a peacemaker because I've seen it! I'm really not trying to kiss up here. I'm just stating that I really learned something from that.

I've learned that I've got a ways to go to be a great peacemaker myself. (I really am getting better though!) I've also learned that it's one thing to read/study about it, but it something else to actually apply it in my life.

Thanks for being a true example, and not a lesson!
^_^

God Bless you Hguols... brother---we're all "in process" man. The Holy Spirit ia always working.. chipping away the bad and infusing the good---as we are open to His Work...

It's really pretty cool how every single one of the beatitudes--and really every aspect of Christianity--is all about learning to walk in submission to Christ...

It's a life-long learning process.

I'm really glad you are growing---that's what it's all about.

Metal Blessings,
pb
www.guitarjams.net