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Peacemakers

When it comes to peace, some people are peacekeepers and some are peacemakers. The former simply shoots for keeping the peace, not rocking the boat or ruffling feathers, while the latter proactively strives to make peace where there is none. 

The peacekeeper does not want to hurt feelings. These people will kick the can down the road rather than deal with a problem. There may be trouble brewing beneath the surface, but as long as things are not exploding at the moment, the peacekeeper will keep on keeping on.

The peacemaker recognizes the coming confrontation and seeks to get out in front of it, to even prevent it from happening by brokering peace between the warring factions. 

In his book on dealing with conflict, titled Firestorm, pastor Ron Susek wrote, "While peacekeepers try to sweep things under the rug, peacemakers try to sweep things out the door." (p.126) Those who are non-confrontational may avoid being peacemakers because they dread the difficult conversations that are demanded by pursuing peace, but nothing good ever comes from ignoring problems.  

Anyone can sweep something under the rug; that is not a mark of spiritual maturity or anything to pat yourself on the back for. Nothing swept under the rug remains there forever. It is only a matter of time before the problem comes to the surface, but it will be a worse problem when it finally does. Issues that are addressed in a timely fashion may still be painful, but they pale in comparison to the problems created by ignoring them. Rather than sweeping the problem under the rug, open the door and sweep it right outside. Once the problem is dealt with, shut the door and never bring it up again. 

When delivering His famous Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus portrayed making peace as a mark of true salvation, saying, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Christian, you have God's permission to have that difficult conversation. Maybe right now you are thinking about two friends who no longer speak to each other, or two groups at the same church who go to great lengths to avoid each other, and you have remained neutral.

Don't be afraid to get involved. Mediate between the ones who are divided. Confront the problem head on. 

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