Peace making

Blessed are the peacemakers (Mt 5, 1-12)

Living in peace and making peace means bliss, that is, being happy. Quarrelling, on the other hand, burdens and harms us. Yet quarrelling is something normal in all groups and because it is, we should learn how to deal with quarrelling and re-establish a state of peace. The seven rules of life of the New Monasticism of the Ancient Celtic Church explicitly include "making peace". Peacemaking is an art that can be learnt and for which one should develop an awareness, at all levels of coexistence, be it the church community, the religious community, the family, at work, in politics and between peoples. Some people are especially called to act as mediators and peacemakers by virtue of their office, e.g. persons with much life experience, clergy, diplomats, politicians, psychologists, lawyers, mediators, teachers and other men and women who feel called to do so. Traditionally, the Pope is regarded in Christendom as the great bridge builder, the Pontifex Maximus, i.e. the great peacemaker. Saint Francis also prayed to become an instrument of His peace. The greatest peacemaker is Jesus Christ Himself.

The term "peacemaker" has traditionally been interpreted to mean not only those who live in peace with others, but also those who do their best to promote friendship among people and between God and people. St Gregory of Nyssa interpreted it as a "divine work" that was an imitation of God's love for mankind. John Wesley said that peacemakers "endeavour to calm the stormy spirits of men, to soothe their tempestuous passions, to soften the minds of contending parties, and, if possible, to reconcile them to each other. They use all the innocent arts and employ all their strength, all the talents God has given them, to keep peace where it is and restore it where it is not."

Peacemaking is an art and to become a master of it, one should learn it thoroughly, according to one's vocation and life environment. A professional mediator or someone who is called to mediate high profile disputes by virtue of a prominent office will invest more in training than someone who is called only occasionally to mediate a dispute of lesser magnitude. An inspiring book on mediating peace in a Christian context has been written by Ken Sande entitled "The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict." The book is a practical guide to mediation and conflict resolution with extensive references to Scripture. At the end, Ken Sande summarises the content of the book in the following Peacemaker's Pledge:

"The Peacemaker's Pledge.

As people reconciled to God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we believe that we are called to act on conflict in ways that are fundamentally different from how the world deals with it. We also believe that conflict provides opportunities to glorify God, serve others and become more like Christ. Therefore, in light of God's love and trusting his grace, we commit to act according to the following principles when conflict arises:

Give God the glory

Instead of looking to our own desires or dwelling on the actions of others, let us delight in and honour the Lord by trusting in His forgiveness, wisdom, power and love. Likewise, let us also seek to faithfully follow His commandments and maintain a loving, merciful and forgiving attitude.

Reach first for the beam in your eye

Instead of blaming others for conflict and refusing to correct ourselves, let us trust in God's grace and take responsibility for what we ourselves have contributed to conflict. Let us confess our sins to those of whom we are guilty and ask God to change all our attitudes and habits that have led to the conflict. Let us seek to make amends for all the harm we have caused.

Use gentleness for correction

Instead of pretending there is no conflict or speaking ill of others behind their backs, let us overlook minor sins or speak kindly in private to those whose offences seem too serious to overlook. In doing so, we want to try to set them right rather than condemn them. If a conflict with a brother or sister in the faith cannot be settled in private, we will ask other members of Christ's body to help settle the matter in a scriptural way.

Go and reconcile

Instead of rashly making false compromises or allowing relationships to break down, let us actively pursue genuine peace and reconciliation - by forgiving others as God has forgiven us for Christ's sake, and by seeking just solutions that serve all parties in conflict best.

By God's grace, let us apply these principles according to our responsibility as faithful stewards, knowing that conflict is not an accident but an assigned task. Let us consider that success in God's eyes is not a matter of specific outcomes, but of faithful obedience in dependence on Him. Let us also pray that our service as peacemakers will glorify our Lord and lead others to know his infinite love."

Source: The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict, Ken Sande