The world seems to be awash with conflict.  The secular world proposes the solution of peacekeeping in response to conflict and war.  Then certainly Jesus Christ who is the Prince of Peace must have provided his own people with an appropriate, effective and strategic response to wars and rumors of wars.  He did.  His strategy is called peacemaking.

Jesus taught His disciples always in light of His objective to create a uniquely unified and peaceful people. He calls them One New Humanity.  The bible says he created this group by tearing down and destroying the separating wall of enmity between us.  With this in mind lets have a fast look at a few scriptures which show this.

Mathew 5:9

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

In this scripture Jesus identifies those who play a pivotal role in this new group called “One New Humanity”: Peacemakers.  Peacemakers are those who would follow closely in the footsteps of Jesus seeking to ensure that the bond of peace within this group remains intact.

The scripture below shows that the Apostle Paul continued with the promotion of the importance of peacemaking even to Gentiles.  Such was and is necessary to maintain the vital bond of peace within the “One New Humanity.”

Ephesians 4:1-3

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The two words peacekeeping and peacemaking may sound similar but they are vastly different in their implementation and outcomes. Peacekeeping is simply a third party or parties intervening between two or more parties in active conflict or war to effect an immediate cessation of active conflict or war between them. Peacekeeping in and of itself is a short term, temporary and “artificial” method of cessation of conflict.

For almost 50 years warring Sudanese Nuer and Dinka tribes united to fight against the Muslim north and gain their independence and  nationhood. But when nationhood for Southern Sudan was gained a few years ago the Nuer and Dinka tribes returned to a state of war between themselves.  Why?  Because the root of their conflicts own conflicts were never resolved.  The enmity between them still exists.

Understanding the Basis of Biblical Peace

To begin to fully understand God’s meaning and definition of peace and peacemakers we have to visit the book of Genesis.

Genesis 2:23-24       

23 And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman,

Because she was taken out of Man.” 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

In this scripture God declares two shall become one which begins the process of “oneness”. “Oneness” is the basis of peace.  The two shall become one flesh.  Herein lies the basic mystery of marriage; creating one from two and having peace.

Paul calls this “oneness” the foundation of peace a “great mystery”. 

Ephesians 5: 25-32

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 his is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 

To be continued-