Blessed are the Peacemakers

"The peacemakers are happy because they will be called the sons [or children/sons and daughters] of God." Matthew 5:9.

The State Department calls it "un-American" and "inflammatory".

Senator Hillary Clinton calls it a "disrespectful, disgraceful act".

General David Petraeus says it will jeopardize all efforts at peace in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

But Mr. Terry Jones, the leader of a tiny sect called Dove International 'Outreach' Center in Gainesville, FL (emphasis mine), believes he is entitled to illegally burn copies of the Koran this Saturday (illegal because the local Fire Department has refused to issue a permit for it).

I watched Harry Smith this morning on the Early Show on CBS ask Mr. Jones, "Do you consider the extremist your enemy?" Mr. Jones replied, "Yes," and the follow-up question from Mr. Smith was, "Didn't Jesus say to love your enemy?" Mr. Jones replied with an answer to the idea that this was a different matter," indicating his need to do this regardless of what anyone says. He shared with America the story of how a Muslim woman came onto the property of the Dove Center and denounced his plan to burn a Koran, saying he would face severe judgment for his deed. He used this story as an example of WHY HE NEEDED TO BURN A KORAN! Why did the Muslim lady pay him a visit to begin with?

Mr. Jones is going to do what he thinks he needs to do regardless of what the Scriptures say (the very Scriptures he discarded in front of America this very morning, so he showed he really has no use for them). My point in this blog post is this: are YOU a peacemaker in your community? Being a peacemaker doesn't mean you have to condone injustice, oppression and sin. We as Christians carry the sword of the Spirit (the word of God) with us into battle against the minions of the Adversary every day. But, as the Holy Spirit tells us, our war is not with flesh and blood--"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Eph. 6:12, NASB). We are not fighting against man and his wicked deeds. The one thing we as Christians are called to do is "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Notice what love is in 1 Corinthians 13:

Love is patient, kind, non-envious, non-boastful, non-arrogant, does not behave unbecomingly (out of character), non-self-seeking, not easily provoked, does not dwell on evil, does not delight in sin but rejoices in the truth. Love believes, bears, hopes and endures all things. Love never comes to an end.

Our love toward our fellow man is an attack against the forces of the Adversary. Consider Matthew 5:43-48 as well as Romans 12:17-21. We aren't called to burn books that others respect as holy. We are called to show them the love of God and through that, standing alongside the Master Jesus Christ, we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). Let's make every effort to show our neighbor the love of God just as God showed His love (Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10). And in this way, not in vengeance and retaliation, we are peacemakers who will be known as children of God.