War and Peace
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Knowing that we live in a world full of war and conflict. How can we make peace, how can we prevent and resolve conflicts?
Conflict Resolution in God's Law
Let's start with God's law, which offers clear guidance on the matter of peacemaking. Notice that when we do not rebuke our neighbor directly, but instead hold a grudge, we are guilty, it is a sin, because many offences are committed in ignorance, and we are responsible for bringing things to light so that they can be resolved. From just two passages in Leviticus we can gather quiet a few tips on making peace:
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Do not pervert justice
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Do not show partiality
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Judge your neighbor fairly
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Do not hate your brother
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Rebuke your neighbor directly
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Do not seek revenge
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Do not bear a grudge
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Love your neighbor as yourself
You must not pervert justice; you must not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the rich; you are to judge your neighbor fairly.
You must not harbor hatred against your brother in your heart. Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.
Conflict Resolution in Psalms and Proverbs
In Psalms and Proverbs, we discover wisdom for resolving conflicts. These texts offer practical strategies and principles to address conflicts constructively and promote reconciliation.
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
Let the righteous man strike me; let his rebuke be an act of loving devotion. It is oil for my head; let me not refuse it.
A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms dispute.
When a man’s ways please Yahweh, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
A man's insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart; even quarreling and insults will cease.
Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Better an open rebuke than love that is concealed. The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
He who rebukes a man will later find more favor than one who flatters with his tongue.
A greedy man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
Let’s sum up things that prevent conflicts:
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patience
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understanding
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gentleness
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being slow to anger
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overlooking an offense
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insight
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love
And things that create conflicts:
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quick temper (impatience)
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harsh words
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hot temper (rage, anger)
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gossip
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bringing up past offenses
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mocking
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greed
Conflict Resolution in the New Testament
Instructions of Jesus
If we turn to the New Testament and read what Jesus has to say about dealing with one another, we will see that on the one hand he expands and deepens the original law in the book of Leviticus about keeping peace between brothers, on the other hand Jesus says that he did not come to bring peace, but to divide. We need to understand that the division he is talking about is over belief in the identity of Jesus, it is the separation of truth from lie and those who follow one or the other.
Below are highlights from the gospels:
We will be judged for:
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being angry with our brother or sister
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calling or considering another stupid
We have to:
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reconcile with our brother or sister before we come to God (in case we have wronged another)
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do to others as we would have them do to us
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put Jesus before our (unbelieving) family
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lose our life for Christ’s sake (follow Him)
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confront sin committed against us
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love, do good to and bless our enemies
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expect nothing in return when doing things for others
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be merciful
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judge righteously
21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca’ (empty-headed, worthless), will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25 Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
12 In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
34 Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; 38 and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
15 If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
49 I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge the righteous judgment."
Instructions of the Apostles
The letters to the churches will give us some additional details about how we are to treat one another:
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have compassion for one another
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live in harmony with one another
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be humble
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try to live in peace with everyone
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do not avenge yourself
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overcome evil with good
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gently restore brothers who have fallen
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speak truthfully
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do not sin when angry
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get rid of bitterness, rage and anger
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be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving to one another
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do nothing out of selfish ambition or pride
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pursue holiness
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be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger
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show your wisdom by your deeds
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reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction
14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but enjoy the company of the lowly. Do not be conceited. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”20 On the contrary,“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another. 26 “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves.
14 Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God, and that no root of bitterness springs up to cause trouble and defile many.
19 My beloved brothers, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
1 What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? 2 You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God.
2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4 So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
To treat people God’s way and not our own is probably the hardest thing we are called to do, so let’s take a step at a time and learn to follow Jesus all the way.