Peace

"Blessed are the Peacemakers, for they shall be called the Children of God." Matt 5:9

I believe that those of us who call ourselves Christians are called and given a mandate to be peacemakers. Violence cannot be overcome with violence. Using violence only escalates violence. We who call ourselves Christians are the hope of the world for building peace. If we don't answer the call, who will? Jesus' model for building peace was not to carry a bigger stick, it was to turn the other cheek, to reach out in compassion. If you call yourself a Christian, don't tell me it can't work. Young men who feel loved, valued, embraced in a fellowship of compassionate community don't go on killing sprees, even if they suffer from mental illness. There are many actions we need to take socially and politically to solve the problems of violence in our culture. Unless those actions begin with the goal of building peace, they will ultimately fail. So for every political action proposed, ask yourself: will this bring more peace or is it escalating violence? What can we do in our homes and local communities to make sure every child in this great and wealthy nation is loved, cared for, and embraced by a loving community?

The essayists at Sojourners say it more eloquently than I. I hope you will read what they have to say. http://sojo.net/magazine/2013/02/heart-peace