Thursday, March 12, 2015

ARE YOU A PEACEMAKER OR A PEACEBREAKER?

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Matthew 5:9 

Blessed are the peacemakers:

for they shall be called the children of God

If your friends and family had to classify you, which would you be considered, a Peacemaker or a Peacebreaker? 

A Peacemaker?  Rather than standing on the sidelines and observing, do you try to find a way to forge a reconciliation between disagreeing parties?

       As I often do, let me share the following story to make my point.

Smith and Jones were “on the outs” over a very trivial matter.  This deeply concerned Deacon Brown. So he prayed that he might be a peacemaker.

He called on Smith and asked, “What do you think of Jones?”

“He’s the meanest crank in the neighborhood!” said Smith.

“But,” said Deacon Brown, “you have to admit that he’s very kind to his family.”

”Yes, that’s true enough,” Smith grudgingly agreed.

The next day Deacon Brown went to Jones and inquired, “Do you know what Smith said about you?”

“No,” said Jones, “but I can imagine how he certainly wouldn't be complimntary.

“This may surprise you,” said Deacon Brown, “but he said you’re very kind to your family.”

“What!  Did Smith say that?”

“Yes, he did.”

“Well, if you hadn’t told me, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

“What do you think of Smith?” asked Brown.

“Truthfully, I believe he’s a lowdown no-good,” said Jones.

“But you have to admit that he’s very honest in business,” said Deacon Brown.

“Yes, there’s no getting around that; in business he’s a man you can trust,” agreed Jones.

The next day Deacon Brown called on Smith again. “You know what Jones said about you?  He claims you’re a fellow that really can be trusted in business. That you’re scrupulously honest.”

“You mean it?” asked Smith.

“Yes, I do,” said Deacon Brown.

“Well of all things,” replied Smith with a wide grin creasing his face.

The next Sunday the former enemies nodded to each other.  Deacon Brown continued his “meddling” until the next annual business meeting of the church when Smith and Jones shook hands and finally, for the first time in ages, voted on the same side!

       Or are you a Peacebreaker? 

Do you feed the fire of a disagreement by spreading gossip about two warring parties?  Are you busy with your own list of people you are at war with and adding to it on a regular basis?

Do you always seem to be spoiling for a good fight. 

Do you wear a chip on your shoulder as a fashion statement?

In any committee meeting of which you are a part, or a discussion on a street corner, or family gathering do you wear a frown like a badge of honor?

When your name comes up in a conversation does everyone agree that you major in saying the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong place?

Or, is it just that you are bored, so with nothing better to do, you forget the Lord’s words in the Sermon on the Mount and become argumentative, just for the heck of it?

I hope none of these is you, but unfortunately it does describe a lot of folk at least some of the time.   And they are definitely Peacebreakers. 
       
      If only we could always remember Gandhi's words, "An eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind."  

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