Blessed are those who are persecuted...

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,       for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

• Matthew 5:10 (NIV)

Our churches are filled with a lot of comfortable Christians.  People living in a comfort of salvation in the knowledge that by believing in Christ they have nothing more they MUST do.  At the time of Jesus there were a lot of people just like these.  The most well known were the Pharisees, but Jesus spoke out against these men and women.  The early Christian Church was in no way easy.  In fact as we look through the Book of Acts and read through the writings of Paul there was nothing but persecution.  The persecution came because it did not fit in the norms of society at that time.  It challenged and it shined a light into every dark corner of the world and revealed the ugliness of sin that we are all caught up in.  Jesus calls us to be lights to the world and to bring change to the world.  Reading through Ephesians 4:17 – 5:20 can become overwhelmed by all the law that seems to be poured out onto all who believe, but there is hope.  As you give your life over to God you will be challenged and the dread that fills you will go away and it will be replaced by a desire to live out your life for Christ at all costs.  Living your life in Christ becomes a mantra and a way to be as the Apostle Paul says, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain!” (Philippians 1:21)  When we live our lives in the light of Christ and are persecuted and looked down upon because of faith we can be joyful in knowing that there are greater rewards awaiting us in Heaven.

Blessed are the peacemakers

“Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.”
Matthew 5:9 NIV

What does it mean to be a peacemaker? Is it a call to pacifism? How do you become a peacemaker? We look to Jesus, who was a very gentle man and even when he was being taken in hand to be led to His death, He told the disciples to put away their swords and even healed one of the guards who had lost his ear. This was a man that yearned not to bring agreement for agreements sake, though. If you look back prior to Jesus’ arrest you’ll find Jesus enraged and clearing out the temple and it even states that Jesus beat the merchants with knotted rope out of the temple. Not a “peaceful” solution was it? Peaceful diplomacy is the most preferable option and if that is available we should always choose it first, not because we are afraid of violence, but because we abhor senseless violence. The goal should always be to find agreement in the midst of conflict, but if we see another being brought down and beaten for the sake of their faith we, as Christians, should stand up against that violence. If we see someone being raped, the action should not be one of trying to talk the person away from the act, but to stop the violence being perpetrated which may mean violence. In the light of the second Gulf War, which depending on how you look at it is either the Invasion of Iraq or the Liberation of Iraq, we can hear this verse thrown out by those opposed to the war on a regular basis. I can’t hide my view of this because I see it as a Liberation allowing people that were at one time unable to freely worship to see a future that they can be faithful to their faith. Our soldiers are called to do violent acts, but, for the most part, these men and women are peacemakers because their ultimate goal is not to create violence, but to create an environment conducive to peace. Religious terrorism, whether it be Muslim, Christian, or otherwise, is not ultimately looking to create and environment of peace. On the contrary, terrorism only wants to gain power and control that can only be maintained through violence. Peacemakers can not take a neutral view on anything because they first and foremost see the importance of their role as one that defends peace against chaos and anarchy this can either be through diplomacy or defending it by defending those whose existence is threatened by those that seek power. Peacemakers defend the defenseless and stand for fairness and justice. Peacemakers fill soup kitchens feeding the hungry, peacemakers develop growing positive neighborhoods, peacemakers stand up against gangs, and peacemakers give of themselves sacrificially. A peacemaker doesn’t scream out that they would kill for anyone else, but they scream out they are willing to die defending others. Jesus was a peacemaker not because He healed, but because He was willing to stand up against the hypocrisy of the religious leaders that were defiling His Father’s house and was willing to die for us that we would also know His Father giving His blood that redeemed us. He not only cleansed the temple in a violent act, but a violent act perpetrated against Him and shedding His blood cleansed us of our unrighteousness.

“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight.
That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.”
Matthew 5:9 The Message