I ate lunch earlier this month with a man who had recently moved to Memphis. His sixteen year old son was having a hard time transitioning to his new school and neighborhood. His best friends were still back in his Florida hometown and he hadn’t yet made new friends in Memphis. The son felt like an outsider. “I guess the move has hit him the hardest of anyone in our family,” the father said.
It’s hard to be an outsider isn’t it? We want to be included. We want to be accepted.
And that’s one of the most challenging things about following the leader whom we call Jesus. Walking Jesus’ way puts us into the role of an outsider. When walking in Jesus’ footprints, we become excluded not included, rejected not accepted. To use the title of this series, following Jesus often puts us on the fringe.
Nowhere is this clearer than in the beatitudes:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
4″Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
5″Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
6″Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
7″Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
8″Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
9″Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”(Matt. 5:3-12 ESV).
As we heard last Sunday, the beatitudes begin and end with the image of “the kingdom of heaven”: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven…10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The beatitudes describe life in “the kingdom of heaven.” This phrase “kingdom of heaven” refers to the world that God desires. In other words, there are two worlds. One is the world as it exists right now. The other is the world as God desires it to exist. That world is the “kingdom of heaven.” And the beatitudes describe the kind of life God favors in his world, in his kingdom. In the words of one author, the beatitudes are the “norms of the kingdom.”[i]
But the beatitudes quickly reveal that what is normal in God’s world is not normal in our world. What is favored in God’s world is fringe in our world. The beatitudes disclose that if we truly wish to live under God’s reign and in God’s world, it will mean embracing ways of life that are fringe—not widely accepted by our world. The beatitudes show that following Jesus requires living in the fringe world of God’s reign.
Kurt Vonnegut once wrote, “[Many Christians] demand that the Ten Commandments be posted in public buildings…I haven’t heard one of them demand that the Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes, be posted anywhere. ‘Blessed are the merciful’ in a courtroom? ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ in the Pentagon?”[ii] There’s something counter-intuitive about the beatitudes. They don’t seem to belong in our world.
This point is critical to understanding the beatitudes, especially the first four. The first four describe difficult conditions or circumstances which will be reversed under God’s reign.[iii] God will reverse the circumstances of the meek, the hungry, the mourning, and the poor. In our world, those people in those circumstances are forgotten. In God’s world, they are favored. The first four beatitudes focus on the fringe conditions or circumstances in which people experience God’s reign. God’s transforming reign will reverse these circumstances. God will show favor on them.
But the second four beatitudes are different. The second four beatitudes focus on the fringe conduct or actions by which people express God’s reign. These second four beatitudes focus on conduct or actions favored by God—showing mercy, making peace, being pure in heart, and being willing to do what is right regardless of the cost. And these are actions that are not very popular in our world.
The seventh beatitude is especially fringe in nature: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9 ESV) Let’s walk backwards through this statement beginning with the phrase “sons of God.” What does it mean to be called “sons of God”? The phrase “son of…” in Jewish culture meant someone who had the character of their parent.”[iv] Today, we would use the phrase “a chip off the old block,” meaning that the son or daughter behaves just like the father or mother.
For example, a few months ago my son Jacob had his first soccer tournament. It was held in Jackson, TN. Kendra was out of town visiting her sick mother and I was able to be at the tournament on Saturday, but had to return to Memphis to preach on Sunday. Jacob thus spent Saturday night with another coach and returned to the tournament on Sunday. Sunday morning, that coach made pancakes. He set a plateful in front of Jacob. Jacob just stared at them. “What’s wrong Jacob?” the coach asked. Jacob said, “Well, I like peanut butter on my pancakes.” “Oh,” the coach said. He had never heard of such a thing. So he smeared a little peanut butter on Jacob’s pancakes. Jacob just stared at them again. “What’s wrong Jacob?” the coach asked. “Well, I usually like a lot more peanut butter than that.” “Have at it,” the coach said as he passed the knife and jar of peanut butter to Jacob. Jacob smothered the pancakes with peanut butter. Then the coach poured some syrup on the pancakes. Jacob just stared at them. “What’s wrong now, Jacob?” the coach asked. “Well,” Jacob said, “I usually have a lot more syrup than that on my pancakes.” Jacob took the bottle and poured about half a gallon of syrup on his pancakes. When the coach told me the story, I laughed because that’s exactly what I would have done when I was Jacob’s age. In fact, well in to my teen years my stepfather would scold me for putting so much syrup on my pancakes. He would actually wait until I was done with my pancakes, then pour the leftover syrup from my plate onto his pancakes. I used enough syrup for two people. Jacob was just doing what his father did. He was acting like his father. He was acting as a “son of Chris.”
Jesus is interested in what it means to be called a “son of God.” What does it look like to share the character of God? Jesus says it comes down to this: being a peacemaker. This is the only beatitude which uses the phrase “sons of God.” In other words, no other beatitude encapsulates the character of God. This trait alone is singled out as the quality that summarizes what it means to act like our Father. This one attribute is what Jesus says will make you a chip off the old block: being a peacemaker. Above all, Jesus says, God is a peacemaker.
What does it mean for God to be a peacemaker? In Col. 1:19-20 Paul uses the verb “to make peace” when discussing God: “19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” What does it mean for God to make peace? Here, it means God reconciling all things in heaven and on earth to himself. Peacemaking is not just stopping a war. It’s not just resolving a fight. Here, peacemaking is restoring everything, on earth and in heaven, to the right relationship with God it was intended to have. When everything and everyone in heaven and on earth is in right relationship with God, bringing glory to God, and living out the purpose given to it by God, that’s peace. That’s the kind of peace God is making on earth.
And Jesus says that’s what lies at the very heart of God. That’s the most critical part of the character of God. Above all, God is a peace maker.
Jesus says we become a chip off the old block when we embrace peacemaking. We can almost use the word “wholemakers” instead of “peacemakers.” In the Bible, to be a peacemaker is to bring wholeness to things and to people. It’s to repair what is broken. Biblical peace means “comprehensive well-being.”[v] It’s bringing wholeness and well-being to everything and everyone. At its core, biblical peace means returning all things to their normal state, the state intended by God.[vi] Families. Friendships. Creation. Physical health. Spiritual health. Organizations. Congregations. Governments. For everything in heaven and on earth there is an ideal and normal state which God intended when he created it or allowed us to create it. “Peace” comes when every person, family, congregation, government, organization, group, animal, mountain range and plain lives at that normal state. And to be a peacemaker is to work for that wholeness.
God’s reign is expressed as we live out the fringe conduct or action of peacemaking. God’s kingdom come as we act out our role of peacemaking.
Mike Breaux points out that there are two kinds of people: thermometers and thermostats. Thermometers adjust to the climate of the room. Thermostats set the climate of the room. Peacemakers, Breaux says, are thermostats.[vii] To be a peacemaker is to walk into any situation or any relationship and refuse to accept status quo. It is to refuse to adjust to what everyone else accepts as normal. It is to refuse to accept the brokenness. It is, instead, to set the climate. It is to move things to a new normal. It is to repair whatever may be broken.
Nowhere is this clearer than in Jesus’ own description of peacemaking. Later in this Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches what could be summarized with the word “peace”: 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift… 38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
What is peace? Peace is reconciling with a brother, responding to a request by going the second mile, and meeting abuse with grace. It’s loving an enemy and praying for a person who persecutes you. These, of course, are perfectly illustrated by Jesus. If we could summarize Jesus’ ministry in one word, it would be “peacemaker.” Jesus sought reconciliation. He loved his enemy. He went the second mile.
The counter-intuitive nature of peacemaking can be seen in the local controversies surrounding Muslim mosques. Many in this country view Muslims as enemies. A few weeks ago in Murfreesboro, TN protestors marched with signs at the site of a new Muslim mosque and center. A fire was started and residents have vocally spoken out against Murfreesboro Muslims. By contrast, when a church a few blocks from here learned that Memphis Muslims were in need of a facility that church invited the Muslims to use their facility. The uncommon hospitality made news around the country. I’m not here to argue the merits of a Christian church hosting Muslim prayers in their building. But I am here to point out that people struggle with making peace. The kind of peace that mirrors God’s character is one that very few today are willing to pursue. We’d rather picket our enemy than love our enemy. Yet God’s reign is expressed when we commit to being peacemakers.
Last year friends of mine at the Sycamore View Church of Christ committed to hosting a Boys and Girls Club at their church building. Children who live in the many apartment complexes along Sycamore View between I-40 and Bartlett go there after school. It’s the only Boys and Girls Club located in a church building. Volunteers from the church assist the kids with homework, fix snacks and prepare a dinner for the kids every Wednesday night. The church is providing the space, utilities and janitorial service. The Boys and Girls Club is thus able to operate that branch at a third of the cost of the other clubs in town. That’s a church trying to bring peace. Trying to mend broken families and bring wholeness to Memphis children. They are acting just like their Father. And through them, God’s reign is being expressed.
Since 1996 Bill and Cathy Ivey have led Dynamic Marriage classes where they repair and restore challenged marriages and strengthen and mature healthy marriages. Currently they are investing in the lives of eleven married couples. It’s a work that few of us ever see. Yet it’s peacemaking work. It’s helping marriages to exist at the state God designed them for. Bill and Cathy are acting just like their Father. And through that work God’s reign is being expressed.
In his book Hidden in Plain Sight, Mark Buchanan writes about a woman named Regine.[viii] Originally from Rwanda, Regine came to Christ while reading her sister’s Bible during the genocide that ravaged Rwanda. When she fled to Canada for refuge, she met her husband, Gordon. They decided to return to Rwanda to make peace. Regine told Mark Buchanan this story: A woman’s only son was killed. She was consumed with grief and hate and bitterness. “God,” she prayed, “reveal my son’s killer.” One night she dreamed she was going to heaven. But there was a complication: in order to get to heaven she had to pass through a certain house. She had to walk down the street, enter the house through the front door, go through its rooms, up the stairs, and exit through the back door. She asked God whose house this was. “It’s the house,” he told her, “of your son’s killer.” The road to heaven passed through the house of her enemy. Two nights later, there was a knock at her door. She opened it, and there stood a young man. He was about her son’s age. “Yes?” He hesitated. Then he said, “I am the one who killed your son. Since that day, I have had no life. No peace. So here I am. I am placing my life in your hands. Kill me. I am dead already. Throw me in jail. I am in prison already. Torture me. I am in torment already. Do with me as you wish.” The woman had prayed for this day. Now it had arrived, and she didn’t know what to do. She found, to her own surprise, that she did not want to kill him. Or throw him in jail. Or torture him. In that moment of reckoning, she found she only wanted one thing: a son. “I ask this of you. Come into my home and live with me. Eat the food I would have prepared for my son. Wear the clothes I would have made for my son. Become the son I lost.” And so he did. [Followers of Jesus] do what God himself has done, making sons and daughters out of bitter enemies, feeding and clothing them, blazing a trail to heaven straight through their houses. She was acting just like her Father. She was making peace. And through her, God’s reign was expressed.
Please stand. We’ll close by praying through the beatitudes. I’ll read the beatitude. You read out loud the line beneath each one as a prayer:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Bless us when we are poor in spirit, and let us bless those who are poor in spirit.
4″Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Bless us when we mourn, and let us bless those who mourn.
5″Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Bless us when we are meek, and let us bless those who are meek.
6″Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Bless us when we are hungry and thirsty, and let us bless those who are hungry and thirsty.
7″Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”
Enable us to bless others by showing mercy.
8″Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
Enable us to bless others by being pure in heart.
9″Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Enable us to bless others by making peace.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Enable us to be willing to do what is right regardless of the cost.
[i] D. A. Carson Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World (Global Christian Publishers, 1999), 17.
[ii] Kurt Vonnegut, “Cold Turkey,” In These Times http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/cold_turkey/
[iii] Carter, 131.
[iv] D. A. Carson Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount And His Confrontation with the World (Global Christian Publishers, 1999), 28.
[v] Frederick Dale Bruner Matthew Volume 1 The Christbook Matthew 1-12 (Word, 1987), 149.
[vi] . Vol. 2: Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964- (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (412). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
[vii] Mike Breaux “Which Rung Are You On?” PreachingToday.com.
[viii] Mark Buchanan, Hidden in Plain Sight (Thomas Nelson, 2007), 187ff.
