Follow Along with the Message

Fighting Fair is Rare

Pastor Tom Lundeen

Our series is for , no matter where you are at in your spiritual journey, because God wants us to experience new life, and He wants to help us grow and mature in this gift of new life He freely offers (note Hebrews 6:1a).

Navigating conflict in , God-honoring ways is challenging and more complicated than we may initially think.

Both Jesus and James tell us that spiritually mature and growing people are  (note Matthew 5:9; James 3:17-18).

On the one hand:

1. Peacemakers Understand Sometimes They are the   (Note James 4:1)

We all know Jesus followers who are far better at making  more than they make peace. 

In many ways, conflict isn't a Christian . 

Notes James 4:1-3

 prevents us from admitting we're wrong.

A judgmental/critical spirit puts us in the place of God who alone is the only righteous  (note James 4:11-12).

Note Galatians 5:13-15; 1 Corinthians 1:10-11; Philippians 4:2-3

2. Peacemakers: The  Way

To be a peacemaker doesn't mean .

What then is a peacemaker? It doesn't mean an easy-going person, it does not mean your 'peace at any price' person. It does not mean the sort of man who says, 'Anything to avoid trouble'. These easy-going peace-at-any-price people are often lacking in a sense of  and righteousness...they appear to be nice; but if the whole world were run on such principles and by such people it would be even worse than it is today...the mere  of war does not make peace, it does not solve the problem. (Martyn Lloyd-Jones)

It is no surprise that we have embraced this perversion of peacemaking that just tries to  and whitewash the painful truth. It is correct to say that God wants peace in the Church, in the world, and in our homes. But the peace He brings and the peace He calls us to is not . It is not born of silence, avoidance, and pretending. It must never be characterized by appeasement and a lack of conviction. (Johnson and Allen)

Jesus doesn't mean peacemakers are to be appeasers, cease-fire enforcers, or  followers.

Note James 3:17-18

Pure = undivided, cleansed, real, genuine, .

We can only get real peace through complete . We will never get peace by pretending that everything's OK when it's not OK. Wisdom that comes from God finds its way to peace through  and truth. It confronts that which is real and exposes that which is . It's never easy, but it always results in genuine peace. (Johnson and Allen)

Peacemakers are hungry and thirsty for righteousness (note Matthew 5:6; James 3:18)...

To be a peacemaker Jesus' way means exercising real faith and courage, but a peacemaker isn't a bull in a china shop who engages in  confrontation. 

Peacemakers moderate their zeal with the condiment of peace, for those who wish to be physicians to heal vices ought not to be . (Calvin)

Genuine peacemakers ultimately have a heart to . It is very possible to misuse the truth as a sledgehammer to hurt and  people. If we challenge folks just to win an argument, we are not involved in Kingdom work. Our strategy must be that of our Savior: bring real peace through the truth in order to restore. (Johnson & Allen)

So let's GET Growing:

• Real peacemakers look at themselves  because they understand that sometimes they are the problem, or at least part of the problem. 
• They understand that appeasement, ignoring the issues/problems, doing nothing hoping that somehow it will get better by itself, or just being a cease-fire  isn't the answer. 
• Ephesians 4:15, NLT = Instead, we will speak the truth in love,  in every way more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 
• Would those who know you best describe you as a peacemaker, Jesus' way? 

Tell someone about the next step you took today in your spiritual journey! Let us know, too, and fill out our digital connect card.