Beatitudes of Peace
Too Little, Too Late? • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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We are continuing our series using Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy alongside the Sermon on the Mount to see if a new perspective can bring us any new truth or clarify the old. We’re also celebrating Advent for the first time in a few years. We came to the Beatitudes as Advent dawned and I discovered it is possible to line up some of the Beatitudes with the candles of Advent. Already we have seen the Beatitudes of Hope. Today, we explore the Beatitudes of Peace as we light the second candle.
The Ivory Soap Ones, 99 and 44/100% pure.
The Ivory Soap Ones, 99 and 44/100% pure.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
because they will see God.
There are at least a couple of traditional approaches to this parable.
There are at least a couple of traditional approaches to this parable.
The most common is the moral interpretation.
The most common is the moral interpretation.
The pure in heart are those whose motives and desires are morally right; those who are pure in both means and ends.
The pure in heart are those whose motives and desires are morally right; those who are pure in both means and ends.
This certainly seems reasonable as a character trait of those in the Kingdom if not an admission prerequisite.
This certainly seems reasonable as a character trait of those in the Kingdom if not an admission prerequisite.
But, as we have increasingly seen in recent times, whose version of “right” is the real one and which “obvious” interpretation of the Bible are we going to use to determine that?
But, as we have increasingly seen in recent times, whose version of “right” is the real one and which “obvious” interpretation of the Bible are we going to use to determine that?
Another, more appealing, interpretation of this Beatitude is one from the world of precious metal refining.
Another, more appealing, interpretation of this Beatitude is one from the world of precious metal refining.
Here pure means unalloyed, free of contaminants.
Here pure means unalloyed, free of contaminants.
Applied here, it would mean the one whose heart and mind are focused totally on God, free of lesser thoughts.
Applied here, it would mean the one whose heart and mind are focused totally on God, free of lesser thoughts.
Such certainly seems like it ought to be true for those in the Kingdom and maybe a prerequisite for entrance.
Such certainly seems like it ought to be true for those in the Kingdom and maybe a prerequisite for entrance.
And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart and from your whole soul and from your whole mind and from your whole strength.’
But if this is a prerequisite for entrance or a description of those who are truly in the Kingdom, would any of us receive the promised reward of seeing God?
But if this is a prerequisite for entrance or a description of those who are truly in the Kingdom, would any of us receive the promised reward of seeing God?
For example, 24K gold is pure gold but in reality is only 99.99% gold, better than Ivory soap but still just a tad short.
For example, 24K gold is pure gold but in reality is only 99.99% gold, better than Ivory soap but still just a tad short.
But what is our alternative if we don’t interpret this Beatitude as a requirement for entering or being allowed to stay in the Kingdom?
But what is our alternative if we don’t interpret this Beatitude as a requirement for entering or being allowed to stay in the Kingdom?
To be fair, the traditional interpretations come with enough loopholes to make room for us fallible human beings, although it seems some recent scholars seem dedicated to closing them so none may enter or remain who are not as perfect as they are.
To be fair, the traditional interpretations come with enough loopholes to make room for us fallible human beings, although it seems some recent scholars seem dedicated to closing them so none may enter or remain who are not as perfect as they are.
But Willard offers us an intriguing alternative.
But Willard offers us an intriguing alternative.
To him, the pure in heart are the ones who think life should be as it should, things should work as they should and people should do as they should.
To him, the pure in heart are the ones who think life should be as it should, things should work as they should and people should do as they should.
These ones are continually frustrated because what is experienced rarely is, works, or does as it should, themselves included.
These ones are continually frustrated because what is experienced rarely is, works, or does as it should, themselves included.
Following Willard’s perspective, some of those hearing Jesus, then and now, were and are in this state of constant frustration.
Following Willard’s perspective, some of those hearing Jesus, then and now, were and are in this state of constant frustration.
In Jesus initially, and the Godhead finally, they see the perfection that eludes them and find some rest from the frustration that besets them.
In Jesus initially, and the Godhead finally, they see the perfection that eludes them and find some rest from the frustration that besets them.
I need to add to Willard here: God will not always be, work and do as we think God should leaving us with huge questions but we can choose to trust the revelation we have for what we do not.
I need to add to Willard here: God will not always be, work and do as we think God should leaving us with huge questions but we can choose to trust the revelation we have for what we do not.
Before you say I’m building in a loophole for God, which I despise, didn’t we grow up trusting parents, teachers and others to know more about what they were teaching than we did about what we were learning? Doesn’t God deserve at least the same courtesy?
Before you say I’m building in a loophole for God, which I despise, didn’t we grow up trusting parents, teachers and others to know more about what they were teaching than we did about what we were learning? Doesn’t God deserve at least the same courtesy?
And if you wonder what this possibly has to do with peace, you are one of those fortunate ones who have never been frustrated by the gap between is and should be.
And if you wonder what this possibly has to do with peace, you are one of those fortunate ones who have never been frustrated by the gap between is and should be.
The In-Between Ones
The In-Between Ones
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace
among people with whom he is pleased!”
For a child has been born for us;
a son has been given to us.
And the dominion will be on his shoulder,
and his name is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
This theme has never been popular with many of my congregants over the decades, and I suspect it would be even less so this Christmas were I still in traditional church ministry.
This theme has never been popular with many of my congregants over the decades, and I suspect it would be even less so this Christmas were I still in traditional church ministry.
Willard wrote that outside the Kingdom, peacemakers are called everything but “children of God.”
Willard wrote that outside the Kingdom, peacemakers are called everything but “children of God.”
I don’t know about his experience, but you often get called something less inside the Kingdom when you function as a peacemaker.
I don’t know about his experience, but you often get called something less inside the Kingdom when you function as a peacemaker.
He believes that in the Kingdom, the family resemblance between the peacemaker and the King will be noticed.
He believes that in the Kingdom, the family resemblance between the peacemaker and the King will be noticed.
‘Tain’t necessarily so.
‘Tain’t necessarily so.
This Beatitude is remarkable for the lack of commentary upon it compared to the rest.
This Beatitude is remarkable for the lack of commentary upon it compared to the rest.
The WBC merely says it is a call for the oppressed to resist the temptation to bring the Kingdom by force as the Zealots would.
The WBC merely says it is a call for the oppressed to resist the temptation to bring the Kingdom by force as the Zealots would.
Barclay gives us a bit more.
Barclay gives us a bit more.
He reminds us the Hebrew word we translate peace is shalom which is never just an absence of that which is bad but the presence of all that is good.
He reminds us the Hebrew word we translate peace is shalom which is never just an absence of that which is bad but the presence of all that is good.
He further reminds us the blessing is upon the peacemakers, not the peace-lovers, the conflict-avoiders who often make more trouble than peace in the long run.
He further reminds us the blessing is upon the peacemakers, not the peace-lovers, the conflict-avoiders who often make more trouble than peace in the long run.
So, what then can we draw from this beatitude?
So, what then can we draw from this beatitude?
I call peacemakers the in-between ones because that is where the peacemaker must stand.
I call peacemakers the in-between ones because that is where the peacemaker must stand.
A prominent Baptist pastor from days gone by called moderates, those who stand in the middle, skunks and offered the thinly veiled threat that the middle of the road is the best place to get run over.
A prominent Baptist pastor from days gone by called moderates, those who stand in the middle, skunks and offered the thinly veiled threat that the middle of the road is the best place to get run over.
To be a peacemaker is to stand in the middle and subject yourself to being run over from both directions at once, ask any cop called to a domestic disturbance.
To be a peacemaker is to stand in the middle and subject yourself to being run over from both directions at once, ask any cop called to a domestic disturbance.
To be a peacemaker is not to go along to get along at all costs, but to be able to be lovingly confrontational when necessary as well as supportive.
To be a peacemaker is not to go along to get along at all costs, but to be able to be lovingly confrontational when necessary as well as supportive.
A peacemaker seeks not just to end a conflict based on superficial changes, but to facilitate restoration of rightness to human relationships even when the rightness is moving on from the toxicity of a relationship.
A peacemaker seeks not just to end a conflict based on superficial changes, but to facilitate restoration of rightness to human relationships even when the rightness is moving on from the toxicity of a relationship.
There were certainly people in the crowd that day hearing Jesus who knew the lack of appreciation given the peacemaker, what would draw them into the Kingdom?
There were certainly people in the crowd that day hearing Jesus who knew the lack of appreciation given the peacemaker, what would draw them into the Kingdom?
There was something about Jesus that appealed to people, that would have appealed to these oft reviled ones, and Jesus told them in the Kingdom they would be in the family business.
There was something about Jesus that appealed to people, that would have appealed to these oft reviled ones, and Jesus told them in the Kingdom they would be in the family business.
Our world loves war and violence; we have even found a way to baptize it and make it seem holy.
Our world loves war and violence; we have even found a way to baptize it and make it seem holy.
Would to God peacemaking could once again become the family business.
Would to God peacemaking could once again become the family business.
Shalom!
Shalom!