Peacemakers & The Persecuted

Has anyone ever been left out of a friend group, not invited to something, made fun of, or just physically hurt just because you were a christian? Maybe its going on today.

Maybe you, like me, were not able to watch certain movies that your friends are able to watch, or not able to go to a place or stay over a friends house, because of your faith. I feel your pain. And because of that you are left out of a lot of stuff, just because your a christian.

I was that guy freshman year, where I wanted to start a bible study on campus. It was a bold move. Living in CT we saw a lot of push back from the people. I brought my bible to school, carried it openly. Read it when I was able to, on my desk. I was openly a christian.

Now I got a lot of hate from it. People called me a bible thumper, Jesus boy, little priest. Father Caleb. I got made fun of hard, and I let it get to me. I actually stopped bringing it because I was tired of being made fun of. It hurt. And I was mad. Angry at those kids.

We come to the final two blessings Jesus says in the intro to the Sermon on the Mount. He introduces us to these 7 traits that comes with blessings. All of them driving hard on selfless living. Something that is totally against what the world says is true. And then the 8th beatitude is what the world’s reaction is to the person who has these traits.

Matthew 5:9–12 ESV

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.

But in those moments of feeling rejected by the others, Jesus tells us this, “Rejoice and be glad.” Rejoice and be glad, be happy when people mock you.

Be happy when people push you away because of your faith, Jesus says that your reward is that you inherit the kingdom of heaven.

He is sending us as sheeps into the world.

Now it does not say to rejoice and be glad when you are in trouble because of your sin. No, there is no blessing out of your stupidity. 1 Peter 4:15-16

1 Peter 4:15–16 ESV

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Earlier in that part of scripture, Peter says that, don’t be surprised at trials when it comes upon you to test you. Meaning, trials and persecution of your faith is not a if its going to happen, its a when is it going to happen.

You will one day be persecuted of your faith. But do not take heart, God blesses those who are persecuted. Rejoice. We share Christs sufferings.

How do we deal with persecution? Make Peace.

This is the hardest beatitude.

Matthew 5:9 ESV

9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Peacemakers are called sons of God, and Christ was the prime example of a peacemaker. He was beat down, mocked, ridiculed, and was hung on a tree. He had every power to call a legion of Angels to rip Him off that cross, but He endured it, and made peace between man and God.

And so just as Jesus was a peacemaker, we ought to be peacemakers.

Peacemaking is not just making peace between two parties. You can be one of those parties and be the peacemaker.

We all want to retaliate when people mock us for our faith, but He tells us to turn the other cheek. We all want to pop off with a sarcastic remark to that bully that keeps poking and poking, but make peace.

The peacemaker may be trampled over by this world, but they will be called children of God. Blessed by God.

Main point: True Christians will resemble all these traits, receive the blessing God has for them, but are going to be hated in the world. But take heart, for He has already overcome the world.