Bluebirds of Happiness
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9 Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9 (JMT)
“Blessed are those who work for the total well-being of others for they shall be recognized as the children of God because they are doing God-like work.”
How many of you have ever heard of the bluebird of happiness? I’ve heard that expression all my life but never understood it until I was working on this sermon. Turns out it’s big business. When I ran a Google search on the expression I found a wealth of sites that would sell me bluebirds of happiness in all price ranges made of all kinds of materials. Wikipedia helped me understand the attraction.
“The mythology of the bluebird of happiness has deep roots that go back thousands of years. Indigenous cultures across the globe hold similar myths and beliefs about the bluebird. It is a widely accepted symbol of cheerfulness, happiness, prosperity, hearth and home, good health, new births, the renewal of springtime, etc. Virtually any positive sentiments may be attached to the bluebird.” (Wikipedia)
The Bible contains a similar concept but it has nothing to do with bluebirds. In Hebrew it is called shalom. In Greek it is eirene. In English we call it peace but that word doesn’t do it justice. And while we are not called to be bluebirds of happiness; we are called to be peacemakers.
The peacemakers.
The peacemakers.
The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. It was and is used in Israel to say hello and good-bye, much like aloha in Hawaii.
The Hebrew word for peace is shalom. It was and is used in Israel to say hello and good-bye, much like aloha in Hawaii.
Unlike our word for peace, its definition is not the absence of conflict.
Unlike our word for peace, its definition is not the absence of conflict.
It means the presence of everything necessary for total well-being.
It means the presence of everything necessary for total well-being.
The blessing is on peacemakers, not necessarily peace-lovers.
The blessing is on peacemakers, not necessarily peace-lovers.
There is and should be conflict when the will of God comes into contact with the ungodly desires of humanity.
There is and should be conflict when the will of God comes into contact with the ungodly desires of humanity.
A peace-lover will often avoid necessary conflict to avoid rippling the waters which inevitably leads to worse trouble later.
A peace-lover will often avoid necessary conflict to avoid rippling the waters which inevitably leads to worse trouble later.
A peacemaker will not avoid necessary spiritual conflict but will handle it as a God-person doing the God-thing the God-way.
A peacemaker will not avoid necessary spiritual conflict but will handle it as a God-person doing the God-thing the God-way.
Peacemakers and conflict.
Peacemakers and conflict.
Peacemakers know that spiritual conflict as defined earlier is the only conflict with which they have to do and even then the purpose is to make peace.
Peacemakers know that spiritual conflict as defined earlier is the only conflict with which they have to do and even then the purpose is to make peace.
Peacemakers do not seek out conflict and will not personally be responsible for it.
Peacemakers do not seek out conflict and will not personally be responsible for it.
Peacemakers reject traditional methods of conflict resolution like anger, violence and revenge.
Peacemakers reject traditional methods of conflict resolution like anger, violence and revenge.
Peacemakers may not be bluebirds of happiness but they are the promoters of shalom.
Peacemakers may not be bluebirds of happiness but they are the promoters of shalom.
10 For “The one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips must not speak deceit. 11 And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.
They are not just for peace; they actively work for things that promote the total well-being of others.
They are not just for peace; they actively work for things that promote the total well-being of others.
This work is always undergirded by the desire to bring peace between people and God.
This work is always undergirded by the desire to bring peace between people and God.
18 And all these things are from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
Reconciliation and peacemaking are synonyms.
Reconciliation and peacemaking are synonyms.
Shall be called the children of God
Shall be called the children of God
Jesus did not shy away from necessary spiritual conflict, but he was and is the Prince of Peace.
Jesus did not shy away from necessary spiritual conflict, but he was and is the Prince of Peace.
He NEVER engaged in any conflict that had any goal lesser than the reconciliation of people to God.
He NEVER engaged in any conflict that had any goal lesser than the reconciliation of people to God.
He NEVER engaged in any conflict for his own personal benefit.
He NEVER engaged in any conflict for his own personal benefit.
He also made a habit of doing things that had nothing to do with conflict resolution but promoted the well-being of others. (Turning water into wine comes to mind.)
He also made a habit of doing things that had nothing to do with conflict resolution but promoted the well-being of others. (Turning water into wine comes to mind.)
Peacemakers shall be called children of God, chips off the old block.
Peacemakers shall be called children of God, chips off the old block.
Peacemakers are so called because they are doing a God-work; they are acting like God which was and is a mark of spiritual sonship.
Peacemakers are so called because they are doing a God-work; they are acting like God which was and is a mark of spiritual sonship.
Being a peacemaker is part of being surrendered to God, for God brings peace. We abandon the effort to get our needs met through the destruction of enemies. God comes to us in Christ to make peace with us; and we participate in God's grace as we go to our enemies to make peace. (Glen H. Stassen and David P. Gushee, Kingdom Ethics)
Being a peacemaker is part of being surrendered to God, for God brings peace. We abandon the effort to get our needs met through the destruction of enemies. God comes to us in Christ to make peace with us; and we participate in God's grace as we go to our enemies to make peace. (Glen H. Stassen and David P. Gushee, Kingdom Ethics)
It is no accident that peace is one of the nine fruit of the Spirit which are supposed to be evident in abundance in the life of every believer.
It is no accident that peace is one of the nine fruit of the Spirit which are supposed to be evident in abundance in the life of every believer.
The fruit of the Spirit are the character of Jesus lived out through the believer.
The fruit of the Spirit are the character of Jesus lived out through the believer.
We must accept it is more Christian to be peacemakers than to be conflict lovers.
We must accept it is more Christian to be peacemakers than to be conflict lovers.
Listen to how a non-believer interprets the relationship between Christians and the Beatitudes:
[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?
(Kurt Vonnegut, "Cold Turkey," In These Times)
In our day, do the Beatitudes reveal us to be the children of God or children of a lesser god?
