THE FIGHT FOR PEACE (8 OF 32)
Scripture: Matthew 5:9
This content is part of a series.
The Fight for Peace (8 of 32)
Series: Sermon on the Mount
Robert Dawson
Matthew 5:9
Back in the ‘70s near Fort Worth, Texas, authorities were puzzled over dozens of suspicious fires that kept igniting in curious places over a period of about 3 years. For example, a dumpster would catch on fire, then an abandoned building, and then someone’s garage, or an empty house. Though such fires are known to occur, something wasn’t adding up. The fires kept happening in the same region. They were regular occurrences. The fires, though destructive, never caused injury. And most curious of all, the fire department was always quick to respond.
After some careful investigation, authorities zeroed in on the source of the fires. Evidently a group of firefighters in Genoa, Texas had a little bit too much time on their hands and not a lot of smarts. They were accused of setting more than forty fires throughout the city. When they were finally caught red-handed, they defended their pyromania saying, ‘‘We had nothing to do. We just wanted to get the red lights flashing and the bells clanging.’’ Instead of being fire fighters, they were fire starters.
In life we all know people who are social and relational pyromaniacs. There is something about flashing lights, bells, horns, whistles and drama they feed off of. They set fire, lay waste, stir up controversy and leave relational and organizational destruction in their wake.
Unfortunately the church is not immune to these people. As a matter of fact, there are times I think they are born, bred and trained in the church. Unfortunately this is how a lot of people view the church, a reputation we have brought upon ourselves.
This is not something that we should be known for as Christians. We are not called to be disturbers of the peace but to facilitate peace. We are not called to be peace-breakers but peace-makers.
This is what Jesus calls us to be in Matthew 5.9. The 7th beatitude says, ‘‘Blessed are the peacemakers ...
Series: Sermon on the Mount
Robert Dawson
Matthew 5:9
Back in the ‘70s near Fort Worth, Texas, authorities were puzzled over dozens of suspicious fires that kept igniting in curious places over a period of about 3 years. For example, a dumpster would catch on fire, then an abandoned building, and then someone’s garage, or an empty house. Though such fires are known to occur, something wasn’t adding up. The fires kept happening in the same region. They were regular occurrences. The fires, though destructive, never caused injury. And most curious of all, the fire department was always quick to respond.
After some careful investigation, authorities zeroed in on the source of the fires. Evidently a group of firefighters in Genoa, Texas had a little bit too much time on their hands and not a lot of smarts. They were accused of setting more than forty fires throughout the city. When they were finally caught red-handed, they defended their pyromania saying, ‘‘We had nothing to do. We just wanted to get the red lights flashing and the bells clanging.’’ Instead of being fire fighters, they were fire starters.
In life we all know people who are social and relational pyromaniacs. There is something about flashing lights, bells, horns, whistles and drama they feed off of. They set fire, lay waste, stir up controversy and leave relational and organizational destruction in their wake.
Unfortunately the church is not immune to these people. As a matter of fact, there are times I think they are born, bred and trained in the church. Unfortunately this is how a lot of people view the church, a reputation we have brought upon ourselves.
This is not something that we should be known for as Christians. We are not called to be disturbers of the peace but to facilitate peace. We are not called to be peace-breakers but peace-makers.
This is what Jesus calls us to be in Matthew 5.9. The 7th beatitude says, ‘‘Blessed are the peacemakers ...
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