Sermon Tone Analysis

“A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”[1]

Canadians pride themselves on their perceived role as peacekeepers serving under United Nations mandates.

Since Lester Pearson proposed an international peacekeeping force to supervise disengagement of Anglo-French and Egyptian forces during the Suez crisis, Canada has contributed significantly to the effort to advance the concept of peacekeeping.

However, it is open to question how effective the peacekeeping efforts have been.

In part, doubt concerning the effectiveness of these efforts arises from the distinction between peacekeepers and peacemakers.

In an earlier message I highlighted some differences between these two roles.

In that message, I stated: “Peacekeepers do nothing to lessen conflict; peacemakers bring an end to conflict.

Peacekeepers are willing to compromise in order to keep combatants apart; peacemakers will not compromise principle for the sake of momentary cessation of hostilities.

Peacekeepers do not ultimately have any stake in the outcome of their actions; peacemakers invest their very lives in making peace.”

[2]

I have no desire either to initiate a political fight or to impugn the valour of brave Canadians who have served under the blue banner; rather, I seek to emphasise a point that lacks clarity in the mind of too many Christians.

The Bible does not enjoin us to become peacekeepers; though we are encouraged to be peacemakers.

In fact, Jesus pronounces a benediction on those who are peacemakers: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” [*Matthew 5:9*].

James clearly esteems those who are peacemakers, and some translations understand the language he uses in our text as promoting this concept.

For instance, one translation states, “Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”[3]

In the text, James summarises the instruction he has provided in the previous five verses.

He has sought to encourage the people of God to be wise in their walk.

He has distinguished the wisdom that the world values and the wisdom which reflects the character of the Father.

The former is attractive and it is easily implemented, but the impact of that wisdom is chaos and spiritual filthiness.

The latter almost always requires courage to implement—it will be opposed, but it results in divine peace within the Community of Faith.

It should be obvious that James esteems heavenly peace as the pre-eminent mark of righteousness.

Because this is the case, we will do well to discover the peace of which James speaks and do all within our power to promote that precious commodity among the people of God.

 

*Peace Defined* — How should we define peace?

To a surprising degree, our definition reveals our understanding of the will of God.

You see, our definition of peace reveals our worldview.

Peace has numerous connotations.

For instance, the term is often used to refer to an absence of conflict.

When we speak of a nation at peace, we mean that the nation is not currently engaged in an armed conflict with neighbouring countries.

Similarly, peace can refer to the normal state of public order and security.

When we say Canadians value peace and good order, we are speaking of the absence of civil commotion and violence within the community.

Indeed, “peace” can convey the meaning that parties in question are not in conflict with another party or that civic order prevails, whether throughout the nation or in a smaller political entity.

As this present age progresses toward its consummation, Paul points to a period of unprecedented peace throughout the entire world.

He writes, “Concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.

For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

While people are saying, ‘There is peace and security,’ then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” [*1 Thessalonians 5:1-3*].

Such a prospect of worldwide peace now seems far removed from reality; but you must remember that there is coming a great deliverer who will unite the European nations under one banner, bring resolution to the continuing conflict in the Middle East and impose on all nations a period of global peace and security.

However, the momentary absence of conflict serves only as an opportunity for this Antichrist to work out his agenda of setting himself up as very God, compelling all mankind to worship him.

More often, we use the term “peace” to refer to a state in which the party in question is undisturbed.

Whenever an individual says, “All I want is to be left in peace,” she is really saying that she does not want to be disturbed.

Really, this is a self-centred expression in which the one speaking seeks isolation from all concerns other than personal fulfilment.

This is not necessarily a statement reflecting contentment, nor even an expression of the desire for contentment; rather, this is most often a self-serving desire for withdrawal from accepting normal responsibilities.

Throughout the New Testament, “peace” is often used when speaking of confidence or of contentment.

An example of such use is demonstrated when Jesus said to His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” [*John 14:27*].

Here, the Master contrasts the peace that is the heritage of each disciple with that which the world is able to confer on the individual.

According to Jesus’ words, the peace that is offered by the world is apparently distinct from that which the Master gives.

In order to discover what divine peace is like, we must examine the context in which Jesus spoke.

The Lord Jesus had just informed the disciples that He was going away [*John 13:33*], and this knowledge disturbed His disciples.

Therefore, the Master encouraged them by saying, “Let not your hearts be troubled.

Believe in God; believe also in Me” [*John 14:1*].

Then, Jesus made one of the truly great assertions concerning the salvation God provides when He said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.

No one comes to the Father except through Me” [*John 14:6*].

Soon after, He promised that He would send the Holy Spirit.

Listen to His promise.

“‘I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.

Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me.

Because I live, you also will live.

In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.

And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, ‘Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?’

Jesus answered him, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.

And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.

“‘These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you’” [*John 14:18-26*].

The words that followed gave the promise of divine peace which is distinguished from peace as the world is able to give.

Obviously, Jesus is speaking neither of an absence of conflict nor of the civic order, because He had acknowledged that their hearts were troubled.

Moreover, He had only recently dispatched His disciples as agents of the Kingdom.

Jesus instructed the disciples as He sent them out to fulfil the labours of the Kingdom, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.

You received without paying; give without pay.

Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the labourer deserves his food.

And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.

As you enter the house, greet it.

And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.

Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the Day of Judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town” [*Matthew 10:5-15*].

Because we are disciples, we will have conflict.

Because we follow the Saviour, we will experience tribulation.

Paul warns, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” [*2 Timothy 3:12*].

These words summarise the warning of Jesus who told His disciples, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’

If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

Whoever hates me hates my Father also.

If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.

But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause’” [*John 15:18-25*].

It is a common perception that Christians will never have any trouble; nothing could be further from the truth.

According to the Master’s own Word, because you are a disciple, you may anticipate trouble.

Jesus cautioned those who would serve Him, “Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues” [*Matthew 10:17*].

Opposition does not simply arise from those who are openly aligned with the world according to the Word of the Master.

Jesus warned, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth.

I have not come to bring peace, but a sword…  A person’s enemies will be those of his own household” [*Matthew 10:34, 36*].

Opposition comes from those who are openly identified with the world; and as we have just seen, opposition is certain to come from those who are related to us.

Perhaps most tragically, Jesus warned that opposition would come from fellow worshippers—people who are religious and who superficially appear to be serving God.