Blessed are the Peacemakers

Well, recently, our friend Kelsie had given James and I these temperament evaluations and we've both had them done in the past but I always enjoy reading about them more when I get results so I dove back into the world of temperaments. One thing Kelsie said is personalities are more shaped and learned but our temperaments are who we were from the time we were born. It is who we are, who we were woven to be.

My results came back in all three areas as either Phlegmatic, as a Phlegmatic-Melancholy. Hmm. The initial description said:

Phlegmatic - characterized by their low energy, easy going manner, and peacemaking abilities
Melancholy - characterized by a need to be alone. They are independent, realistic, artistic, and creative. They also tend to be thinkers.

I read the extensive report and began to process how the two temperaments work together. I'm a thinker and I definitely know that I tend to be justice minded. I wrestle with injustice especially within my sphere of living (meaning, while I feel for those affected by the oil spill, my flare ups happen regarding those I'm directly in relationship with). I'm quite opinionated and while I'm not extroverted, if I feel strongly about something, I become willing to stand up strong.

Upon first glimpse it would seem that one couldn't be a peacemaker and this strong believer in justice so I started searching trying to study what being a peacemaker meant. Did it mean I avoid all confrontation? Does being a peacemaker mean you remain silent? Does it mean you pretend nothing's wrong? Does it mean you put on a united front? Does it mean minding your own business?

Back in April I came across this quote:

"Conflict avoidance leads to a false sense of harmony."

Just a couple of days ago I stumbled on a sermon posted online about peacemakers. A few excepts:

A. The Definition of True Peace

1. What it is

Some people think peace is the absence of conflict. But peace is more than that--there is no strife in a cemetery but that's not a model of peace. God sees peace not as the absence of conflict but the presence of righteousness. Righteousness will bring about right relationships. Peace is not just stopping a war. It's the impartation of righteousness that brings two parties together in love. The Hebrew word Shalom (peace), when said to a friend, didn't mean, "May you have no conflicts." It meant, "I desire for you all the righteousness and good God can give." God's peacemakers don't just stop wars--they replace what causes of war with the righteousness of God.

2. What it isn't

There is a difference between a truce and peace. A truce is when people put down their guns and don't shoot for awhile. True peace is when conflict is resolved and the parties to it become friends. Some think peace happens the instant the war stops. But that doesn't resolve the conflict unless the underlying issues are dealt with. Otherwise cessation of open hostility only brings about a cold war, which is still a war. That may result in a state worse than if the fighting had continued. A conflict driven underground can smolder and slowly destroy both sides. Two people who are at war with each other shouldn't be separated so they can't see each other. Rather, the cause of their conflict needs to be resolved so that they can come together in love. Biblical peace never evades issues--it isn't peace at any price. The peace of the Bible conquers the problem and builds bridges between people. That may involve struggle, pain, and anguish, but real peace is the result.

B. The Purity Accompanying True Peace

James 3:17 says, "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable." God's wisdom attains peace through purity. Peace is never established at the expense of righteousness. Two people will never accept peace until they accept that their bitterness and hatred is wrong, and they humble themselves before God and make things right. Hebrews 12:14 says, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness." Peace and holiness are inextricably interlinked--they can't be divorced from each other. Psalm 85:10 says, "Righteousness and peace have kissed each other." True peace is always accompanied by righteousness and purity.

C. The Conflicts from Bringing True Peace

We all want to avoid needless strife, whether in our family, place of business, or any other situation. But if we avoid conflict to the point of sacrificing truth, we are compromising our principles. We won't have true peace but a truce, in which everyone will merely reload.

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Sometimes, to bring about peace, you gotta work through the conflict. Sometimes, to work through the conflict, you have to actually be willing to admit there's some yucky business going on and be willing to talk about it. There's nothing noble about being unwilling to acknowledge conflict. I'm quite aware I'm confrontational at times. At the root of it, I'm miserable where there is unresolved conflict and so I am trying to initiate peace in my life by working through a situation.(THIS is where it clicked HOW my justice minded self could co-exist with the peacemaker potential) I will admit, I don't always go about it the right way. Still learning and I'm sure I'll mess up again. Though, in private, I've gone back and apologized when I've screwed up.

That said, saying something verbally isn't the only way to make a statement and do damage. Actions speak pretty loudly and so does inaction. Those two things speak so loud they can do just as much damage as any word spoken, especially when done over a long period of time. We can think, by not speaking with words, we are "keeping the peace" or trying to "be peaceful" when really, we are just deceiving ourselves.

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I enjoyed how in the sermon online it says or implies peace isn't a cold war. It isn't a truce. That goes back to my quote in April about a false sense of harmony. True peacemakers will pursue, not avoid working through an area of conflict as it will produce righteousness and bring glory to God. In order to be a peacemaker, there has to already be conflict. Hence the making of the peace. haha.

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Back to the temperaments. If God placed that temperament (NOT personality) in us from the time we were born, our social orientation and intellectual energies, our willingness to make decisions, how we are most effective in our work environment, how we give and receive affection, and our need for personal relationships it seems it would be helpful to consider that in our dealings with others. That THEY TO have their own personal temperament and it's exactly how they were created to be.

I know some people tend to be immediately responsive during stressful situations, and some that build up and blow up, I know some that are not as selective as they should be in who they are around and others that are destructive in the privacy of their own homes while pointing fingers at those who got overwhelmed around the others. Are either less damaging? Either more glorifying to God? Either more healthy?

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If my personality is one that desires justice but my temperament in one that tends towards peacemaking, I'm going to have to carefully seek God on how to live out the two. I'm no master of this yet. I'm quite often a failure. What I know is this though, it's most beautiful to be a recipient of grace and live in peace and it propels me to offer it towards others. Perfect love casts out fear. In the absence of fear, I'd like to think there would be a presence of peace.