Did you know that since the beginning of recorded history, which is around 3600 years, humanity has enjoyed only 286 years of peace? That works out at less than 8% of the time! During this period, there have been 14 500 wars in which upwards of 3.60 billion people have been killed.

Yet, we don’t need really need the testimony of history to remind us how violent our species can be. This is because our everyday news is constantly filled with random acts of violence and senseless acts of brutality. Just this week, newspapers have carried stories such as of a father beating his son to death with a metal rod, police brutality, and violent protests in Balfour.

So where exactly is Jesus in all this? After all, didn’t the Old Testament prophesy that Jesus would be “Immanuel, the Prince of Peace?” Didn’t Jesus himself promise to leave his disciples with a gift of peace – “not as the world gives, my peace I give to you”?

Sadly, the church has not often carried this spirit of Jesus’ peace out into the world. When only a couple of hundred years old, the church allowed Emperor Constantine to display the cross on shields of war, and furthermore has actively participated in violent crusades and inquisitions. This is the same church which claims its foundation is built upon the Jesus who taught and lived forgiveness, reconciliation and restoration rather than vengeance and retaliation. A couple of years back, I read the story of a group of churches in Arkansas who decided to group together in a ‘march for peace.’ Unfortunately, half way through there was a disagreement about the route of the march and they ended up dividing. This would be funny only if it wasn’t true!

So how can we as Christians approach this huge problem of violence in this world in a way that is creative, impactful and makes a positive difference? How can we become the ‘peace-makers’ Jesus challenged us to be?

First of all, we need to grapple with the fact that Scripture challenges each and every human being to be aware of what is within our own hearts. While we may not actively participate in acts of violence, sometimes we carry within us seeds of prejudice, hatred, un-forgiveness, greed and pride which all contribute to the greater problem. The Bible reminds us that thoughts of violence or hatred should be avoided just as much as real acts of violence. We all need to constantly (and humbly) guard ourselves in this regard.

Secondly, we need to understand exactly what Jesus meant when he talked about peace. For Jesus there never was a separation between inner and outward peace. Christians often argue over whether Jesus intended peace in our inner souls, or in outward society. Clearly, it is both. Like everything in faith’s journey, they are paradoxically yet wonderfully meshed together. One becomes more viable and meaningful only when it is inextricably attached to the other.

Inner peace and everything that entails (trust, faith, love, wholeness, forgiveness), will result in our lives outwardly influencing society and the relationships around us. Thus, inner peace will naturally (or supernaturally!) result in outer peace-making, yet at the same time, if we are not involved in working for outer peace, then we are not truly trusting, or having faith, or loving, or forgiving.

In essence, being a peace maker involves living lives of unselfish service, for without working for God’s justice there should be no personal peace. However, if we ONLY work for justice, without seeking inner restoration and reconciliation (redemption) then we will equally miss the point.

So perhaps the greatest challenge is to remember that in our world of horrific violence, Jesus has called us all to be peacemakers. We need to allow ourselves to be fundamentally changed and transformed by God’s love and then actively live that out within a world that is desperate for real forgiveness, mercy and goodness to not only be talked about, but also lived out in ways that are both practical and real.