Torch, Summer 2002

14 TORCH / Summer 2002 But, we will not live up to that potential unless we are willing to renounce the worldliness that defines us. Matthew 5:9 states, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” If we are serious about wanting to influence our neighbors, our community, and our world, we must take seriously the scriptural injunction to be transformed ourselves. Then, because we reflect the compassions of Christ, we can begin to transform the culture in which we live. Endnotes 1 Sande, Ken (1991). The Peacemaker: A Biblical Guide to Resolving Personal Conflict . Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House. Ken Sande, director of Peacemaker Ministries, writes: The message given by Jesus and the apostles is resoundingly clear: whether our conflicts involve minor irritations or major legal issues, peace and unity are of paramount importance to God. Therefore, peacemaking is not an optional activity for a believer. If you have committed your life to Christ, He commands you to make peace and unity a high priority in your life. Token efforts will not satisfy this command; God wants you to strive earnestly, diligently, and continually to maintain harmonious relationships with those around you. Your obedience to this call will advance the gospel and allow you to enjoy the personal peace that God gives to those who faithfully serve Him. 1 This can be a very troublesome undertaking. People can be very annoying; even demanding. Putting aside our own interests in order to accommodate others is painful. But, only when we take seriously this issue of peacemaking, reconciliation, and Christian community based on relationships of mutual respect and personal humility will we have the capacity to positively affect the culture around us. Imagine the expanded influence the church could have if it were to appropriately reflect the grace, peace, and reconciliation offered in Christ. Better than imagining such influence, read about the fledgling church in Acts. There you’ll find a group of people, transformed by their encounters with Christ, who, by virtue of their relationships with one another (Acts 4:32-33), went on to spread the gospel to the world. We have the potential to have the same kind of influence in our world. We can be the city on a hill that Christ intended for us to be. T R oger Overturf has served as Cedarville University’s director of public relations since 1997. He is a 1975 graduate of Cedarville University and a retired U.S. Air Force officer. He holds a master’s degree from Central Michigan University and is a doctoral candidate at Trinity Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Linda, have been married for 27 years. They have three sons and two poorly trained Yorkies. Confronting Conflict Outside the Comfort Zone