Peacemaking does not mean never rocking the boat.
God is often a boat rocker.
Many of His ways rock the culture of the day, then and now.
Many of Jesus’ parables rocked the boat and He was known to rock the boat Himself, from time to time.
But Jesus didn’t rock the boat just for the sake of rocking. He came to show us peace: peace between God and us and peace with each other.
2 Corinthians 5:20 tells us that “we are to be God’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” As God’s ambassadors, we will rock the boat on certain occasions.
Jesus’ great commission to his disciples is to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
As we work to fulfill our Great Commission as His ambassadors, we will rock a few boats, but remember the words of one of the greatest boat rockers of all time, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18
We are not sent out on battleships with tools for war. We are sent out with tools for gardening to sow the seeds of The Kingdom. “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:18
Written by Janet Stewart, Makers Administrative Staff member