The dangerous art of peacemaking

Peace be with you. That Sunday morning I didn’t feel very peaceful. Instead, I felt pulled in a thousand directions. The last thing I wanted to do was interact with other people, engaging in small talk with a plastic smile on my face. Then came time for the customary passing of the peace. I turned and offered a sign of Christ’s peace to those around me – to Martha, my self-proclaimed octogenarian friend who taught me that laughter is a gift; to Elana, my teddy-toting little buddy who reminded me that dancing has a place in the kingdom; and to Gerald, the church leader who gave me so much hope through his brave recovery after a stroke. My mood changed.

Peace be with you. This Christian greeting is a weekly part of many liturgical services across the country. It transforms typical small talk into something of significance. It’s a countercultural act because it calls to mind our interdependence as Christians. It’s an act that requires us to keep short accounts with each other, as we visibly demonstrate that nothing stand between us.

Peace be with you. These words are loaded with much more meaning and sincerity than the usual “Hi. How are you?” It’s not easy to brush off the offer of peace with a thoughtless, “Fine. How are you?” No wonder the practice of passing the peace has remained a mainstay of church liturgy for centuries.

We belong to a group of believers traditionally known as peace churches. Historically, we have been exempt from military duty and free to choose alternative service during times of conscription.

But what does it mean to be part of a peace church at the beginning of the millennium in a country relatively untouched by the horrors of military combat? Circumstances are quite different from those encountered by the first Anabaptists. Is it enough to label ourselves pacifists and go on living quiet lives?

To be honest, pacifism is a term I never really liked. Pacifism suggests the idea of being, well, passive, and I never relished the thought of sitting in silence while evil flourished. I much prefer the idea of non-violent peacemaking.

Non-violent peacemaking is a dangerous, relational and artful act. It requires a bold move from the ease of armchair conversation and political philosophizing. It demands that we bring our peace ideals into reality by actively welcoming God’s shalom (holistic peace and well-being) into the communities and churches where we live. Sometimes peacemaking requires a fight. Far from the battlefields of war, Jesus’ call to peaceamaking compels us to confront broken relationships and structures in our daily lives.

And, sometimes this type of personal engagement involves risk.

Non-violent peacemaking is the act of confronting a friend who continually cuts down the music pastor at church. It’s speaking up when co-workers start telling rude jokes. It’s being a hockey parent who condemns uncontrolled aggression on the ice, critiquing the actions of professional sports players like Todd Bertuzzi. It’s learning to drive the car without running others off the road. It’s taking the time to write a letter to a local MP about Canada’s involvement in international military efforts. It’s having the courage to discuss frustrations with a spouse, instead of burying or denying those feelings. It’s being a steady voice of peace in the midst of situations like teachers and parents recently faced during the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation union dispute.

Non-violent peacemaking requires energy and courage. Tackling problems head-on isn’t easy. Misunderstandings might ensue. Relationships might be strained. There is nothing passive about non-violent peacemaking.

In this issue of the Herald, we have gathered stories of people learning to be active peacemakers in their local contexts. Dave and Heidi Gray share their experience of bringing God’s shalom to their Montreal neighbours. The obituary section contains moving accounts of people who chose the path of peace over war. And, Doug Schulz reminds us that the strength to be true peacemakers is found through prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Out of this vital relationship comes the courage to take risks and face the dangers of peacemaking.

So, peace be with you. May God grant us boldness to fight for peace in whatever situations we find ourselves today.