Three summary statements from BibleProject about peacemaking and the Kingdom of God.
“When God’s Kingdom arrives in full one day, it will bring peace between all people. And so anyone entering God’s Kingdom now is called to work as a peacemaker. That means entering into conflicts and working creatively to open up a just and generous path forward for others.”
“Jesus is saying, ‘Listen, the way the world is right now–when God’s Kingdom comes on Earth as it is in Heaven–it will result in you getting caught in the crossfire of a lot of angry people, and you’re going to get hurt.’ And that doesn’t mean that you’re doing the wrong thing. In fact, you should expect it. The good life belongs to those who are doing the Jesus thing, doing the Jesus ethic of doing what is right by God and others.”
“Choosing to live in alignment with Jesus’ teachings will lead to joy on Earth and a great reward in God’s Kingdom in the age to come. But there is also a cost. As we actively make peace where there is conflict, we will encounter painful resistance from many sides. But Jesus encourages us to celebrate when we experience mistreatment as a result of peacemaking because we are doing what is right.”
