Peacemakers are not conflict avoiders. Peacemakers join with others on a quest for truth from a posture of grace. 

 

Becoming a peacemaker is a spiritual and a mental discipline. It takes courage, and it takes practice. The Four Practices we offer here are a gift from NCC Youth. Our students have been using these rules of engagement as a framework for bridge-building for a long time now as they grow in the ways of Jesus. We can’t think of a better way to begin walking together as peacemakers.

We invite you to memorize and adopt these four practices in all your interactions—and be attentive to all the ways the Holy Spirit is using them in your continual transformation.

 

Email [email protected] to find out how you can be a peacemaker in your community.

 

1. Ask Anything

Work to cultivate a culture of trust, where challenging questions are not just tolerated, but encouraged. Meet differing perspectives with honest discussion, rather than judgment.

2. Listen Well

Seek to develop God’s heart for non-dual awareness as you listen to those who think differently than you. Pause first, as you listen to understand, rather than listen to respond.

3. Disagree Freely

Create an environment that allows for people to disagree freely and still live in unity. Build an understanding that our differences bring strength and beauty to the kingdom of God, rather than division. While challenging, this is the ethos of peacemaking.

4. Love Regardless

Above all, love is not conditional. Let’s commit to loving the way Jesus loved—not refusing to challenge, but refusing to hate. We refuse to turn people into issues. We must persist in seeing the image of God in everyone.