The Role of the Church as a Community of Peacemakers Part 10



In a world filled with division, conflict, and broken relationships, the church has a unique and vital role to play. Ken Sande, in his influential book The Peacemaker, highlights this beautifully by calling the church a “community of peacemakers.” This is more than just a nice phrase — it’s a profound calling and identity for the body of Christ.

Why the Church Must Be a Community of Peacemakers

The church is God’s design for reconciliation. We are the people through whom the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15) is to be lived out and displayed. The conflicts we face — between individuals, groups, or even within ourselves — become opportunities to show God’s grace and power to restore brokenness.

Ken Sande points out that when peacemaking is embraced within the church community, three transformational things happen:

1. The Gospel Is Made Visible

Conflict is inevitable. What sets the church apart is how we handle it.

  • When believers actively pursue peace, confess sin, forgive, and restore relationships, they live out the very heart of the gospel.
  • Jesus reconciled us to God through his sacrifice, and now we are called to be agents of reconciliation with one another (2 Corinthians 5:18–20).
  • The church’s peacemaking ministry makes the invisible gospel visible. It shows the world what God’s kingdom looks like — a kingdom marked by grace, humility, and love.

This visibility is a powerful witness. Outsiders see a community that doesn’t hide its conflicts or sweep them under the rug but addresses them openly and lovingly, just as Christ did.

2. Believers Grow Spiritually

Peacemaking is not just about fixing relationships; it is also a spiritual growth process for those involved.

  • It calls believers to humility, confession, repentance, and forgiveness — all essential Christian disciplines.
  • Handling conflict biblically requires reliance on the Holy Spirit and trust in God’s promises.
  • When the church cultivates a culture of peacemaking, members develop deeper Christlikeness: patience, gentleness, kindness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
  • It challenges believers to move beyond superficial unity and engage in honest, vulnerable, and redemptive conversations.

Through these challenges, the church becomes a place where spiritual maturity is nurtured, producing fruit that blesses both individuals and the whole community.

3. Outsiders Are Drawn to Christ

The world is watching how Christians handle conflict.

  • When the church is known as a place where forgiveness is practiced and enemies are reconciled, it stands as a beacon of hope and truth.
  • In a culture often marked by bitterness, division, and vengeance, a peacemaking church attracts those seeking healing and restoration.
  • This authentic witness opens doors for evangelism and community impact.

Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Living out peacemaking is a powerful expression of that love.

The Church’s Practical Call to Peacemaking

For the church to live into this identity, it requires intentional effort:

  • Teach and model biblical peacemaking in sermons, small groups, and leadership training.
  • Equip members with tools and resources for conflict resolution, such as Ken Sande’s The Peacemaker principles.
  • Create safe spaces where people can confess and seek restoration without fear of judgment or retaliation.
  • Lead by example — church leaders must practice transparency, humility, and forgiveness.
  • Foster a culture that values relationship over reputation, grace over perfection.

Conclusion

The church as a community of peacemakers is more than an ideal — it is a vital expression of the gospel’s power to transform lives and relationships. When we pursue peace with one another, the gospel shines brightly, believers mature spiritually, and those outside the faith are drawn to the love and grace of Christ.

In these turbulent times, the church’s witness as a community of peacemakers can be a profound testimony to God’s reconciling work in the world. Let’s embrace this calling wholeheartedly and be the peacemakers our Lord has called us to be.

 

Inspired by Ken Sande’s The Peacemaker, a timeless guide for living out biblical peacemaking in the complexities of daily life.

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