War is the ultimate conflict, large scale violence, mass destruction, taking of human life, etc.
War is evil – it is not glorious, and conquest is not a thing to be desired by a Christian.  However, it seems that war is inevitable – like disease – in this fallen world.

What should be our response to war, or our attitude toward waging wars?

Says, a Christian’s attitude toward war should come from the New Testament, and particularly Jesus’ teachings. Jesus blessed the peacemakers (Matt 5:9) and told the disciple who sought to defend him by force, “Put your sword back in its place … for all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matt 26:52). In Luke 6:27–36, Jesus says we are to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us.22 These teachings of Jesus are confirmed throughout the New Testament epistles. A pacifist interpretation of these and other texts leads to the conclusion that a Christian is precluded from military combat and certain offices within the government.[1]

No sane person, regardless of their position, wants war. But in our human world, it is often unavoidable. Ours is a fallen world, a world under Satan’s power. This means there will likely be wars no matter how hard we try to avoid them. History and common sense bear this out, and so does Scripture.
While we greatly value life, we believe there are religious and human values worth fighting for and even dying for, not least of which is protecting others and ourselves from genocide and from the enslaving regime of a totalitarian dictator.[2]

So, love for our neighbor is the only justification for violence – in circumstances where protecting the innocent can only be achieved by force.

Of course, this does not remove responsibility from nations or individuals to do what is possible to avoid armed conflict. 

Remember, followers of Christ are citizens of the Kingdom – and in His Kingdom, Christ has declared a new reality – living in God’s Kingdom now means we take on a spiritual dynamic every day.

Eph. 6 talks about the spiritual battle that Christians are called to fight.  In this realm, we are to “fit our feet with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

War is one of many expressions of the sinfulness of the human heart. Yet the citizens of God’s kingdom have been called and empowered to fight this sin by being peacemakers.

Peace with God
Peace with others (love your neighbor)
World Peace (actively, aggressively, assertively WAGE PEACE)

Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, who supervised the creation of the first atomic bomb, appeared before a Congressional Committee. They asked him if there was any defense against the bomb. “Certainly,” the great physicist replied. “And that is—” they asked.  Dr. Oppenheimer looked over the hushed, expectant audience and said softly: “Peace.”[3]

• age Peace whenever and wherever possible (not just comfortable…)

• Use force only when it meets the criteria of “loving neighbor,” i.e. defending the helpless and oppressed.

• Fight, only to restore peace – wage war justly. (Criteria: Just War Theory)

• When to go to the mat: 

  • Does the situation involve something that is contrary to our mission as a church?

  • Does the issue cause us to compromise our commitment to being and building faithful followers of Christ?

  • In one year will it make a difference in our church whether we dealt with this issue. [4]

The first 7 Beatitudes describe the character of the Christian.

Number 7 – Peacemakers – is the pinnacle of the ones that come before it.  A kingly characteristic, worthy of God’s kingdom.
 
The eighth and final Beatitude is the byproduct or outcome of living the characteristics of 1-7.  

1) Have you personally experienced the grace of God? Or are you spiritually dead? Are you distant from God? Or have you trusted Christ and received that eternal life that only He can give?

If you are not sure of your spiritual position, I urge you to turn to Christ by faith and trust Him.  Learn to fly by the instruments – trust God’s Word in your life.
 
When you are around, is there more or less harmony because you were there – are you a peacemaker?
 
2) If you are a true believer in Christ, are you helping others to trust Him? You have been raised from the dead—do you “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4)?  Do you share this Good News of eternal life with others?
 
Jesus Christ died to make reconciliation possible. You and I must live to make the message of reconciliation personal. 
 
God has “given to us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18). We are His ambassadors of peace (2 Cor. 5:20). Our feet should be shod “with the preparation of the Gospel of peace” (Eph. 6:15).

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Matt. 5:9).

A missionary was preaching in the village market, and some of the people were laughing at him because he was not a very handsome man. He took it for a time, and then he said to the crowd, “It is true that I do not have beautiful hair, for I am almost bald. Nor do I have beautiful teeth, for they are really not mine; they were made by the dentist. I do not have a beautiful face, nor can I afford to wear beautiful clothes. But this I know: I have beautiful feet!” And he quoted the verse from Isaiah: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace” (Isa. 52:7). 

[1]Feinberg, J. S. (1996, c1993). Ethics for a Brave new world (Page 351). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

[2]Feinberg, J. S. (1996, c1993). Ethics for a Brave new world (Pages 381-382). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

[3]Tan, P. L. (1996, c1979). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : [a treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers]. Garland TX: Bible Communications.

[4]Preston, G. D. (1999). Character forged from conflict : Staying connected to God during controversy. The pastor's soul series (Pages 133-136). Minneapolis, Minn.: Bethany House.

1. Poverty of spirit. Opposite of proud in spirit. Those who have recognized their poverty in spiritual things and have allowed Christ to meet their need have become heirs of the kingdom of heaven. 4, 5. 

2. Mourn over sin (cf. Isa 61:3). A sense of anguish for sin characterizes the blessed man. But genuine repentance will bring comfort to the believer.(I Jn 1:9).

3. Meek/Humble/Gentle. Mentioned only by Matthew. An allusion to Ps 37:11. The source of this meekness is Christ (Mt 11:28, 29), who bestows it when men submit their wills to his. Inherit the earth. The earthly Messianic kingdom.

4. Because they have experienced poverty of spirit and mourning, and meekness, they will Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness.

5. And because they have been filled with love (by their hunger for righteousness) they will be Merciful.

6. The Pure in Heart, will have God’s vision and see God through love played out in the actions of the followers of Christ.

7. These qualities will enable us to be Peacemakers. As God is “the God of peace” (Heb 13:20) and Christ is “Prince of Peace” (Isa 9:6), so peacemakers in the Kingdom will be recognized as partaking of God’s nature, and will be properly honored.(1)

 
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." -Matthew 5:9
 
"Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." -James 3:18
 
"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." Romans 14:19
 
In the same Sermon on the Mount as vs. 9
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor a and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies b and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Matt. 5:43-47
 
Peace is a principal for God’s people.  Peace was a recurring message to the nation of Israel throughout the O.T.
 
"The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever." -Isaiah 32:17
 
“But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." -Luke 6:27,28

EIRENOPOIOS (ειρηνοποιός), an adjective signifying peace–making (eire ne, and poieo, to make [peace]), is used in Matt. 5:9, “peacemakers.”(2)
 
Peacemakers” (v. 9).
Christians should bring peace, between people and God and between those who are at odds with each other. We share the Gospel of peace.(3)
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." -Matthew 5:9
 
Sons of God – how to be a child of God
But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12
 
Our position as children of God
"Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. g And by him we cry, “Abba, h Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." -Romans 8:12-14

HUIOS - primarily signifies the relation of offspring to parent
John 9:19 (Jesus heals the blind man – Pharisees ask his parents, “Is this your son?)
Galatians 4:30. It is often used metaphorically of moral characteristics common to a certain family.
Romans 8:19 (“for the creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed” – notes a certain dignity of our relationship with God. 
 
“The Lord Jesus used huios in a very significant way, as in Matt. 5:9, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God,’ and vv. 44, 45,
‘Love your enemies, and pray for them that persecute you; that ye may be (become) sons of your Father which is in heaven.’ 
 
The disciples were to do these things, not in order that they might become children of God, but that, being children, they might demonstrate in their character, the family resemblance. 

Blessed are. . . Matthew 5:3-10.
To some, the Beatitudes seem merely mild and beautiful precepts for all unworldly and useless people, but of very little practical use in the stern workaday world in which we live. We soon find, however, that the Beatitudes contain the dynamite of the Holy Ghost. They explode, as it were, when the circumstances of our lives cause them to do so. When the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance one of these Beatitudes we say—‘What a startling statement that is!’ and we have to decide whether we will accept the tremendous spiritual upheaval that will be produced in our circumstances if we obey His words. That is the way the Spirit of God works…The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of rules and regulations: it is a statement of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is getting His way with us.(4)

1. Pfeiffer, C. F. (1962). The Wycliffe Bible commentary : New Testament (Mt 5:3-10). Chicago: Moody Press.

2. Vine, W. (1981; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). Vine's Expository dictionary of Old and New Testament words. Old Tappan NJ: Revell.

3. Wiersbe, W. W. (1997, c1992). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (Mt 5:1). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.

4. Chambers, O. (1993, c1935). My utmost for his highest : Selections for the year (July 25). Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers.

As the year 2026 is upon us, we flip the page in our life story to the next chapter. A new year always feels like a fresh beginning—new hopes, new opportunities, new possibilities. For many that we shared the Gospel with in 2025, this new chapter is far more than a change of calendar dates. It is the beginning of a new life found in Christ.

What a powerful thought—that God allows us to be part of someone else’s new beginning.

Every person who received Christ last year has started a journey that will continue into eternity. Old things have passed away, and new life has begun. Just as we turn the page on a year, they have turned the page on their past and stepped into God’s grace.

But a new chapter also brings continued responsibility.

Those who are beginning their walk with Christ will need encouragement, guidance, and prayer. And for those of us who continue in ministry, the new year calls us to renewed commitment. We cannot rely on yesterday’s efforts or last year’s victories. Each season requires fresh dependence on God.

This is where prayer becomes essential.

Prayer is one of the most profound gifts God has given His people. It is both deeply personal and beautifully communal. Scripture shows us that prayer is not optional for a believer—it is the lifeline of our relationship with God and the engine of spiritual power in the church. We have the responsibility to lift up our defeats, our victories, our struggles, our passions, our heavy burdens, our deep passion for the lost, our encouragement to all believers, and our joys to our heaven Father. We do this individually, corporately, and together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

If we hope to see new believers grow, new hearts changed, and new doors opened in 2026, it starts as God’s people pray. As we pray for the wisdom and knowledge for those in place to disciple and lead, as we pray that God will open the hearts of the lost, and as we pray together for the encouragement and faith to carry the Gospel where ever God leads.

Jesus taught that apart from Him we can do nothing. Ministry plans, programs, and good intentions will never replace the power of a praying church. As we step into this new year, our greatest need is not better strategies but deeper dependence on the Lord.

A new year invites us to begin again—begin again in faith, in service, and especially in prayer.

Let this be the year we pray more faithfully for those who have found new life in Christ. Let it be the year we ask God for boldness to share the Gospel with others who still need a new beginning. And let it be the year we trust God to write stories only He can write.

As the page turns, may our hearts be ready for whatever God wants to do next.