Yes, I've covered this before.  Yes, I apparently need to do so again <sigh> (kind of like we must not stop reading the Bible once we get through it once).  Folks, this is too important to miss and it goes to very heart of the ministry God has called me to. As we enter 2019, perhaps never before have the attacks on law enforcement been so virulent, and it is therefore vital that we speak truth in the face of lies that are impacting the eternal destination of those who serve in our God-ordained profession.  Accordingly, open your Bibles and let's dig back into this subject:

I should not have to say it, but "blessed are the peacekeepers" is not even in the Bible.  Yes, " blessed are the peacemakers" is, but this oft-quoted verse is NOT about law enforcement officers, unless... (keep reading). Some may have read the article that I wrote on this subject for the Chaplain's Corner segment in Law Officer Magazine some time back: " Blessed are the Peacemakers?"  Take note of the question mark (?) at the end as it is there for the same reason I included it here.  So why is this important?  Because, tragically, many officers are using this and other misquoted/misinterpreted passages of Scripture in the utterly false and deadly belief that we are able to "badge" our way out of hell and into heaven through our service.  

Here's the truth: the biblical exegesis of  Matthew 5:9 (" Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God") from Jesus' teaching in His " Sermon on the Mount" has NO nexus to what we do in law enforcement! On the contrary, the Greek word  eirenopoios -- translated "peacemaker" or more correctly, peace-worker (and not "peacekeeper") -- is used in only one other place in the New Testament and in a slightly different form.  Colossians 1:20 says, " For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross." (added emphasis mine).

Jesus laid down His life on the cross to make peace (reconciliation) between God and sinners, and when we share that message of peace that is found only in a right relationship with Christ (what is means to be  born again in Him --  John 3:1-21) with others, we are only then the  peacemakers He is speaking of. This message is NOT about what we do in law enforcement  unless it just happens to be a genuine Christian officer who is carrying out God's command so share the gospel with others as part of our  Great Commission "call for service" (a command mind you, not a mere "suggestion").

God does in fact delight in those who reconcile others to Himself. Those who share  the gospel are called "beautiful" in  Isaiah 52:7. God " reconciled us to Himself" through Christ -- the " Prince of Peace" ( Isaiah 9:6) whom we just celebrated at Christmas -- and gave us the " ministry of reconciliation" ( 2 Corinthians 5:18). Those who give of themselves as Jesus did in order that others may know Him as Lord and Savior are called " blessed," but even this so-called "good" deed (or any other) alone does not save us. Understand that there is no real peace apart from a genuine, life-saving/life-changing personal relationship (not "religion") with God in Christ ( Romans 5:1). What we do for worldly peace is merely a temporary lull in the chaos of this world ( John 14:27). True peace is ultimately found  only in a right relationship with God: "' There is no peace,' says the LORD, 'for the wicked'" (the "wicked" being the unsaved --  Isaiah 48:22).

The power of God's Word (the Bible) and the drawing by the Holy Spirit aside, only those who have been first born again in Him -- "Christians" as God alone gets to define the term -- can bring the peace of knowing Him to others in fulfillment of Matthew 5:9.  A person must have a real relationship with Christ before he or she can help someone else know God and thus obtain His peace. Those who witness for Christ, share their faith and biblically serve others in His name are the " peacemakers" (ambassadors for peace) Jesus refers to here. In short, what we generally do as "peace officers" (cops) is NOT what our Lord intends in this passage of Scripture!  

Likewise, many who attribute "blessed are the peacemakers" to police officers also do the same with John 15:13 -- " Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."  Again, this verse is generally NOT about what we do as cops who are killed in the line of duty to save others.  Rather, Jesus is pointing to Himself -- the ultimate "peacemaker" -- who laid down His life on the cross so that all who will surrender to Him in faith (the essence of " repent and believe" in  Mark 1:15) can be saved. This passage would also apply to Christians who are martyred for sharing their faith with others (dying so that others might receive forgiveness of their sin and have life in Christ).

So why is this so important? Because a great many who serve in law enforcement continue to hold to a potentially deadly (the eternal kind) false belief that their service and so-called "good works" as officers will save them. That passages like  Matthew 5:9, John 15:13 and others will essentially allow them to "badge" their way out of hell and into heaven.  That they don't even have to be "Christians" as God defines it to get out of hell (a lie from the very pit of that all-too-real place). Yet God Himself is clear in telling us that none are good ( Romans 3:1-12) outside of being first born again in His Son, Jesus Christ ( John 3:1-21). I deal with this issue via the " Good Person Test" that I share in every one of these messages (keep reading).  

Are we now crystal (LOL) clear on this issue?  Sure, what we do as cops IS important, but ONLY if we are doing so from a right relationship with God in Christ (see When do our good deeds count?).  

So now, in light of this study, where do YOU stand today?  And if you do in fact know Christ as Lord and Savior, are you being the "peacemakers" He is calling us to be living "all in" for Him and then by sharing His peace (the Plan of Salvation) with others? 

Well?  It is in answer to God's call to be a genuine "peacemaker" that I urge you to consider the following: