Peace Treatments

I have been musing lately over the idea of dedicating the next few posts (or how ever many it will take) to "conflict in red letters", meaning...dissecting everything that Jesus had to say about conflict.  The idea is not original. My pastors have been preaching a series entitled "In Red Letters" for several weeks now.  They've talked about everything from "money in red letters" to "woman in red letters" but nothing on conflict...so I think I'll give it a go. So starting in Matthew, chapter 5, verse 9.. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons [and daughters] of God" (NIV) The word used for "peacemakers" is eirenopoios which translates to "reconciler" and "one who lives a life whose tenure and effect is peace and reconciliation and not aggression, hostility, antagonism or combativeness" (Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, 1996, lexical aids, p.1650) There is a quirk of irony here...

I was talking today - as I am wont to do - about my learning and healing through spiritual 12 step.  I am amazed how teachings that were incorporated into my life over 10 years ago still inform all that I do today and continue to impact me in ways that help me heal and grow.  Anyways, we were talking about step 8 and 9... Step 8 - Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. Step 9 - Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others and the question arose..When is it appropriate to make amends and how do we know whether to do so will harm them or others?  My hunch is that the answer to these questions is found in another...what is compelling you to make the amends?  What is motivating you, the desire to alleviate and heal the pain you caused them or the need to lesson some of the guilt and shame you carry over it?  I believe this step takes...