REDEFINING THE WILD WEST: THE CALL FOR PEACEMAKERS IN A DIVIDED WORLD
Our world is in turmoil.
A culture of division, strife, and contempt has taken root. It's as if we're living in a modern-day Wild West, where hostility reigns and civility is a fading echo.
Just as the American frontier was a time of rapid change, uncertainty, and often, conflict, so is our current cultural landscape. The term "Wild West" evokes images of showdowns and violence, yet historians argue that reality is often less dramatic than folklore suggests.
American folklore paints a vivid picture of the Wild West as a place of constant conflict. Dusty dirt roads outside of saloons were often imagined as stages for dramatic showdowns, where cowboys, armed with their trusty pistols, aka "peacemakers," would settle disputes with deadly force. The peacemaker, as it was so fondly nicknamed, was officially known as the Colt Single Action Army revolver handgun, and it sought to handle conflict using only one attribute; force.
Future historians may characterize our era as a time of great upheaval and division—indeed, a wild time of contention.
But all this can change.
As followers of Christ, we are called to rewrite history and become history makers by being “peacemakers” in our own right, wherever we may go. Jesus declared in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Patros are Peacemakers.
God is looking for men who will answer the clarion call to be counterculture, to be a strong voice addressing the culture. These men’s lives lead to peace, and when they enter a room, they offer a strong yet calming presence.
A Patros is a father-like figure who is a Godly example of how to manage conflict; he does not display pride or use rage to get his point across; he models patience and a reasonable understanding; he controls his emotions and leads with love. His gentle spirit and strong demeanor are evident in all he encounters.
The Apostle Paul shares the pattern of being a peacemaker in Philippians 4:5-9; he reminds us to: Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned, received, or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Our world desperately needs peacemakers. Men who step up to the challenge to become a catalyst for cultural change by transforming interactions at home, at work, and within our communities. Men who will put into practice peace in their everyday lives will truly help to rewrite history.
Imagine a world where people are more concerned with mending fences than drawing lines in the sand. Where we seek to understand rather than condemn. Where we offer a helping hand instead of a hateful glare. It's a tall order, we know, but it's possible.
We need men to man up and be Patros—fathers, mentors, and leaders. Not the kind who pushes people around, but the kind who serves, protects, and guides. Men who are strong but gentle; wise yet humble; and full of God’s grace.
It's time to disarm the world with kindness and gentleness. To replace anger with understanding. To trade rage for radical peace. To become peacemakers in a world that's lost its way.
Peace is true power.
Let's be the change in the culture we want to see. Let's holster our pride and draw on our faith. Let's become the peacemakers this world so greatly needs. This is our call to action.