Curious Christian

I’ve been sitting with this quote from “The Missing Peace of Evangelical Missiology: Peacemaking and Respectful Witness” by Dr. Rick Love. He writes:

“So how should the mandates of peacemaking and evangelism fit together? The biblical foundation layed in this study, along with the poignant stories from Nigeria and Indonesia demonstrate that peacemaking and evangelism go hand in hand. There should be a congruity between our message (the gospel of peace), our mandates (peacemaking and evangelism), and our manner (the irenic way we carry out the great commission) We preach of peace, we work towards peace, and we imitate the Prince of Peace.  This approach to obeying Christ’s last command elicits particular urgency since the challenge of peace between Muslims and Christians is one of the defining issues of this era.”

There’s a lot in there. But what strikes me most is the insistence on congruity—that our message, our mission, and our method should all align. That’s not just good strategy. That’s integrity.

Too often, evangelism has been framed as a kind of spiritual conquest. A campaign. A numbers game. But if the gospel we proclaim is truly a gospel of peace, then surely the way we proclaim it must be peaceful too. Not passive. Not avoidant. But irenic—a word that doesn’t get much airtime these days, but one that carries the weight of gentleness, patience, and deep-rooted strength.

It reminds me of how Jesus moved through the world. Not with coercion, but with compassion. Not with domination, but with invitation. He didn’t just talk about peace—he embodied it. And he called his followers to do the same.

This is where the stories from Nigeria and Indonesia come in. These aren’t just case studies—they’re reminders that the stakes are real. That the way we witness matters. That in places where Christian-Muslim tensions run high, the credibility of our message often hinges on the character of our messengers.

And maybe that’s true everywhere, not just in so-called “hot zones.” Maybe the West needs this reminder just as much. Maybe we all do.

Because if we’re honest, it’s easier to preach than to reconcile. Easier to proclaim than to listen. Easier to win arguments than to win trust. But the gospel calls us to something deeper. Something slower. Something more costly.

It calls us to be peacemakers.

Not just peace-lovers. Not just peace-hopers. But active participants in the hard, holy work of reconciliation.

So what if we stopped seeing evangelism and peacemaking as separate callings? What if we saw them as two sides of the same coin? What if the way we share the good news is part of the good news?

That’s the kind of congruity I want to live into.