The statement is blessed are the peacemakers and not blessed are the pacifists. I know that's almost a cynical view of the statement that Christ made, but we have to take the Bible as a collective whole versus running away with one verse we don't quite understand.Exodus 20:13
Thou shalt not kill.
We all know this as one of the 10 Commandments. We even have a recording of the first murder. I will say that people misunderstand this to be killing in any form, which is clearly incorrect from the verses that come both before and after this.Numbers 35:16-24
And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to deathAnd if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.But if he thrust him of hatred, or hurl at him by laying of wait, that he die;Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die: he that smote him shall surely be put to death; for he is a murderer: the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him.But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait,Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing him not, and cast it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm:Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:
I spaced this out not to insult anyone's intelligence, but for them to see what murder is. Obviously, if we're not to kill under any circumstances, there's a bit of a problem because God contradicted himself with Exodus 20 and Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 19, and Joshua 20. Please note that it was said 3 times just as it was said 3 times within Numbers 35.Now let's fastforward to Christ.Matthew 5:17-19
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Nothing changed in the way of the law when Christ came. He came to fulfill. A murderer is still a sinner, it's still a sin to not honor thy father and mother, and it's still a sin to break any of the other commandments. The difference now is that we have the one and all time sacrifice through which we can be forgiven. A murder even can repent if it's truly in his heart, and God knows that of course.Getting to what Christ said, it's the same as the OT that Jags has pointed out.Ecclesiastes 3:8
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
A peacemaker can go to war when that is the only option. A peacemaker makes peace until it's absolutely impossible to do so. That's not a pacifist. One does have to make peace all the time to be a peacemaker. A peacemaker can settle an argument one time and perhaps be a part of the argument in the next. I have several friends that are peacemakers and wonderful mediators because Father has blessed them that route.Getting down to the world of today, there are good people who believe it just the same as there are good people who believe the wars of today are unjust. It's a personal decision based on your understanding of what God has told you. Suggesting that the Bible is for peace is true, but there are times of war in it just as they are times of peace.