The cry for peace reverberates around the world with such phrases as, “Give Peace a Chance” and “Make Peace Not War,” to name the two most often heard. It sounds good, but no matter how often those terms are used peace remains illusive and it has been that way for hundreds of years.

 Is peace possible? It is, but not on the terms of the chanters who, like so many others, refuse to see the reality of the world around them. It takes both sides of an issue to promote peace regardless of how many times the mantras are repeated or how many protest marches are done in an effort to make peace arrive. The ironic thing that happens all too often is that the chanters and protestors engage in demonstrations that are anything but peaceable. Then they and their sympathizers blame the police for the injuries suffered when the law enforcement officers take measures to stop the wanton acts of the peace activists. These people need to study the Constitution carefully. The First Amendment reads, …  the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.  Many of the so called peace protestors are anything but peaceable and they certainly aren’t petitioning in any reasonable manner.

In addition, they think that pacifistic ways and appeasement will somehow cause the aggressor to stop his warring behavior, having the mistaken notion that somehow the aggressor was provoked and had to begin retaliation. Those who stand up to aggressors aren’t disturbing the world peace no matter what the protestors may think.

It isn’t uncommon to hear the protestors invoke the name of Jesus Christ and his teachings when calling for peace. They presume something about Jesus that isn’t true. Jesus didn’t come to make peace by worldly standards. He said, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. Mat 10:34  

The peace maker idea isn’t what so many believe because Jesus didn’t come to make peace at any price. He followed a standard and that standard was and is God. But Jesus also said, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 The peace that Jesus brought into the world was and is the way for man to make peace with God.

Paul wrote, If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Rom 12:18. In other words a believer, and by extension a nation, isn’t supposed to deliberately do anything to disturb the peace. However when attacked by an aggressor self defense is a right as written in Romans 13. The Constitution of the United States also makes provision for the protection of the nation’s people against aggressors and it is very biblical in all respects. 

Man being the aggressor against God is the one who has to change and therein lays the problem. Man doesn’t want to acknowledge that God is the Creator and that Jesus is the Master who will give the promised peace, if each person with a hardened sinful heart will kneel down and admit sin. The word of God is the sword of which Jesus spoke so eloquently and it will cut out the sin of man and deliver peace as a result of the excising.

Until each and every person in the world understands and believes that God and Jesus Christ have the answers to the hate in the hearts of men and women, there will never be peace. It will always be illusive. 

© 02-17-2005 DEC