BY PAX SABIN ─ Politics seldom if ever provides a positive illustration for spiritual things. Party and government leaders often speak of peace while fomenting war. Each has his own idea of what promotes peace among nations and neighbors; political and social scientists, as well as economists, seem to feel certain of their theories, although this writer would be hard pressed to present evidence for a given position. As the phrase has been coined, it serves here: it’s above my pay grade.
Moving from a macro-social perspective to a spiritual focus, however, the uncertainty vanishes and a confidence of soul sets in. The Holy Scriptures are so clear and definitive on the matter, only the predisposed will miss its testimony. The sincere investigator ought not harbor any doubts: the majority are so predisposed, and the reasons are many, not least of which is the nearly absolute absence of familiarity with the Bible.
Let the casual reader take note that peace according to the divine designation is not a set of social or political conditions that, if obtained, would usher in a cessation of world conflict and the establishment of better economic days. Such do power-hungry saviors and fame-seeking preachers proclaim.
The task of the people of God is to bring knowledge of the truth to the ignorant, reveal the multiple inducements to the receipt of the Almighty’s offering of peace, and urge hearers with all gravity to immediately repent and obey the gospel. For the eternal Kingdom is near, the final judgment approaches, and the fast-sweeping hand of the clock accelerates toward the Day of the Lord.
The “peace of God” comes at a high price, both on his part and ours; most people, however, including many religious authorities, have little notion of the price of peace. Why is this so? Perhaps the price has been demeaned because few have an accurate concept of the seriousness, deadliness, and insidiousness of sin. He who diminishes sin must in like manner diminish the price paid to cancel its effects in the human race.
Some even consider that the sacrifice of Christ served mainly as an example of selflessness, rather than an atonement or propitiation for sin, no matter the clear and constant affirmations in the Sacred Text that our Lord died in order to bring us forgiveness. The domino effect comes into play, because the inspiration of Scripture is called into question and the Bible is posited as consisting of man’s thoughts about God and human interpretation that has accrued over the years. In the end, little is left of the saving plan of the Creator except religious ritual and mild platitudes. And gone is all impulse for preaching the gospel to all the world.
To speak of the Almighty as “the God of peace,” however, is to bring together all the strands of reconciliation in Christ. Now restored is our life in fellowship with the Creator, which brings to our hearts the pervasive calm which can be joined to that of other disciples to form that community of full harmony so desired and vainly attempted by the world.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among people with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14).
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