Peace is Better

I am not a pacifist. I do believe violence has a place in certain situations. If someone attacks my family, I would use violence to defend them. A government's primary responsibility is to defend and protect it's citizens, especially those who can not defend themselves. This often requires the sword (or gun) of the law (see Romans 13:1-5)

But if given the choice, I would have to say peace is better than war. Even more, peace is better than nonpeace. I know it sounds so basic, but the world is saying peace will never happen.  Every time we make a breakthrough, hate rears it's ugly head again.  Murder and hate seem to be on the rise. Revenge is the way of people and nations. Every time someone or some group is persecuted, they turn around and become the next generation of persecutors toward others. But something deep within us longs for real and lasting peace. We long for a world where neighbors of different religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds live together in harmony.  It is not a fanciful whim, it is a glimpse of what we were created to be, God's holy image stamped in our subconscious.

When Jesus came to the earth, he set a framework for a world without violence. He called it the "kingdom." The kingdom, is not governed by "rights", as in "I have a right to compensations because someone hurt me."  The kingdom is not governed by revenge, or honor, or guilt and punishment, the way the kingdoms of the world are governed. Rather the rule of this kingdom is grace, love, and mercy. Citizens of the kingdom are told to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them. They are told to forgive, because they have been forgiven. The cycle of violence and revenge is broken.

Recently I have been touched by some people that still think peace is possible. Check out israelovesiran.com  and watch the video. They are also on facebook. I don't know if these few voices will make any difference in the grand scheme of things. I don't know if they can impact elections or keep bombs from falling. But I know this: wherever the Kingdom advances, peace advances. When I hear the stories of people advancing peace, something awakens in my soul, something that reflects the image of God. And at that moment, I do not hope, but I know that one day there will be a final and lasting peace on earth.

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!