Prejudiced to Peace

This weekend, we remember the millions of lives, mostly of those far too young, ended too soon on battlefields around the globe to advance our nation’s interests. And we should remember in graphic detail, so that the cost of war is never a light consideration. We need to accept responsibility since in our democracy it is you and I who give our political leaders authority to undertake military missions in our name; 'the people of these United States.'

Andy Rooney, commentator and curmudgeon on “60 Minutes,” who saw WW2 up close as a war correspondent, observed, “There is more bravery at war than in peace, and it seems wrong that we have so often saved this virtue to use for our least noble activity - war. The goal of war is to cause death to other people.” He went on to say that we speak of our warriors “giving their lives when, in reality, their lives are taken from them!” So, he concluded, we must never forget - more for our own sake, than for the sake of the dead. We must remember, with honor, those who have died in wars - and we must let their lost lives and their sorrowing kin cause us to seek new ways of resolving human conflict!

One of the Devil's great deceptions is the way he deceives humanity to glorify war! The 'great heroes' in our history books are too often warriors whose greatness is written in blood, ruthless men who were willing to kill and destroy to advance an agenda of economic opportunity or national pride. War is never glorious. That should be said often and with conviction! It is a terrible business with awful goals. I cannot, in this brief note, speak to the issues of the morality of war, or whether war is sometimes a justified response to evil. Greater minds than mine have explored that subject in depth. But, I will say, with great conviction, that the Christian should always be prejudiced to peace!

Jesus commended those who seek peace, calling them 'children of God.'
Peter urges us to 'seek peace and pursue it.'
In the book of Hebrews we read this passage which recognizes the limits of peace-making in a world filled with evil. There we are told to 'make every effort to live in peace with all men.'
In one of his most compelling statements, Jesus says, 'Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. ... If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.’ (Matthew 5:39-44, NIV) So quickly this rule is discarded in favor of attack with words, fists, bullets, and bombs.

We do not dishonor those who have fallen in war by remembering their deaths in the context of an appeal to peace-making. Those who seek peace whole-heartedly may be mocked as weak or cowardly, but truthfully – who is more courageous than the one who stands facing another with a gun and prays for him? What could be noble than offering forgiveness and absorbing the cost of loss for the sake of destroying hatred? Isn’t that exactly what Jesus, our Savior, did for us?

This Memorial Day holiday weekend- remember and honor, and pray for peace. Pray that it begins with you; first, reconciled to God, living in peace with Him, then reconciled to those near to you, at peace with them, and then as an advocate for peace on earth! Ultimately, peace will come with a new King, who Kingdom is one of perfect justice, equity, and love. How I long for His kingdom, and so I pray, often and with tears - "May your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven."

__________________

This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for lands afar and mine;
This is my home, The country where my heart is,
Here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine;
But other hearts in other lands are beating,
With hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.

This is my prayer, O Lord of all earth's kingdom's
Thy kingdom come on earth, Thy will be done;
Let Christ be lifted up 'til all men serve Him,
And hearts united learn to live as one;
O, hear my prayer, Thou God of all the nations.
Myself I give Thee let Thy will be done.

This is my song, O God of all the nations,
A song of peace for men in every place;
And yet I pray for my beloved country
The reassurance of continued grace;
Lord, help us find our oneness in the Savior,
In spite of differences of age and race. Amen.

A Song Of Peace
Stone, Lloyd / Wood, Dale / Sibelius, Jean

© 1968 Lorenz Publishing Company (a div. of the Lorenz Corporation)

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