Descending into another Dark Age?

The Dark Ages, that time in Europe from the fall of Rome to the dawn of the Enlightenment, describes a millennium of violence. (500 to 1500 A.D.) With the disappearing of the authority of the Roman Empire, a brutal chaos erupted that destroyed urban life, made commerce nearly impossible, and reduced life to a struggle for survival.  In the absence of the rule of law, those with the sharpest sword, those without regard for human life, held sway. The only bright spots in Europe were the monasteries that kept education and faith alive. The renewal of faith in Christ Jesus, made personal and presented as transformative in the Reformation, ultimately brought about the way of life most of us take for granted in the West today. 

We live in a terribly violent world where power is the currency of greatest value.  Nations of great power are quite willing to drop bombs, to send drones with deadly missiles, and to starve people into submission with economic sanctions to get their way in the world.  People who have little power are willing to blow themselves and/or others to bits in public places, are willing to shoot children in schools, or commandeer airplanes to bring buildings crashing down to attempt to bring about their agenda. We find abundant cruelty in most every kind of human relationship. The Church has fallen strangely silent in all this, many Christians even complicit with violent schemes to maintain their place of privilege.

There are abundant calls in the New Testament that Christ’s followers are to be people of peace. We are reconciled to our Father in Heaven and our mission in our world is to build bridges of reconciliation. Jesus tells us that when we are peacemakers we are known as ‘children of God.’   The Word commands-  "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification." (Romans 14:19, NIV)  "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." (Romans 15:1-2, NIV)   But, a life of peace is the foundation necessary if we desire to call others to peace. 

Would you agree that we are, by and large, angry people?  When our desire for personal pleasure or comfort is hindered – by a slow driver, by a thoughtless clerk, or a life-altering situation;  it is common for us to slip into anger, even rage.  This must not be true of those who claim Christ as Lord. James instructs us: "So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:19-21, NKJV)  Sure, there are plenty of things that could potentially make us angry – rude people, unjust authorities, uncooperative kids, selfish spouses – but Christ, the Lord of peace, makes it possible for us to live gently, to forgive, and to pursue peace!  Will we radically TRUST Him and give away our demand to be served?  (A confession is in order here. It is much easier to write about this serenity than it is to live in it.)

If we persist in our demand to own more, to control more;  we will give in to violence.  No we won’t all build bombs or buy guns, but we will arm our tongue and fire away. James says it is ‘full of deadly poison,” or as the Message puts it, “wild, a wanton killer.”  (3:8)  Our ability to change the world rests on love.  No, we don’t have to gather ‘round the campfire to sing “Kum Ba Yah.”  We do have to gather with other Christians and worship the One who makes us free from evil, then we go out as messengers who invite the world to live in peace and at peace.  If we do not, I we will plunge into yet another Dark Age, a time of escalating violence that destroys life’s beauty. 

Are you living in a Dark Age, the light of love hidden behind fear, rage, hate?  Come into the Light! Invite Jesus to be Lord of your life and begin to rest in His peace.

Take this word from the Word to heart.  Start now, at home, in your life, and spread the Word. "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:18-23, NIV)

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Wonderful Peace

Peace, peace, wonderful peace;

Coming down from the Father above.

Sweep over my spirit, forever, I pray;

In fathomless billows of love.

I am resting this day in this wonderful peace,

Resting sweetly in Jesus' control.

For I'm kept from all danger by night and by day

And His glory is flooding my soul.

Ah, soul are you here without comfort and rest,

Marching down the rough pathway of time?

Make Jesus your friend ere the shadows grow dark,

O accept this sweet peace so sublime.

W. George Cooper | Warren D. Cornell

Public Domain