(Matthew 5:9, TNIV)
"Father, father
We don't need to escalate
You see, war is not the answer
For only love can conquer hate
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today..."
(Al Cleveland/Marvin Gaye/Renaldo Benson, 1971)
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people...
to guide our feet into the way of peace."
"How many times must the cannon balls fly
before they are forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind...
How many deaths will it take till we know
that too many people have died?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind..."
You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one ."
"Nothing comes from violence; nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are"
"...a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
"As I walk through this wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself, 'Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?'
And each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
As I walk on through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong and who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony? Sweet harmony?
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?"
"...seek peace and pursue it."
for he has visited and redeemed his people...
to guide our feet into the way of peace."
(Luke 1:68, 79, ESV)
"How many times must the cannon balls fly
before they are forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind...
How many deaths will it take till we know
that too many people have died?
The answer my friend is blowin' in the wind..."
(Bob Dylan, 1962)
"So then let us pursue what makes for peace..."(Romans 14:19, ESV)
"God has called you to peace.""Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace, eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me."
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father, brothers all are we,
Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me, let this be the moment now.
With every step I take, let this be my solemn vow,
To take each moment and live each moment in peace, eternally.
Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me."
(Jill Jackson/Sy Miller, 1955)
(1 Corinthians 7:15, ESV)
"Imagine all the people living life in peace.You may say I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one.
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one ."
(John Lennon, 1971)
"...he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near."
(Ephesians 2:17, ESV)"Nothing comes from violence; nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are"
(Sting, 1987)
"...a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."
(James 3:18, ESV)
"As I walk through this wicked world
Searchin' for light in the darkness of insanity.
I ask myself, 'Is all hope lost?
Is there only pain and hatred, and misery?'
And each time I feel like this inside,
There's one thing I wanna know:
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
As I walk on through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong and who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony? Sweet harmony?
'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?"
(Nick Lowe, 1979)
"...seek peace and pursue it."
(1 Peter 3:11, ESV)
5 comments:
Blessed are the peacemakers, not the peacekeepers! There is a difference. Peace makers make peace in a situation where it does not exist. Peace keepers (a term which is not found in Scripture, to my knowledge) try to maintain peace in a situation where it ostensibly already exists. Often times, it does not already exist, and hence cannot be kept. The only way to "make" peace is by the blood of Christ. He is the only way to peace, as He is the Prince of Peace. Anything short of His presence and transforming power (yes, even just imagining it!) is peace keeping, at best.
I believe that in order to be a peacemaker, something always has to give way. (i.e., a stronger gives way to the weaker). Some might view this as war, or just war, but in my life it is sin that entangles me, the sin that I have to make a daily decision to let go of.
In of myself, I have no hope to defeat my sin...I am the weaker. But with Jesus, with the armor of God...sin can be defeated.
I absolutely agree that "peace" in Christian terms is far more than simply rejecting war, bombs, and guns (though that is certainly part of it). Essential is an understanding of grace, sin, and Scriptural passages such as Isaiah 9...
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."
Whoa.... Take my guns and set me free! Serious comments from B&C Inc. Who knew this day would come?
Praise God and pass the ammunition!
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