The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his101/bibl26.arj/BIBL26.TXT

Text File | 1988-06-14 | 7KB | 115 lines

                            PEACE ON EARTH

.    Peace on earth, goodwill to men!  We hear this every Christmas
time being heralded by all as they get caught up in the flurry of the
season.  Many non-Christians have espoused the statement and adapted
it to secular philosophies.
.    One doesn't have to spend much time in Bible study before he runs
head-on into seeming contradictions to that concept.  There are
several throughout scripture.  I would like to cite two of them as a
focus for this discussion.  The first is Matthew 10:24 and the second
is Luke 12:51.  They are very similar and both are quotes from Jesus.
From Matthew - "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth; I
came not to send peace, but a sword."  From Luke - "Suppose ye that I
am come to give peace on earth?  I tell you, Nay; but rather
division:"
.    We now stand at one of those classic points of which critics of
Christianity are so enamored, yet of which they have so little
understanding.  There are three main reasons why non-Christians have
such difficulty in understanding situations like this one.
.    First, many conceive of God like a little voodoo doll that can be
carried around and called into action when convenient.  Growing from
this concept is the second, placing a limitation on God by holding Him
up for evaluation to man's standards.  Likewise, the third stems from
the second, scripture is interpreted only from the standpoint of man's
limited knowledge.
.    In solving this riddle, one must begin with a good understanding
of the meanings of the word peace.  The secular definition of the word
focuses on the inter-personal aspects such as absence of war and the
absence of hostilities, the "getting along" qualities of peace.  From
this emphasis stems the popular concept of world peace and universal
brotherhood.
.    The Biblical emphasis on peace is that of the inner man, the
soul.  It stresses personal calm based on the relationship of each
person to God.  Greek and Hebrew manuscripts, when examined, reveal an
intertwined message in the word peace that includes a release from
inner conflict and a freedom from anxiety that is produced by the
arrangement in proper perspectives of our relationship with God and
with the temporal influences of the world in which we live.  It's not
a group effort, rather an individual one.
.    When we check the original manuscripts of the "peace on earth,
goodwill to men" passage, we find the literal translation to be
different in modern usage from the more archaic wording from the KJV.
(This is not to constitute an attack on the KJV, but simply to point
out that present day usage of our own tongue is different.)
Literally, we find, "peace on earth to those of whom God approves".
The Living Bible states it as "peace on earth for all those pleasing
Him."  Those pleasing God will have that inner peace while here on
earth as a result of their faith in God.
.    Now we are in sight of the resolution of the apparent conflict.
Twice Jesus stated that He did not come to bring "peace to the
world"... once privately to His disciples as He charged them with the
responsibility of spreading the gospel (Matthew ref.) and publicly
before thousands (Luke ref.).  He didn't bring peace to the WORLD, He
brought peace to believers, individually.  Jesus' arriving on the
scene WOULD cause division, would be like a sword.  Within
communities, even within families, some would recognize and accept the
opportunity for salvation and receive peace while others would not.
Hence the division, the demarcation of two distinct groups.  It is a
necessary part of the conflict between good and evil that the
distinction be drawn between believers and non-believers. (Who is on
the Lord's side?)  Those accepting would have the comfort and "blessed
assurance", as the hymn writer puts it, with a "foretaste of glory
divine." to uphold them and give them hope.  Hope to endure the
division and the errancy of the world which we temporarily inhabit.
.    Before I am branded as an "anti-brotherhood" heretic, let me
point out that brotherhood is a major part of the goal in
Christianity.  It is the motives and methods of the world that cause
the conflict.  With that peace which faith brings, is the
responsibility to witness... the motive of witness - to share the Good
News... the method - to encourage the free choice of God's grace,
thereby allowing individuals to experience true peace.  As the witness
multiplies, inter-personal aspects become an outgrowth of the faith
and are evident in the Christians good works (faith without works is
dead.).  The self must be arranged in correct perspective before the
outreach can be effected.  One-on-one is the method of accomplishing
what secular pomposity strives for.  It cannot be legislated.  It must
be received by free choice and as the result of "new birth".  God has
promised that He will be in charge, He will bring about the
brotherhood and the unity - NOT man.
.    Oddly enough, scripture does promise that man's way will make
great headway and will succeed.... for a time.  Worldwide unity will
be achieved in the form of one government.  This will be the work of
man, imperfect and temporal.  Ostentatiously, it will promise great
unity and brotherhood - even doing much of it in the name of the Lord.
Peace and prosperity will be at hand to tantalize those who resist.
It will be in reality, formed and legislated from greed and
expedience.  A great leader will emerge and be very charismatic in his
universal appeal and he will do many seemingly wonderful things for
those in the world.  Then, the deception will be exposed.
.    As power grows and corrupts, the true colors will begin to show.
Demands and oppression will replace the humanitarian actions.  This
Anti-Christ will press it so far that he will actually enter the
restored Temple in Jerusalem and proclaim himself to be God!  I will
not attempt all the details here.  This scenario in prophesy is enough
material to carry us through an unbelievable number of discussions.
.    This will be the final straw.  God will then intercede directly.
The fruition of the kingdom will be swift and certain.  Our reward
will be at hand - FOR EVER.
.    "... you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful
than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts
and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:7 LB)  This "peace that passeth all understanding"
(same, KJV) IS ours as promised in I Corinthians 13:12, "..We can see
and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at
His reflection in a poor mirror; but someday we are going to see Him
in His completeness, face to face!  Now all that I know is hazy and
blurred, but then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as
God sees into my heart right now." (LB)

 PRAY FOR THE PEACE!
 Paul Molyneux

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