Should a Christian promote world peace?

Few thoughts move the minds of men as much as the desire for world peace. And yet, despite all the efforts to achieve peace, we constantly hear of war and of the threats and fears of men. But we know from the Bible that, perhaps soon, there will be world-wide peace. This peace will not be the result of human efforts, but will be introduced by God Himself at the beginning of the millennium. The Kingdom of God, under the visible rule of the Lord Jesus, will be a Kingdom of peace (Isa. 9:6-7).

Few thoughts move the minds of men as much as the desire for world peace. And yet, despite all the efforts to achieve peace, we constantly hear of war and of the threats and fears of men. But we know from the Bible that, perhaps soon, there will be world-wide peace. This peace will not be the result of human efforts, but will be introduced by God Himself at the beginning of the millennium. The Kingdom of God, under the visible rule of the Lord Jesus, will be a Kingdom of peace (Isaiah 9:6-7).

But then there will be moral changes of moment and of the highest interest, as here we read that "Many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares." Such, according to the Bible, is the reign of peace then, and not before. All attempts of peace societies meanwhile are at best an amiable illusion, at worst an infidel confidence in man, always ignorance of God's word. They may possibly influence in isolated cases, though it may be doubted whether when kings or statesmen or countries have made up their minds to a policy which enlists general sympathy within their own spheres and with means adequate at their disposal, any such theories or sentiments will avail to hinder. It is certain that wars have their roots in the passions and lust of man: to escape the bad fruit you must first make the tree good. But the day of Jehovah will deal with man in righteousness and power, and peace will result according to His mind and glory.

Yet there is, through God's infinite compassion, a way and means to obtain peace, spite of the restlessness of man and his dark counsels. It has pleased God to put such means in the hands of Christians, however unconscious in many a case they may be of it? And what is that? Intercession! Not that they can dictate either to man or to God, but with God they can and should plead, as He Himself exhorts us to do in 1 Tim. 2:1-4. The ministry of intercession is a wondrous one, too little availed of. Just think of God calling upon His children to uphold the peace of the world a — quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty being good and acceptable in his sight. When it is a question of the defence and protection of Israel, His earthly people, He takes the lead in their armies, destroying their enemies either by His own hand and without them, or by giving them irresistible power. With Christians, His heavenly people, He is the "God of peace," not taking sides, as it were, with one or the other fighting party, although controlling all and making all to serve His purpose. "The God of peace." He enjoins His people that they should lift up holy hands, without wrath and doubting, in prayer to Him. And not only in prayer for social and temporal welfare, legitimate and proper as this may be in its sphere, but in behalf of human souls, Christians knowing that soul-salvation, as Peter terms it (1 Peter 1:9), is far above all the concerns of the present life in importance. They heed the words, "God will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth."

The Christian's place is that of an intercessor before God for those in sorrow and for all men, and the more truly his “not of the world” character and heavenly calling is understood by him, the better he will be able to intercede. We must not be disinterested, much less indifferent spectators of what is going on in the world; its woes and wickedness should cause us grief of heart, and deeply exercise us before God and drive us to Him in prayer that strife may cease and the gospel of peace prosper. But if we become absorbed with our surroundings, or carried away by national feeling, or by human passions, we are so far unfitted to fill our high and holy place before God on behalf of men.

The Christian's place is that of an intercessor before God for those in sorrow and for all men, and the more truly his "not of the world" character and heavenly calling is understood by him, the better he will be able to intercede. We must not be disinterested, much less indifferent spectators of what is going on in the world; its woes and wickedness should cause us grief of heart, and deeply exercise us before God and drive us to Him in prayer that strife may cease and the gospel of peace prosper. But if we become absorbed with our surroundings, or carried away by national feeling, or by human passions, we are so far unfitted to fill our high and holy place before God on behalf of men.

Our prayer to God is that He would awaken us all to our responsibility and our privilege of being intercessors on behalf of "all men, for kings and all that be in authority." Surely there never was a time in our day when there was more need for this. We know that "the fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much." It is more powerful than mighty armies, for it moves God to act, and God is greater than men. They propose, He disposes, they speak, but He has the last word. The efforts of men to maintain peace in the world only seem to make confusion worse confounded, and they have no way out; but the Christian has a way out. He looks up, he may intercede with God, and may have power with God and men. It is a time for prayers.

The other eight statements of this Appeal, being based on the two here briefly examined, need not be dwelt on, save to notice that the language, "We are bound" to this or that, hardly accords with the spirit of a simple child of God. He feels that bondage does not befit him whom the Son has made free, whose yoke is easy, and burden light. (Matt. 11:30.) But while we can all surely say amen to the text, "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Matt. 5), and seek that the principles of the kingdom should govern us now, as they will govern the children of the kingdom then, yet, to go on quietly here, as men who wait for their Lord, becomes us here, not to form or join peace societies for the improvement of this world. God will deal with it in judgment before that coming day, when "peace on earth" shall be established in everlasting security. H. C. Anstey.

(5) The peace of the world (Ps. 46:9). The righteous judgment of God will lead to universal peace amongst men, for, as the prophet can say, "The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever" (Isa. 32:17). Men talk of a new order, by which they hope to end war and bring about a universal peace. But the peace of which men dream ignores both the holiness of God and the wickedness of men. It is a peace without righteousness. All the efforts of men will be in vain, for it is the LORD Who "maketh wars to cease," and His peace will be universal, for wars will "cease unto the end of the earth." Then, indeed will the Scripture be fulfilled, that tells us, "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isa. 2:4).

"And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people." Is this the gradual, peaceful spread of truth by human instrumentality? "And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (ver. 4.) Ps. 46 connects itself with the prospect of universal peace here held out, and we will turn aside to consider it for a moment. People say that it is not only by the spread of the gospel that this prospect is to be realized, but by peace societies and other confederations to spread pacific principles, and to promote among the governments of the earth pacific counsels and measures. But is this what the Word of God testifies? Look at this Psalm. It relates to a time of tremendous trouble, the period we were considering in a former lecture, the time of Jacob's trouble, out of which he is to be delivered. This Psalm expresses the confidence of the faithful Jewish remnant, while surrounded by the horrors of that day of unequalled tribulation, and of the judgments with which it terminates. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." (ver. 1-3.) This is surely most unlike the gradual spread of truth, and the conversion, by its imperceptible influences, of the whole mass of mankind to holiness and peace. Convulsions are here described of a character the most formidable. "The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted." (ver. 6.) Again do the remnant declare their confidence amid the desolating storm. "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge." (ver. 7.) And now the storm is past. God has arisen to his strange