Five hundred years ago Martin Luther and some brave supporters decided it was a time for war, a war against corruption in God’s church. That time has come again, and this time for the same reason – humanism not holiness has become the goal of church life and theology. The result is now as it was for the Roman Catholic church, a fleeing from church pews of confused and harried members.
Much of what passes for Christian doctrine is mealy-mouthed-go-along-get-along human psychology. It’s a watered down gospel. But believers instinctively know that this is not the truth and only 30% of believers now attend a church. They have all kinds of reasons but most often you’ll hear this: “The church doesn’t speak to me anymore.” Nor can it when it has lost its core message.
Jesus’ detractors, and they are many, may tell you that the Prince of Peace does not engage in war. Not so. The church is to war against evil wherever it is to be found. What you are not told is that Jesus reigns as the prince of peace when he is at peace with all men; clearly that has not happened.
Warring man, hate-filled, angry, self-willed, ambitious, greedy man is still at war with God much as he has been since the beginning of time, and perhaps even before then. War is not inevitable; it has a purpose. War allows mankind to define good.
And God has not promised peace for those who have no peace inside their hearts. Politicians often make peace their platform and then two things can happen when they are elected. (1) A foreign nation decides to attack or promote a war or (2) The political parties need an enemy so their followers will start or continue a fight. Peace is not the absence of war but the presence of unity.
God said “Peace. Peace. There is no peace for the wicked.” And that rather settles it doesn’t it. Until wickedness is obliterated there will be wars, small or large, local or international, racial or economic or territorial, wars will continue. Until then we can have peace in our individual hearts. The result is Joy. People may see it on your face.
The Joy of the Lord is your strength. This season of peace, if no where else have it in your heart.
Isaiah 57:19-21 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.