Is It Peace?
“…Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me.”
The world’s peace is achieved through finding the lowest common denominator – through the limitation of personal freedom – through compromise – through the incarceration of those whose behaviors violate social norms – through the politics of common interest, the balance of military power– and, when necessary, the threat of “mutual assured destruction.” This, of course, is not the peace promised by Jesus when He said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” He clearly denotes a difference in His peace and the world’s peace.
Neville Chamberlain on 30 September, 1938 after the Munich Conference had ended the day before, read the following statement in front of 10 Downing St.:
“We, the German Fuehrer and Chancellor, and the British Prime Minister, have had a further meeting today and are agreed in recognizing that the question of Anglo-German relations is of the first importance for our two countries and for Europe. We regard the agreement signed last night and the Anglo-German Naval Agreement as symbolic of the desire of our two peoples never to go to war with one another again. We are resolved that the method of consultation shall be the method adopted to deal with any other questions that may concern our two countries, and we are determined to continue our efforts to remove possible sources of difference, and thus to contribute to assure the peace of Europe.”
Chamberlain after reading the statement then said: “My good friends, for the second time in our history, a British Prime Minister has returned from Germany bringing peace with honour. I believe it is peace for our time… Go home and get a nice quiet sleep.”
Soon afterward, contrary to “peace for our time,” many men were not to “go home” but were to leave home never to return home and the sound of exploding V2 rockets and the screeching of the German Stuka dive bombers with their exploding payloads were to prevent an entire nation from “a nice quite sleep” for many months to come. Chamberlain’s hand rather than holding a pen of compromise should have brandished a swift and keen edged sword to an evil despot that was hungrily swallowing Europe piece by piece. The message to this demonic inspired dictator should have been—not to send peace, but a sword! Chamberlain, however, was more concerned with “let’s just all get along,” rather than being concerned with “letting justice reign.”
Among Pentecostal ranks today a mentality of an all-inclusive peace has become the norm rather than the exception. Due to viewing peace as comprehensive, creating a Utopia on earth, many individuals now view any contention as being unchristian and not acceptable. Also this mistaken mindset has produced a generation of Pentecostals that refuse to make a valiant stand for truth and label anyone so doing as bitter, legalistic and unloving (and several other such like categories). Mistaking internal peace for external peace is the banana peel that causes many to slip. It would truly surprise many present day Pentecostal pacifists that Paul instructed his son in gospel, Timothy; “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare” (1Ti 1:18). The catalogue of faith listed one of its attributes as having “Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Heb 11:34). While warmongering is an activity that is despicable and generated by the works of the flesh it must be understood, however, that an all-inclusive peace is not only unrealistic but also unbiblical. True Christians must do all to stand and then “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Eph 6:14). The gospel of peace requires a soldier’s outfitting.
Contrary to what some may have us believe, peace at any cost is not a biblical precept. Today it is extremely unpopular to unsheathe the sword against any ungodliness, evil or degenerate enemy of the Cross. Mark well the brazen gay-steps of homosexuality as it marches nearly unopposed and unchallenged throughout the land. Pulpits with political correctness mumble incoherently behind the hand covering their mouths and apparently even over the eyes as some fail to perceive the blossoming garden of gay flowers among their musicians and choir members. Paul, never shirking from a righteous battle, said; “Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust” (1Ti 1:9-11). A Chamberlain the Apostle Paul was not.
Someone was quoted as saying; “If the Nazis have really been guilty of the unspeakable crimes imputed to them, then— let us make no mistake—pacifism is faced with a situation with which it cannot cope. The conventional pacifist conception of a reasonable or generous peace is irrelevant to this reality.” A spiritual pacifist is an oxymoron. The true saint of God soon learns that, like a magnet, the Truth attracts certain hostilities and dealing with contention and conflict is certainly a part of the spiritual life of a soldier of Jesus Christ. Those which are unwilling to face the prospect that the gospel will often be confrontational are deluding themselves and those unwilling to stand firm without compromise are doomed to take a seat among those that would rather switch than fight. Peace in this type of situation is not a Bible peace but rather a misguided interpretation of peace that allows the enemy to conquer and dominate. An inner peace enables a Christian to wage the war of faith in external conflicts—and still remain a Christian.
Woodrow Wilson was quoted as saying; “There is a price which is too great to pay for peace, and that price can be put in one word. One cannot pay the price of self-respect.” While in agreement with Wilson I would, for purposes here, say, “There is a price which is too great to pay for peace, and that price can be put in one word. One cannot pay the price of God’s Truth.” There are those today that have drank deeply and fully from the pseudo charismatic love fountain until they are too inebriated to make a firm-footed stand for gospel truth, they wish to offer disclaimers to “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism,” until that it ends up being “One’s semantics.” Some afraid to be confrontational have parleyed with the enemy instead of boldly proclaiming the Truth. Acts 2:38 in certain areas, has become butcher blocked with sharp-edged logic until it is severed into compatible servings. The message of godly separation from the world as a sanctified people has been dynamited, undermined, mailbox bombed and sniped from terrorists wishing to deMORALize the troops. The glorious revelation of the Mighty God in Christ has been deluded with the fluids of plurality until it reeks with trinitarianism. Building bridges over (thereby bypassing and omitting) the waters of Jesus Name baptism to reach the Trinitarian is not progress but pollution. Peace is not an option. Truth shall never set at the surrender table on any vessel. “His truth is forever settled in heaven.” There is a price which is too great to pay for peace—“Buy the truth and sell it not.”
— jlg —