The Pursuit of Peace

In Romans 12, we see some principles that can be helpful as we pursue a path of peace.
16Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.17Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.18If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Jesus is described as the Prince of Peace, and calls us to walk in a manner where we are able to effectively resolve conflict Biblically.  Yes, in this world full of humans, there will be conflict - we just have to make sure that we are avoiding pride and attempting to humbly pursue agreement.   This is so important among believers, because a rift will damage the unity that God calls us to preserve.  The Bible presents us the principles necessary to make this happen and to the wisdom to provide peaceful solutions to the disagreements we face.

In James 4, we see a very simple narrative about the source of conflict:
1Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?2You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.3You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Our hearts are heavy today as we hear news reports from a number of locations across the globe.   Officials are still trying to put together the real story of what happened in the skies over the Ukraine yesterday, where a Malaysian Airlines Boeing 777 plane carrying almost 300 people was apparently shot down by some sort of missile.  Could it have been mistakenly launched by the Ukrainians who are attempting to defend their homeland from pro-Russian forces or by the separatists?   This conflict is one of the may deeply disturbing instances, and the hundreds on that airliners are victims of the crossfire, it seems.

As columnist and commentator Jim Denison writes,

This tragedy affects you, for at least four reasons. One: if it turns out Russia supplied the missile that destroyed the plane, the United States' recent sanctions against Moscow will be strengthened and could deepen the growing divide between the two. Two: if Ukrainian soldiers brought down the plane, Russia's claim that Kiev is an illegitimate government will be reinforced and the war may intensify and spread. Three: if rogue elements now have the ability to shoot down civilian aircraft at altitude, the safety of the 8.2 million people who fly every day is in jeopardy. Four: religion is one of the under-reported but significant forces driving the conflict in Ukraine, with global implications.

This is quite interesting.  As Denison points out,

Church leaders are urging the Ukrainian government to resist Moscow and work for greater national solidarity. Meanwhile, the Russian Orthodox Church has been revitalized under the leadership of Vladimir Putin and calls him a "God-given leader." By claiming sovereignty over the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, the Russian church contributes to religious nationalism that is fueling pro-Russian separatists.

Is Jesus on the side of the separatists, or does he side with those who are fighting them? Philosopher Jacques Ellul: "It seems as though politics is the Church's worst problem. It is her constant temptation, the occasion of her greatest disasters, the trap continually set for her by the Prince of this World."

Those who claim to follow Christ can avoid this trap by refusing to kill in the name of their religion, seeking reconciliation rather than revenge (Matthew 5:23-24), praying for their enemies (Matthew 5:44) and resolving their differences in a spirit of humility and grace (John 13:31-35). Justin the Martyr (A.D. 100-165) testified to the power of Jesus' transforming love: "We who formerly hated and murdered one another now live together and share the same table."

Could the same miracle happen in the Ukraine, and in Gaza, and in your heart?

There is no doubt a religious component to the violence that we see in the Middle East, and it is being expressed not only in Gaza, where Israel has now mounted a ground offensive, as well as Iraq, where the Islamist fundamentalist group ISIS continues to build up its strongholds.  

The world is full of conflict, and there will be occasions where there will be necessary action to confront evil in order to preserve national security and to vanquish forces that are bent on doing harm.   And, I think it's important that our leaders understand, especially in dealing with the Middle East, that there is a spiritual dynamic to these conflicts.

In fact, there is a spiritual element to many conflicts that we face on a consistent basis.   So, let's bring it home to our own hearts and lives, as Denison did in closing his blog post.  First of all, the Bible is clear as to why conflicts exist - there is sin, there is selfishness, pride, involved, and we have to make sure that we are not aligned with the thief who destroys, but to the Prince of Peace.  

Once we identify the source of conflict, we then can evaluate whether or not we are proliferating the conflict.   The Psalmist, in Psalm 51, asked the Lord to search his heart to see if there was a hurtful way in him, asking God to lead Him in His way - the everlasting way.

The Bible instructs us to pursue the path of peace. So, we must make sure that we are on that path, taking the necessary steps to resolve conflict Biblically.  Unfortunately, we will use Scripture to justify our behavior, believing ourselves to be correct (and we may be) - but if we dig in and hide behind a Biblical justification without a posture of meekness and willingness to make things right, then we have fallen captive to spiritual pride that does not contribute to unity, but to division.   We can be Biblically correct - and we want to be - but if we express that improperly, then we are actually incorrect in our approach.   Remember, Jesus said that blessed are the peacemakers.