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Peace

Today all over the web you are going to be reading blogs asking for peace and some will be giving you quick easy fixes for obtaining it.  I even read one quote that said the object of war is peace.  Hello? The object of war is to get one’s own way.  Do things my way and we’ll get along just fine.

Now don’t get me wrong, I think wanting peace is a great idea.  I am not belittling anybody who is blogging for that endeavor.  Even so, we are going to have to do more than “want” and “blog”.  For peace to become a reality, there are going to have to be some major world changes, and everybody is going to have to participate and agree.  (If you’re disagreeing with these thoughts, you’re already well on your way to grasping the problem.)

First off, all things are going to have to be equal and uniform.  No one can have more — or less — than anyone else, ever.  That means we will all have to share the same belief system. Plus, we all have to drive the same car — or we all have to have no car at all.  We all have to live in identical homes — or we all have to have no homes at all.  None of us may have more or less money than our neighbors.  None of us may have more or less power than our neighbors.  None of us may have more or less prestige than our neighbors.  Every single man, woman and child in the world has to be treated equally by every other man, woman and child in the world.

But, you say, that’s ridiculous and impossible!  Then so is the notion of peace.  As soon as there is inequality in resources, there is want and resentment — which leads to arguments, sides being taken, lines being crossed and guns being drawn. Of course it isn’t wholly that simplistic, but you get the idea.

It is my belief that Peace will come to the earth only when the Prince of Peace reigns.

1 Like a branch that sprouts from a stump, someone from David’s family will someday be king.  2 The Spirit of the LORD will be with him to give him understanding, wisdom, and insight. He will be powerful, and he will know and honor the LORD.  3 His greatest joy will be to obey the LORD. This king won’t judge by appearances or listen to rumors.  4 The poor and the needy will be treated with fairness and with justice. His word will be law everywhere in the land, and criminals will be put to death.  5 Honesty and fairness will be his royal robes.  6 Leopards will lie down with young goats, and wolves will rest with lambs. Calves and lions will eat together and be cared for by little children.  7 Cows and bears will share the same pasture; their young will rest side by side. Lions and oxen will both eat straw.  8 Little children will play near snake holes. They will stick their hands into dens of poisonous snakes and never be hurt.  9 Nothing harmful will take place on the LORD’s holy mountain. Just as water fills the sea, the land will be filled with people who know and honor the LORD.

Isaiah 11:1-9

We should by all means act peaceably and strive for peace; comport yourselves with love, justice and compassion for all; spread the good news that Jesus, the Prince of Peace, will rule a world free of want or hostility; work toward the realization of the kingdom of heaven and pray unceasingly for peace and for guidance in our roles as peacemakers.

51 Comments

  1. As you know, I did the peace globe (that “Peace is the true objective of war.” I think comes from my post.) But in all honesty, I’m not holding my breath for any human peace.

    If peace comes from every body being the same or having the exact same things it’s not gong to happen. Even Jesus showed in his perfect humanness a periodic lack of peace. Your quote even shows a lack of peace and suggests that it won’t occur here on earth.

    Now, don’t hit me. 🙂

    Dona Nobis Pacem & Thursday Thirteen

    1. Kay — Good question. I made a few editorial changes to clarify that point.

      I am saying we are all going to have to believe in the same higher power and ascribe to the same thoughts, values, customs, rules and laws. And we are all going to have to live and obey those laws. Wherever there is differing opinions and values, there is discontent and sooner or later there will be conflict. That is how humans are.

      I do not believe everyone can have their own religion and “get along” and I think in the last several thousand years life in the middle east has more than proven my point. I picked God and Jesus because I am Christian and that is the belief system I know, however, I believe any belief system based on love and sacrifice would work just as well as long as everybody adhered to it without fail.

  6. good old charlie marx developed his much maligned communist ideology on those same maxims… and we all know where it led to… not that the ideas themselves were bad but humanity is nowhere near mature enough to live them

    1. Polona — always the failure in the system is humanity. We are too diverse and self-oriented to live well as a mass community. Most of us have a hard time just getting along with one person — now try the world!

  7. Well said Quilly. Peace is somethign we all have to believe in, want and work for to make it happen. People need to undersatnad and accept the differences in each and every man, to strive to change thos things he can, and accept there are things that he cannot.

    Please is not a word, it is an action, and once people relaize that and stive for that only then is peace possible.

    1. Ian — but even that will not work without divine intervention because not everyone has the same notion of what peace is or what it should look like.

  9. Amen, Quilly. And don’t you be backing down very far here!
    I also am a Christian and I believe that is the only way to reach
    the Kingdom of God. Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and
    the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” ,
    John 14:6
    I believe what Jesus says and trust him to bring me to the
    eventual eternal peace with him in Heaven.

    Yes, other religions also promote peace, that part is good. They
    also promote being good, etc, and that will make for a better
    world. A better world here on earth. But I, as a Christian,
    believe that will not save us from the sin of unbelief in Jesus
    as the only Savior from Hell because of our sin.

    There is no peace whatsoever in Hell. It’s Hell by definition.
    And it’s eternal also.
    ..

    1. Jim — I didn’t back down. My beliefs remain firm. You did not see the two sentences before I changed them to indicate these were my beliefs. If I am offending people, I am not witnessing to them, or to peace. Too many Christians use a heavy handed and condemning approach to witnessing. I don’t think it garners much success.

  10. I think Jesus lived to teach us that we can embody the same love He did, so I have more hope than you that we are capable of more than we think. I don’t believe absolute equality is necessary for us to live in harmony with one another. The more we embody and live the teachings of Christ and Buddah and other sources of Divine wisdom, the more hope there will be for peace in this world. I don’t think Jesus came to impose peace on us but to plant it in us.

    I like a good opposing opinion. Well done.

    1. Raven — your opinion is welcome here whether it agrees with mine or not. I even hope that you are right. Shall we ask the Taliban to concur?

      1. Ultimately we can only control our own thoughts and actions. Obviously, you’re read enough of my opinions to know that I talk a better game than I live, but,my answer to your question would be no. We can only control our own actions and live by our own truth, not manage anyone else’s. I do believe (or want to believe) that the more we are able to live the Gospel and meet hatred with love, violence with the other cheek and so on, the more llkely there is to be peace in the world. Doing that takes a heap of character and a heap of faith, though, that most of us don’t have.

  12. Sorry Quilly – it’s hard getting past your first sentence because I don’t think that is the point at all of BlogBlast. I don’t think anyone posting a peace globe today thinks for one minute there is an easy fix.

    1. Carletta — I just added three words to my original first sentence to give credit to those who do indeed know that peace isn’t an easy fix. Thank you for pointing out that my words discounted their efforts to live what they believe.

      I did not put up a peace globe, but I have gone to the site of the lady who started this worthy endeavor, and I followed many of the links. Many people are posting about the realities of peace. There are just as many posting only about talking peace. My thoughts focused on them and I wanted to send a message that peace is something one has to work at and one blog post once a year isn’t going to make a difference. Our beliefs only become real when we live them.

  13. Sadly, much blood has been shed in the name of God and religion. Someone told me that the exception is Buddhism. Should we then equate Buddhism with Peace?

    1. Gigi — “some one once told me” always sends me to check for facts.

      1. To refrain from taking life (non-violence towards sentient life forms)
      2. To refrain from taking that which is not given (not committing theft)
      3. To refrain from sensual (including sexual) misconduct
      4. To refrain from lying (speaking truth always)
      5. To refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness (specifically, drugs and alcohol)
      6. To refrain from eating at the wrong time (only eat from sunrise to noon)
      7. To refrain from dancing and playing music, wearing jewelry and cosmetics, attending shows and other performances
      8. To refrain from using high or luxurious seats and bedding

      These are the 8 basic precepts of Buddhism. If everyone in the world lived by them, I think we’d all get along just fine. Now, how do we enforce them? We still need divine guidance because mankind isn’t doing this stuff without major help.

      1. I totally get the first 5….

        Thou shalt not kill…
        Thou shalt not steal…
        Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife…
        Thou shalt not bear false witness…

        I’m not quite sure WHY one should only eat during 6 or 7 hours of the day…
        But if necessary I could live with it.

        BUT… NO dancing or MUSIC??? No PRAISE songs??? I don’t think I could GO there!

        And I just guess that Buddhists do not get bad knees or backs!!! I would CERTAINLY need God’s help to manage this last one!!!

        1. Melli — I think it is a matter of what you are used to and raised with — and did you see Kay;s comment? She says these aren’t universal Buddhist precepts. But I am confused because they are the same ones I found on Wikipedia.

          1. I think the commentor’s original point – and I don’t know if it’s true – isn’t about the precepts of Buddhism but that Buddists seem to be the only group that hasn’t declared war on anybody else in the name of their faith. I could be misreading he, but I think that’s what she was saying. You roused a good discussion here.

  14. I agree a global peace is impossible, but also that the best thing we can do for ourselves is never stop striving for it, praying for it, and hoping anyhow.

    Lots of food for thought and a fascinating post Quilly!

    1. Susan — that was the point of my last paragraph. Even if we can’t achieve, we should try. We might not get a perfect world, but we’d certainly get a better one!

  15. Ummm… those are not the 8 paths to enlightenment that I learned growing up.

    If you go to Wikipedia it gives quite a detailed explanation of the Eightfold Path.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Eightfold_Path

    1. Right View
    2.Right Intention
    3. Right Speech
    4. Right Action
    5. Right Livelihood
    6. Right Effort
    7. Right Mindfulness
    8. Right Concentration

    I won’t explain each one. If you get right down to it, the rules are much the same as the 10 Commandments.

    Good grief! No dancing or music? Hardly. The Buddhist temples all around the island celebrates Obon with lots of music and dancing.

    1. Kay — I found these on a website promoting a specific Buddhist temple. Not knowing any of the specifics of Buddhism beyond the fact they do do peace better than any other religion/belief set, I will defer to your expertise. Please define “right” because to my uneducated ear, that seems like a subjective word yet I am certain it isn’t.

  16. I don’t think everyone having everything equally would result in peace. It might take away the temptation to covet what another has, but it wouldn’t take away the lust for more within our own hearts. We wouldn’t be content just to have the same as everyone else.

    I do agree that Christians too often are heavy-handed and offensive in their witness, , but I Peter 2:7-8 says Jesus is an offense to those who are disobedient and unbelieving, so people will be offended at the gospel sometimes no matter how graciously it is given, because they don’t want to accept and believe it. Look how people treated Him in His lifetime.

    But I do agree that perfect, world-wide peace will only come when the Prince of peace rules and reigns. Until then we can only have peace in individual hearts when people accept that “He is our peace” (Eph. 2:14).

    1. Barbara — your points are valid. I was trying to make a point that peace under our own power won’t work. No one is ever satisfied with what they have, nor are we willing to always and ever be just like someone else. Those ARE impossibilities. Ergo, only divine intervention (which to me means Jesus) will result in lasting peace.

  18. A most amazing post my dear…so much food for thought. Such lively discussion in the comments as well…you’re a wise one my friend in faith.

    1. Shelly — someone suggested I not allow the discussion of other religions in the comments. I don’t think that would do much to promote peace, compromise or universal respect. I am glad my readers approve of free debate.

    1. Doug, everyone questions my theology. You question my spelling. (You wouldn’t have had to if Amoeba wasn’t in Houston. He’d have beat you to it.)

  20. Of all the posts on Peace today, yours was the best. Only the return of our Lord and Savior will Peace be attained.

    Well Done my Friend

    1. Bill, thank you. I read other posts who also pointed to Jesus as the only source of peace and I even thought a few were better than mine. I am glad, though, that you appreciated my words.

  21. As I contemplate the post and the comments, I am reminded that the only perfect peace we as humans can achieve is the peace we know in Jesus Christ. In John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

    This is why I do not worry, I am not afraid, and why each day I try to start my day with a prayer asking the Lord to fill me with peace and order my day so that anything that falls out of the schedule will be His doing, and I will be at peace with it. I find it has a ripple effect when I am peaceful, my kids are more peaceful, my husband is more peaceful, the people I interact with are…and if any of them are not, I am more likely to respond in love.

    But I do believe His word is true and that he is the sole author of this peace…and that to own it, one has to place one’s faith in him as their Lord and Savior.

    Amen!

    1. Amanda — I don’t know. I can think of at least one person who is annoyed with me. Alas. I am glad you appreciated my post.

  23. Pingback: The Wages of Peace « O'Ceallaigh & The Quill

  24. Hi Quilly. Interesting post. There are things you said that I agree with… and some I disagree with, and that is okay. I’m not about to rebut anyones beliefs. I do, however, believe that people can have true Peace in their hearts even when they have more or less or different than others… and Peace in the heart is what I believe counts. If I have Peace in my heart… and you have Peace in your heart, then our friends/family/neighbors will eventually learn from us and find Peace in their hearts… and it will grow until we all feel that Peace… then we will have it. One person that comes to mind here… Mahatma Gandhi. Just my opinion. Sending you Love…. now going back to my blog to do a post on Gandhi. :o)

    1. Alice – -we can and should strive for our own peace, but I do not believe mankind as a whole can or will ever achieve peace without divine intervention. We can’t even go one day without some irritant getting to us or unkind thoughts crowding in. Forever is out of the question.

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