Peace and War: The Divine Ideal and the Reality of Conflict

Peace and war are two opposing poles that the Bible addresses with honesty, never denying the reality of conflict while holding peace as the ideal of God's kingdom. Second Thessalonians 3:16 blesses: 'Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means.' John 14:27 contains the promise of Jesus: 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.' First Chronicles 12:18 celebrates the peaceful union between David and his mighty men, a sign of concord given by God. Scripture does not conceal war, a consequence of human sin and broken relationship, but it continually turns the gaze toward reconciliation. Isaiah 9:6 announces the Messiah as 'The Prince of Peace,' and his entire ministry was one of reconciliation: 'God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself' (2 Corinthians 5:19). Matthew 5:9 pronounces blessed the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God, and Romans 12:18 urges, 'If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.' Hebrews 12:14 exhorts us to 'follow peace with all men.' The final peace will come with the consummation of the kingdom, when all nations shall flow to the mountain of the LORD and 'beat their swords into plowshares' (Isaiah 2:4). Until then, the disciples of Christ are called to be active agents of peace and justice.