Isaiah 2:4 (NIV)
It's hard to imagine a world without weapons. But imagine it we must, if we are to survive on an earth with just enough resources for all, but not enough to waste on ever more efficient instruments of death.
Throughout history people and nations have tried to maintain peace through every means except to follow the example and teachings of the Prince of Peace. We have dismissed as naive his commands to "love our enemies, pray for them, and do good to them", especially when we realize that kind of response may result in suffering and even crucifixion. We have refused to believe that the only way to peace is through the costly practice of it.
People of faith envision a God-ruled world that will one day result in wolf and lamb lying down together, and have begun to eagerly demonstrate that new way now, just as Jesus and other prophets of peace did.
I just read an example of that in the December, 2013, issue of Sojourner's magazine, in which a group of Mennonite blacksmiths in Colorado have formed a group called RAWtools, in which they do just that. Philadelphia preacher and peace activist Shaine Claiborne narrates a short Swords to Plows clip about them, one you've just got to see!
So join me in praying on this Eighth Day of Christmas for a forever end to the insanity, horror and brutality of armed conflict. From God's perspective, war is over, a thing of the past. God's future is all about shalom, harmony and enduring peace.
We get to become living demonstrations of that reality. It begins wherever, whenever and in whomever God is sovereign.
This is the time. The world can wait no longer.
For more posts on this topic check this link.
Throughout history people and nations have tried to maintain peace through every means except to follow the example and teachings of the Prince of Peace. We have dismissed as naive his commands to "love our enemies, pray for them, and do good to them", especially when we realize that kind of response may result in suffering and even crucifixion. We have refused to believe that the only way to peace is through the costly practice of it.
People of faith envision a God-ruled world that will one day result in wolf and lamb lying down together, and have begun to eagerly demonstrate that new way now, just as Jesus and other prophets of peace did.
I just read an example of that in the December, 2013, issue of Sojourner's magazine, in which a group of Mennonite blacksmiths in Colorado have formed a group called RAWtools, in which they do just that. Philadelphia preacher and peace activist Shaine Claiborne narrates a short Swords to Plows clip about them, one you've just got to see!
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| Swords to Plows |
So join me in praying on this Eighth Day of Christmas for a forever end to the insanity, horror and brutality of armed conflict. From God's perspective, war is over, a thing of the past. God's future is all about shalom, harmony and enduring peace.
We get to become living demonstrations of that reality. It begins wherever, whenever and in whomever God is sovereign.
This is the time. The world can wait no longer.
For more posts on this topic check this link.
2 comments:
Kudos on your epiphany series--a good idea and tough sometimes to keep up the discipline. Blessings!
Thanks, Melodie, for your blessing! I wasn't sure where all this was going when I started the series.
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