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This may seem like a quizzical post to write, especially in the face of just returning from a Global Peace Summit in Amman, Jordan. But let me explain…
I don’t say this so much because of what I learned this past week; on that basis there was and is much reason to be hopeful for the prospects of peace and reconciliation. I say it because, as a Christian, I think Jesus had some truthful insight when he proclaimed that there will ‘always be wars and rumors of wars.’
Though he didn’t use these terms and exact words, I think Jesus knew better than us all that there is a ‘false’ self and ‘true’ self. The false self is the one that vies for control and domination, the one that finds its identity in an “I-Thou-I” relationship to the world. Better explained, this formula simply means that the false self seeks its identity in having what others want and value but that it doesn’t yet possess for itself. It wants land and power, possessions, resources and prestige. The false self is never at peace and so the institutions it builds and worships are not institutions of peace and equity either.
That’s why so much of the Christian message or its emphasis in its sacred Scriptures is about losing your life to gain it and being ministers of reconciliation – these ancient pointers provide us with compelling stories, parables, metaphors and admonishments to live in line with fruits of the Spirit.
The best of the Christian story compels us to live in ways true to a divine heritage built off of an “I-Thou” model versus operating from a space of need, want and selfish desire born of the envy of wanting what others want versus what the Divine would have us receive.
As would be expected, the people attending the Amman Summit comprised the best and most gracious ideas and ideals of some 37 nations who gathered to discuss better ways of being in our world. The sessions were filled with people who do amazing things that most of us are never privileged to hear. I heard moving and unforgettable stories from people of all faiths and all regions of the world – stories of unimaginable living conditions, tribal customs and mental constructs that make achieving peace seem impossible. And yet, in the midst of these things, the divine is present and moving and for that I came away with an increased sense of faith and charity in both God and humankind.
In time I’m sure I’ll be sharing some of the specifics – for now, I’ve just arrived home and after 18 hrs of flight I’m just trying to remember things like my name!
Thanks to Mike Morrell for reading and posting my lecture. Thanks to all of you for walking with me and offering prayers for one of the most enlightening times of my life… there is nothing quite like community.
In sum, as long as humanity exists there will be relational problems – that is a given. But from what I’ve seen this past week, I have great reason for believing that the number and extent of those conflicts can certainly be minimized. There is much work to do, for sure, but there is great reason for hope.
Blessings.
15 comments to “Why There Will Never Be Peace”
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Tim, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. The reality that there will always be wars, doesn’t mean we just accept and buy into it. Isaiah prophesied an Advent a new reality of Jesus and His Kingdom. Jesus revealed and proclaimed the Advent of His Kingdom, that it was near…and calls us to build it here and now while we wait. I think for much of the church. we’ve given up on the waiting and building, and bought into the truth of the empire. We are called to be ambassadors of peace, redeeming restoring all the broken spaces and places, the voice of injustice. These are the building blocks of the Kingdom, it’s what we build while we wait. Thanks again Tim, I look forward to hearing more.
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lol I am reading a book Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher. So … according to what she writes, we will “never” have peace or anything we want.
The reason is that we erect barriers out of the sheer enormity of the overall tasks needed to be accomplished to clear the way for peace (or whatever we want). We booger it up by making our overall goal dependent on all the 50 million different ways to realize that goal.
In essence we’re afraid to take the first step by virtue of wanting to pick the very best and the most ideal path. When the any of the many bonafide paths we know about right now would serve perfectly well. And with ~7 million people it would actually be posiible to use many of those paths.
Instead, if you’re like me, you’re unwilling to pick out and just try a color to paint the wall. Because it might not be the RIGHT color.
~Katherine
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Gosh, my mom and I just got into a bit this morning on this very point of scripture that you quoted. She quoted it exactly as you did here, “there will ‘always be wars and rumors of wars.’”
The point of the conversation was to “remind” me I have no reason to ever hope for peace, as it will never happen. To believe as I do is to flat out, be a (misguided) idealist.
To me, to believe the story that it is not possible, means I must disbelieve that with God “all things are possible.” Say it ain’t so, Tim…
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Paige, I think ‘all things are possible with God’ — except the ‘impossible.’
Some things are definitionally impossible — a square circle, a rock so big that G-D could not move it, etc.Evidently Jesus would put universal peace and reconciliation (in this dimension) into that category of impossibility as well…. which means I don’t have to ‘say it ain’t so,’ I can just let him do that.
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To get technical on you, Jesus said there would be war and rumors of war in reference to the end of their world (you know this already). I don’t read the text as one that is telling us we are fated never to experience peace on earth.
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Ah..God is love and as long as there is love, there is hope..and hope brings peace. Shalom Tim, glad to have you home brother.
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I think that perhaps it is your being exhausted…and perhaps it is looking at the daunting task. The prophetic of the Judaic-Christian tradition looks to utopia of some sort here on the planet and, there have been historically civilizations that have been essentially peaceful. Jesus and his apostles were looking for an imminent age to come, olam ha ba, an Utopian Kingdom. There are other traditions such as Shangrala (sp) and so, I think that it can and will get better. This would especially the case in view of a widespread realization that Jesus/God is the savior of the world, believers and unbelievers alike. What if that kingdom came for all no matter what they believe in 70AD but people have not realized it? Could the realization and acceptance of ultimate reconciliation, universal salvation if you prefer, really transform the planet. I hold out that hope.
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Joe,
Your closing comments “Could the realization and acceptance of ultimate reconciliation, universal salvation if you prefer, really transform the planet. I hold out that hope.” are my sentiments exactly.
I have much hope that once the world’s understanding of the covenental events of 70 becomes the predominant “christian” view, the ultilmate end result will be an understanding of the complete and perfect love God had/has for mankind.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see that day in our lifetimes!
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I saw this post mentioned on Twitter. There are reasons for hope; many trends are positive. Human nature may be perpetual, but how it is expressed can be changed immensely. Consider Scandinavia, which produced savage warrior cultures in the “recent” past but with the same gene pool now has the most humane cultures on the planet. More thoughts here: bit.ly/3EN50G
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I think that future generations will indeed intervene much quicker than in the past because now they know what does and does not work so will bring their ideas to the table. As we all progress, so does the world..God works for the good of all concerned as a whole.
Alicia
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And He pays special attention to the ones in the most pain. I’ve seen it in action too much to doubt it.
Alicia
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When things happen to people (good & bad?), I see it as par for the course. In my short life of 45 years, I’ve seen lots of change to the good and for the better. I wouldn’t call this progress the way that we normally might view that word. I would it call it becoming who we want to be and being who we are, which is not a goal orientation but simplicity in simple being.
Collectively learning how to be and to become is what this sojourn is all about. I am thrilled with the fact that more and more people have no reason and little if any memory of so many destructive misunderstandings to reference that were once common milestones and markers in the lives of older generations.
One day it may be possible to come to the story of Jesus in an entirely different way and to embrace the contentment that Christ enjoyed with the Father. One day our children and our children’s children may know it easily.
~Katherine
Thank you Tim. And bless you.