It’s all very well to say the choice between war or peace is obvious. But what do we do when we want peace but we are surrounded by those who want war? The Psalmist of the Bible was in exactly that position; he said: “I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war!” You’ll have to check out Ps.120:1 to see the correct response.

If we read Ps.22 or Ps.69 we can immediately see they describe the violent opposition that Jesus faced. And the prophet Isaiah gives His response (Isa.53):

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.

Jesus taught we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matt.5:43,44). It is in times of war that this teaching is really tested. When we see the brutal treatment of innocent sufferers, who would not wish to stop it? The big issue of taking up arms is addressed in our comments HERE. Those written statements are now put to the test.

What should we do? What would make a real difference? If the people who are acting so cruelly became true Christians, obedient to Christ, that would be the real solution. Have we prayed for the rulers and generals who are making war, that they would be saved from an eternal punishment for their actions and completely changed, so that they instead seek peace and pursue it (Ps.34:14)?

Although often the subject is avoided in discussions, the matter of personal religious beliefs is often deeply felt. If so, the question “are my beliefs verifiable” may be as important to us as the beliefs themselves! These days, the first thing that raises suspicion about what is true, is if someone loudly proclaims they hold the truth (and that everybody else is wrong). Should we then adopt a neutral stance, and say we just don’t know? In important areas of our life, that position will not work. We all wish to see justice done, but that depends on a shared belief (and practises) about what is right and what is wrong. And just saying wrong is actually right, based on personal feelings at a particular moment will likely lead to bigger problems.

If this topic interests you, you might like to read our longer article on Comparative Religions. It considers different approaches and provides links to more detailed resources. We hope you find it helpful, as a starting point for in-depth evaluation.