Peace in our time- Well, for one Day at least!

In another example of the do-goodery that the famous specialise in Jude Law has been called upon. He is promoting a day of global ceasefire on 21st September- which if it happened would be an excellent way to celebrate my birthday! I’m not quite sure which is the greater in this case- Law’s egotism or his naivety. Does Law really think that if he asks people to stop fighting they will stop? Or that even if his ceasefire came about it would make any material difference? If he has this amount of clout he should be cloned and dispatched to every war zone in the world.

Law’s approach and those who are with him show that enlightenment values are still alive and well. They didn’t die out in the 1980’s with all those people who would say to me, ‘why don’t you people in Northern Ireland just get along with one another?’ Wow! We’d never thought of that!

The desire for peace is of course laudable. Indeed it is natural for that is what we were made for. Only a fool would not long in his heart for peace. But we need to ask ourselves realistically how it will come about. Will it truly come about because an actor asks for it? I read the blurb on a book recently which described the book as possibly the best case for world peace ever assembled. So what? Even my kids could make a great case for world peace. But how will it come? The reality is that it will never come because the sinful desires that lie in the human heart. The desires of pride, greed, and the desire for power override our desire for peace. Never mind our ability to achieve peace.

Peace will only come with the war to end all wars. When Jesus Christ, the prince of Peace, will return triumphant, and overthrow all that stands opposed to Him. And consequently all that stands opposed to his rule of peace, righteousness, justice and joy. In His death and through His resurrection Jesus triumphed over all that stood opposed to Him. He has won the battle and the end of the campaign is not in doubt. Until then we His people must preach the gospel of peace with god through Jesus Christ and seek to live out that gospel of peace in our lives.

Evangelicals at the Crossroads- and Losing their Way?(Part 2)

Following up on an earlier post (Evangelicals at the Crossroads- and Losing their Way?) I raised a concern that Evangelicals were being defined in terms of their political causes rather than the gospel they proclaim. I wonder how far this has occurred because western Evangelicals have lost their eternal focus? Have Evangelicals in the western world become more interested in making a mark in this life than in making preparations for the next?

When Paul addressed the issue of homosexuality his concerns were directed not towards the wider culture but towards the church. The Bible’s condemnation of infanticide in the OT is directed towards the people of God. Nor is there a developed ecological perspective in the NT since this world is passing. These issues were not related to the wider culture but addressed in terms of God’s people preparing for God’s reward.

The fact that such issues are now identified in the wider culture as as key issues defining evangelicalism raises a big question in my mind. Have western Evangelicals taken their eyes off the eternal prize?Evangelicals ought to have a voice in the public square. But if that voice offers nothing distinctive. If its agenda does not take us beyond the common agenda of public affairs. Then the question is raised as to exactly what perspective Evangelicals are offering.

In the contemporary obsession with relevance are Evangelicals doing nothing more than baptising the popular cultural agenda without offering a distinctive perspective? One which is rooted not in this passing world but in heaven where Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father and from where He will return to deliver His people?