The Search For Peace

The Search For Peace

People often lament that Christmas time, ideally a season of peace, is in reality a time of turmoil, conflict and wars.

Many people realize the irony of the situation. Yet few ever see the underlying cause. Why is there no peace in the world? It’s because individuals themselves are not at peace and persons are not at peace because they reject the teachings of Jesus Christ who taught love for God.

“Seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Mind the things that are above, not the things that are on earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

People want peace yet even the writers who make calls for peace or the so-called preachers who give speeches on it, are themselves running around trying to get material things for others or getting other people to buy them material presents.
Some are getting drunk and intoxicated. They’re looking for happiness in sense enjoyment.

Now there is a connection between this materialistic consumerist consciousness and the present problems we have in the world. It is the endless attempt by people to lord over God’s property – claiming it as their own and trying to be the enjoyers of it – which is causing conflict in the world.

Now there is a connection between this materialistic consumerist consciousness and the present problems we have in the world. It is the endless attempt by people to lord over God’s property – claiming it as their own and trying to be the enjoyers of it – which is causing conflict in the world.

Also, what is the cause of conflict between the United States and Russia?

They’re fighting for territories of influence and resources such as raw material and markers for goods. It’s not really an issue of ideology or freedom. We do not accept that either party is solely concerned with helping other people.

Russian interest is in dominating military people. Even the United States, while denouncing military rule in Poland, is simultaneously supporting dictators in South America.

People’s freedom is not the simple interest of the United States. Americans have their vested economic interests and just as the Russians are interested in dominating and exploiting, so are the Americans.

Two big animals fighting over God’s property. Now unless they change their ways, God will eventually arrange both nations to cancel each other out with all their nuclear bombs.

It’s clear why there’s no peace in the world. People are simply not Christians. Sure, we may be labelled Christians, “I’m a Christian, I go to church,” but our consciousness is the same materialistic consciousness of dominating and exploiting what is God’s property – be it His children or the world.

The materialistic consciousness dictates, “This world is our home and our place of enjoyment. This is where we are going to get happiness. The goal then is to get as much sense gratification as we can. Therefore, we need more material objects; we need more control and power in order to take hold of more property.” Therefore, we conflict with other people who are trying to do the same thing.

People are fighting over God’s property because we all want to exploit it, to enjoy our senses. Whether we’re looking at it on an international level or individual level, there’s no peace because practically speaking, we’re against God. Now if we want peace, and want this world to be like the kingdom of God, then we have to start being the servants of God – lovers of God, not lovers of mammon.

People who love mammon are naturally selfish. Some people however can’t see this connection. Some newspaper editorials even state, “Christmas season is a time for joy and giving. Yet why is there so much selfishness around – corruption, crime, exploitation, etc.?” And this very same newspaper is seen to be bursting with ads, “Enjoy this! Get this and you’ll be happy!” Aren’t the selfish and corrupt citizens simply trying to follow the message of these ads?

One ad even says, “This year get yourself a Christmas present. Buy this!” They have only one day a year wherein individuals are supposed to think of someone other than themself. But now, even this is asking too much. It’s too much to feel and think, “Oh, I love this person. Let me get him something to express my love.” Rather, they think of themselves, “I wonder what people will give me for Christmas!” So the advertisers are now saying, “Be good to yourself. Give yourself a Christmas present. You deserve it!”

So on one hand, people are encouraged to develop an increasingly materialistic, self-centred consciousness and on the other hand, they wonder, “Why is there no peace?”

But is it truly a big riddle and mystery? No.
For the world to be peaceful, we have to be peaceful within ourselves. And we’re not going to be satisfied within as long as we’re acting as thieves, acting against God. A thief can never be peaceful. He always knows he’s a criminal. Even if he’s not caught, he’s in anxiety that he’ll somehow be caught.

In our own ways, we’re acting as thieves by claiming things as our own. We see the house we live in as our house. We think, “Look at how big and nice my house is. My clothes are so impressive. These are all mine. Look at how much I have here.”

“For the world to be peaceful, we have
to be peaceful within ourselves.”

But in reality, nothing belongs to us. Everything belongs to God. So, as long as we’re trying to be false lords or enjoyers, as long as we see the world as a place for our sensual exploitation, then we’ll be just like thieves who have a pot of stolen gold and are spending it here and there. We can’t be peaceful in this way. And as long as we’re not peaceful, we can’t have a peaceful neighbourhood, a peaceful society, or peaceful world.

A person may say, “Well, what if I’m not a Christian? I wouldn’t have that guilt. I don’t believe in God so I won’t be unpeaceful.” But it doesn’t matter whether you believe a certain reality is true or not. The reality is there. You’ll also be unhappy and unpeaceful. But unlike the Christian, you won’t know the cause of your unhappiness. So whether people believe in God or not, as long as they’re acting as thieves, they won’t be peaceful.