WAR AND PEACE
By Dr. John Williams

1. INTRODUCTION:

War is not a new term. Everyone living in this time and age, would have either participated, witnessed, heard or read about at least one of the two great World Wars, which had global impact and repercussions. Even today, we are hearing about wars that are fought in various parts of the world. The greatest need of the hour is to establish and maintain peace in every nation of the world. The purpose of this article is to trace back into the history of wars that have been fought in the past in this world, in order to fully understand the causes and the effects of Wars.

This article will only deal with the facts recorded in the Bible about wars, and the hidden causes of wars. When we study the subject of the war in the Bible, we can clearly see a pattern, which still continues even today. The Bible says that in the End Times, there will be wars and rumors of wars all over the world, and that nations will rise and fall throughout the history of the world.

2. THE EFFECTS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF WAR:

War is a very tragic, gruesome and catastrophic event, which results in different kinds of irreparable damages and tragic consequences.

Some of the effects and the consequences of war are stated below:

· Mass Destruction

· Loss of Lives of people in great numbers

· Physical Destruction of Cities, Places and Buildings

· Tremendous Financial Losses

· Capture, Imprisonment and Torture of War Prisoners

· Ruling the captured nations for centuries

· Taking away the wealth of such nations to their own countries etc.

3. THE CAUSES OF WAR:

According to the Bible, Satan (Lucifer), one of the three Arch-angels in heaven, who was given the highest position and maximum power as well as beauty, committed an act of treason against God, to dethrone Him, and to ascend above God, because of pride. This resulted, in God casting Satan out of heaven. When Satan was thrown out of heaven, one-third of the angelic forces took sides with Lucifer and followed him.

It is also sad to note that even the first man and woman, whom God created and put in the Garden of Eden, disobeyed God’s law and ate the forbidden fruit from a specific tree. We should note that it was Satan, who was responsible for instigating and enticing them to disobey God, which resulted in the separation of man from God. Satan was trying to destroy the relationship between God and man in every conceivable way, through lying, temptation etc., since he was jealous of man and was determined to defeat every plan of God. In other words, we must be aware of the fact that Satan is responsible for hatred, strife, enmity etc., between people, nations and tribes. It is Satan who instigates people to fight and have war against each other, which eventually results in death and destruction.

The following are some specific Causes of War for which, Satan is responsible initially:

· Spirit of Anger

· Spirit of Hatred

· Spirit of Enmity

· Spirit of Bitterness

· Spirit of Jealousy

· Spirit of Pride

· Spirit of Covetousness

· Spirit of Discontentment

· Spirit of Un-forgiveness

· Spirit of Fear

· Spirit of Worry

Even though Satan is initially responsible for influencing people to violate God’s laws, God has endowed man with a free will to make his own decision to commit an act or to refrain from committing it. Therefore, we cannot just blame Satan for all violations of God’s Laws and engaging in wars.

4. HOW TO AVOID WARS?

The Primary cause of any kind of war is something Spiritual as we discussed already. Unless a person fully understands the role played by the Satanic forces in causing strife, hatred, bitterness, enmity, un-forgiveness, pride, covetousness, jealousy, discontentment, anger etc., and seeks the counsel of God, the chances are that he will indulge in a war. When he does he will become the victim of war, and be destroyed by it. Putting it in a different way, it is important that we follow God’s laws, which require us to:

· Forgive

· Make peace with all people

· Love our neighbors as ourselves

· Establish friendly and good relationship with everyone

· Forgive everyone who offends us

· Being humble

· Refrain from being jealous of anyone who is more blessed by God than us

· Cease from anger

· Not getting offended

· Being content in our life no matter what our status is, and

· Cease from strife, hatred, bitterness, enmity, un-forgiveness, pride, covetousness, jealousy, anger, discontentment etc.

5. PEACE:

Peace is something that we all need in our own families, societies and countries, and we cannot have peace and joy unless we have a personal and good relationship with God. It is also important that we make a firm decision to strictly follow God’s laws and obey all of His commandments.

Secondly, when we have peace with God, once we can count on divine intervention of God to fight for us and defend us, in situations when we are attacked by our enemies, and give us the victory.

The Bible says:

· The battle is not ours, but it is the Lord’s (I Samuel 17:47).

· God will fight for us, if we will just hold our peace trusting Him to fight for us (Exodus 14:14).

· We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us (Romans 8:37).

In other words, since God has won the battle already, by defeating our arch enemy. Therefore, he cannot inflict any harm to us and that we will not be vulnerable to his attack, because we have the divine protection of God which is available to us through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, through His finished works.

If we have peace with God, then we will have peace within us, which means that we will not be disturbed under any circumstances by the news that we hear all day through different kinds of media. We will have confidence and faith in God and His promises.
The Bible declares that God is the Buckler and the Rock of ages. As we read in Ephesians 6:14-17, God has further given us the shield of faith, the breastplate of righteousness, the sword, which is the Word of God and the Helmet of Salvation to provide absolute protection from the attack of the enemy. We must just trust in God, His promises and the weapons of Spiritual Warfare.

· Stand therefore, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.

· And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

· Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

· And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (Ephesians 6:14-17)

After having peace with God, and having peace within us, it will be possible for us to establish peace with anyone, no matter how serious and impossible the circumstance may seem to be, if we really desire to make peace with anyone. If a person is interested in having “Peace at any cost”, he can have peace. One must be willing to pay a price for peace, and in order to do that, we must really value peace which is so vital and significant for our existence and to have safety, protection and long life.

The Word Peace may be described or interpreted as follows:

· To have good relationship with others

· Not having guilt feeling

· Reconciliation

· Not Fighting or Arguing with anybody

· Not Worrying

· Not Fearing

· Having Joy all the time

· Being Calm and Relaxed

· Not Rushing or being Hasty

· Not getting Angry

· Not getting Upset

· Resting and Sleeping Well

It is possible to be in a state of Peace as described above, only when our relationship is right with God, and when we put our trust in Him one hundred percent for our safety, health, protection, help, provisions, prosperity, success etc., Some more Scriptures which are given below will enlighten you further on the subject of Peace:

Great Peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them

(Psalms 119:165).

The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace. (Psalms 29:11).

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth

in thee (Isaiah 26:3)

Seek Peace and pursue it (Psalms 34:14).

Seek Peace and ensue it (I peter 3:11)

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace (John 16:33).

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you (John 14:27).

The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness and peace, and joy in the

Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17)

The path shall be the path of peace, if you have the wisdom of God (Proverbs 3:17)

Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (II Peter 1:2)

6. CONCLUSION

War should not be viewed merely as a Political, Economic, Social, Religious or a Military issue which can be negotiated for and a settlement can be reached through mutual co-operation and agreement. Unfortunately, even though there is a way to solve all issues of war in all situations, because of the ignorance of the spiritual causes underlying every war which have been discussed already, and the failure on the part of the people to trust and obey God’s spiritual laws discussed in this article, war breaks out, and great losses of lives and properties result!

-- The End --