15th August, 2006

JIM REIHER

A recent enquirer asked the following questions: "Please help me understand how prophecy fits in with bringing peace in the Middle East? There is such a lot of thought going around- that it is inevitable that war will escalate before the return of Christ and therefore there is a reluctance to pray for peace if this awful conflict heralds Christ’s return. What should be the Christians stance, seeing we should pray according to the Holy Spirit?"

PICTURE: "Graber" (www.sxc.hu)   "Live your life in the certainty of Jesus’ words. And He commended the way of peace. He commended us to be peacemakers. He called on us to seek the highest way."

The short answer is: work for peace, pray for peace, and do all you can in this world to further the cause of peace and alleviate suffering.

It is not a Christian response to say: 'My understanding of end times prophecy says that there will be wars and rumors of wars and troubles in the world, and that the Middle East will especially be the hot spot. But all that is necessary before the second coming of Christ. So bring it on!' Or at least, 'Hey, what can we do about it?' No! This is flawed and very anti-Christian thinking.

Jesus said unambiguously: “Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called the children of God". He made some prophetic comments too, but they are not as clear. Prophetic opinion is far more real than prophetic accuracy. We would do well not to put too much trust in anyone’s predictions about the end times being just around the corner. Different Christians all through the centuries have all sincerely believed that their understanding of scripture and their world’s events, meant that Jesus’ return was “just around the corner” and that they would see it in their life time. And they were all wrong. Let me confess something to you: I don’t believe that Jerry Jenkins and Tim La Haye have got it right - sorry. In fact, I don’t believe that any of the pre-millers or the post-millers, or the a-millers have got it all right. Indeed, I would guarantee that we all have aspects of our end times thinking quite wrong. Don’t live your life in the shadow of maybes! Live your life in the certainty of Jesus’ words. And He commended the way of peace. He commended us to be peacemakers. He called on us to seek the highest way.

The scriptures do indicate that there will be troubles in the world - of course they do. And they will get worse it seems as the end draws closer. But that is not a good thing. It is a tragedy! As the person who wrote the questions above noted, the current situation in Lebanon and Iraq (and who knows when with Iran and Syria) is “awful”. In the midst of it all, Christians should always be peacemakers. One of the titles we call ourselves is “children of God”. Well, if Jesus said that “children of God” is the title He gives to “peacemakers”, it is pretty obvious what we should be doing, isn’t it?

It does get complicated in some ways. For example, if troubled times are inevitable, why oppose them? If it helps bring about the Second Coming, then isn’t that good? Not so. The early Christians had the right idea: they prayed that Jesus would not come back yet! In some of the early writings of church leaders in the second sentury, when persecution was real and troubles were everywhere, we see that they prayed for the delay of the coming of Jesus. Why? Because the world needed their witness. It needed their 'salt and light effect'! I think it still does!

Some might feel that we are wasting our efforts and breath - working against the tide if we work and pray for peace. But no - not so. Even if everything falls apart around us, we should still walk with integrity and still seek to do good, to be light and salt in this troubled world, and to set a better example. Even if we are the last person standing saying “I will love my Muslim neighbor and pray for his or her well being” - then be that last person! Even if no one else is saying: “I will love my enemy, I will turn the other cheek, I will work for peace and understanding!” - even if it is only you, never give up!

In the end, your walk with God is more important than the “results” you chalk up on earth. Walk with integrity and Christ-likeness. Walk close to Jesus. Imitate his love and compassion and humility. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. And pray for peace. “Blessed are the peacemakers, they shall be called the children of God.”

Jim Reiher (BA (double major in history), BA in Theology, Dip Ed. MA in Theology (Hons)) is a full time lecturer for Tabor College Victoria, lecturing in church history and New Testament; and also has speciality interest areas in women’s ministry, creative ministry, and the New Age movement. His views are not necessarily those of other Tabor faculty members or of Tabor College.