The Price of Peace

As we prepare to recall the start of the Great War - the 'war to end all wars', as people said, when it was over - it is good to hear that there is a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.

We can see, all too obviously, that the price of war and conflict is horrendous. 

In modern warfare, it is not only the soldiers and combatants that are killed and injured. Unlike most earlier conflicts, these days it is the civilians, especially women and children, that seem to be the most vulnerable. 

And after all this senseless suffering, nothing is gained by all the killing and suffering, because sooner or later, people have to talk, and find a way forward which brings about a new relationship.

This is true whatever the situation - whether it is international conflicts or family crises.

So if the price of war and conflict is high, what is the price of peace?

The New Testament is very alive to this question.

In the ancient world, in political, religious and cultural terms, there was inherent conflict between Roman, Greek, Jewish and pagan world views. St. Paul describes this graphically in his letter to the Church in Ephesus, on the western edge of 'Asia Minor' (=western Turkey)

'Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. 

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 

Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 

He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.' (Ephesians 2.11, 13-14, 16-17)

Paul points to the costly death of Jesus, the shedding of his blood, as the means by which peace between people and God, and between different groups of people, can be won. There is no other way.

There is no peace to be had from constantly warring. 

Peace only comes when one side chooses to make peace, whatever the cost, and invites the other side into that process. Then a new relationship can be built. That way brings hope.

Today, we can all be peace makers, if we are ready to pay the price.

Best wishes,

Richard