Vince Deagler

have you noticed how divided our world seems to be.  for those familiar with history, shouldn’t all of this turmoil have been resolved by now.  something i mentioned a few sundays ago was the fact that although we have a united nations…we do not have united nations.  now i know the liberal mindset has all kinds of reasons for this, and they keep promising that someday through their efforts in the area of education, social justice, and negotiation that there really will be peace on earth.  do you actually believe that?  really, does anyone actually think all the turmoil, conflict, and divisiveness we see all around the world is just gonna magically disappear???  I sure don’t, there is just too much history to come to any other conclusion.  i don’t think the answer is education, because we couldn’t even agree on what kind of education is needed, what should be covered, how it should be covered, etc.  just read what is being written about israel and gaza.  i’m sure there are some honest journalists out there, but there are many with very serious objectivity issues.  i read one article where the author completely dismissed the fact that the palestinians were firing rockets into israel.  as if that is normal.  i wonder is she would feel that way if the rockets were flying through her neighborhood.  i wonder what any other country would do if their neighbor just started firing rockets at them.  journalists are the first step to recording history, but unfortunately too many are little more than cheerleaders of their personal causes.  no, education isn’t the answer because we couldn’t agree on what the education should be.  social justice, in my opoinion isn’t the answer either.  in fact when i hear that phrase i tend to cringe.  experience tells me the reason there is so much “injustice” in the world is because of corruption, abuse, and ineffective leadership.  in most cases, if leadership was changed and things like corruption and abuse dealt with, most “social justice” issues would be resolved quite easily.  but until then you can throw all the money you want at any problem you want and 100 years from now, it won’t be any different.  just look at history, it doesn’t lie (unless of course you’re reading a revisionist history…but that’s a blog for another time).  last but not least, does anyone really think negotiation will solve all the world’s problems?  there are times when talking through our differences can work wonders, but usually this would be on a very personal level.  when you look at the real world we live in, the differences that exist on so many different levels, and the conflicts that arise from those differences i think its quite unrealistic to think we can all sit down in a room and talk out our differences.  now that doesn’t mean i’m opposed to unity or world peace.  but it does mean i am a realist and familiar with history.

now with that in mind let me mention what i believe to be the only hope for unity and peace.  JESUS.  the bible teaches that there is a day coming when jesus will return, establish his kingdom on earth, and then and only then will there be peace and unity on earth.  and as great as that will be, for the christ follower this is only the beginning.  after the kingdom, we will live with god forever in a perfect place which was his plan all along.  that’s what the garden of eden was supposed to be.  man living with god forever in a perfect place.  well we know how that worked out, we have been living with the consequence of mans rebellion for the entirety of human history.  but a day is coming when JESUS the prince of peace will come, and there will finally be peace on earth…no thanks to the united nations.

now, why do i bring this up?  well we have been studying ephesians.  in chapter 2 paul paints a beautiful picture of how gods design and desire for the church is unity.  now remember, i’m a realist.  i don’t think there will be universal unity and peace without jesus ruling over his kingdom.  but there can be, there should be unity within the church.  wouldn’t that be nice (if you’ve ever been in the midst of a divided church you know what i’m talking about).  and we who follow christ can be peacemakers, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation, we can do exactly what christ has done.  will it change the world?  probably not, that would require jesus to return.  but it will change a life here and there.  it will change our world and our churches.  and the more we embrace that ministry of reconciliation, the more christ will be present right here and right now.  i was reading some john ortberg the other day and he mentioned a prayer he often prays…”make up there come down here”.  or something like that.  when we engage in reconciliation.  when we care, love, forgive, go the extra mile, turn the other cheek, give our coats, give everything, deny ourselves, put others first, take our cross, and simply follow in the footprints of jesus, we do just that.  lets make 2009 a year of real reconciliation.  where we make up there come down here.  and in so doing give satan a taste of defeat, and those around us a taste of god.  thanks for putting up with these rantings of a mad man.  peace…at least in your world.