The Prince of Peace Isn’t a Democrat

Isaiah 9:6-7: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Since I have begun writing for Clashdaily.com I have read quite a bit of responses from a wide assortment of people. Christians who are liberals and/or pacifist interest me the most because I simply can not, no matter how hard I try to see their position, find an ounce of logic in a lot of their opinions and comments. My latest surprise, though, has come from the gun control debate and I believe tied directly to it is the proposed “Department of Peace Building”.

The notions of worldwide peace and extermination of our rights to bear arms are simply absurd to me. I think that it is absurd for a variety of reasons that are far to many to detail here, but I will focus on two main reasons that it is complete nonsense for Christians and Liberals to push pacifism and peace to the extent that they do.

First, we must culturally and religiously come to the revelation that not all people will be good people and do the right thing. This isn’t because they weren’t given a sporting chance, or because they were born in the projects, or even that they were raised in a godless home. One author says it this way “’Mankind as it is constituted,’” Polynikes said, “is a boil and a canker … Man is weak, greedy, craven, lustful, prey to every species of vice and depravity.  He will lie, steal, cheat, murder, melt down the very statues of the gods and coin their gold as money for whores.  This is man.  This is his nature, as all the poets attest.” (Gates of Fire, Pressfield)

The Bible concurs, we are subject to sin and will, if left to our own devices, leave a path of destruction in our lives that would be the end of us.

As people are prone to evil, God in His justice and love set up laws in order to “encourage” people to do the right things, but as Paul tells us in Galatians the law was weak to actually change the heart of men. Later, Paul continues with this type of thought when he says,

Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

(1 Timothy 1:8-11, ESV).

In other words … people will not do the right thing and therefore we must have laws and the ability to enforce the law and the right thing.

The second reason that the idea of pacifism and universal peace are nonsense is because even the King of Peace can’t make it happen without violence and enforcement! Think about that for a second. You read it right. The King of Peace, Jesus Christ Himself, can’t have universal peace and pacifism as a way of life! You read it right. I am often amazed at the arrogance of people in our nation, our government and even in our churches when we believe and teach that we will accomplish something that the Prince of Peace doesn’t accomplish through disarmament and pacifism!

The Bible clearly shows us in the Book of Revelation (this is regardless of your Eschatology) that Jesus will come back to earth and rule for a thousand years of peace (Revelation 20). At the end of that thousand year reign, Satan will be released and he will amass an army of nations to lead against Jesus in an all out war.

I guess the big idea here is this. If Jesus can’t accomplish peace in a thousand years, what makes you think that a Department of Peace Building would? If Jesus comes back and lives with us and sets up a government of peace that leads humanity for a thousand years and people still are armed and lead a war against Him, what makes you think disarming Citizens now will stop the waves of crimes and massacres? The truth is it won’t!

Only one thing will do this. Winning the hearts and minds of people to Jesus Christ one at a time. Changing our culture one person at a time.