The recent terrible events in Paris have brought the
violence that thousands in Syria and the surrounding area have lived with for
years into a shocking proximity, and have made us think “Are we next?” The
terrorists behind the atrocities are motivated by a religious zeal that feeds
on the ideas of holy war and a messianic final battle in which all infidels
will finally submit or be wiped out. This is an extreme form of Islam which,
thankfully, most Muslims reject. It’s a world view that will not be countered
by political appeasement or peaceful negotiation, so, sadly, armed force is
probably the only human way to contain it.
But at the same time we, as Christians, should be praying
that good will conquer evil, and that peace will triumph over violence. Again
and again the bible paints a picture of peace – shalom – in which all people live together under the just and
gracious rule of God. This is very different to the enforced caliphate which
ISIS dreams of. Rather it is a kingdom in which Jesus – the Lamb of God, the
one who was broken on the cross – is King, and in which those who come to him
in faith are united as brothers and sisters. A kingdom of peace and joy.
I recently asked the children in our church school “What
can’t you do if you are full of joy?” And they soon got the answer: “You can’t
hate and you can’t fight.” Our prayer, as we approach Christmas and go beyond
into a rather uncertain new year, is that more and more people will come into
God’s kingdom of peace and joy as they encounter Jesus the Prince of Peace.
This year in our Christmas services we will be focussing on the message the
angels brought to the shepherds: ‘Peace and good will to all people’. And then
in turn, we can be like those shepherds – spreading the word about what we have
seen and know.
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