This is a power point I made calling the church to return to peace

1. A Call to Return to
Peace in the
Church

2. Before Writing this...
• I want to be clear that I have been part of churches that are
militaristic and support what the military does and the wars, as
well as Christians serving in the military. So in other words I have
seen and thought on both sides of the issue.

3. A new but old call

4. A new but old call
• I would like to call the church to "return" to promoting peace and
to abandon the things associated with the military. This does not
mean that we "shun" or do not associate with the people who are
currently involved in the military and churches that have come to a
conclusion that certain wars and even Christians serving in the
military.

5. A new but old call
• I would like to call the church to "return" to promoting peace and
to abandon the things associated with the military. This does not
mean that we "shun" or do not associate with the people who are
currently involved in the military and churches that have come to a
conclusion that certain wars and even Christians serving in the
military.
• That said, I want to us to take a look at the early church writings of
some of the earliest Christians. I have found a site that has put
many of these writings of the early church: http://www.christian-
history.org/christian-quotes.html

6. • Letter to Diognetus, A.D. 80 - 200

7. • Letter to Diognetus, A.D. 80 - 200
• Christians … love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are
unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored
to life. They are poor, yet make many rich; they are in lack of
all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonored, and yet
in their very dishonor are glorified. They are evil spoken of,
and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; they are
insulted, and repay the insult with honor; they do good, yet are
punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if
quickened into life. They are assailed by the Jews as
foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who
hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred. (ch.
5)

8. We can learn some things from the previous
slide
• Christians were persecuted in the early church. They were killed for there beliefs. So
many of their aspects were "odd" to the people of the world. For one thing they had little
money yet they become very rich by their faith in Jesus. They lack the things of the
world, yet the have all they need. People dishonor them, yet they become glorified.
People speak evil of them, yet they are justified.
• But ultimately the one thing I want to focus on with this statement is that they are hated
persecuted by the Jews as well as the Greeks, yet those who are persecution them can
find no reason for their hatred. So it is clear that the early church was hated by the world.
Even Jesus said in the Gospels that "the world will hate you because of me." However
despite this though even the book of Acts records high numbers of converts being
converted such as in Acts 2:41 were there were 3000 that became new believers of Christ
in one day. I would wager that the early church could have fought back if they wanted to.
They at the very least had the numbers... yet they did not.

9. • Justin Martyr, c. A.D. 150

10. • Justin Martyr, c. A.D. 150
• "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they
shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks:
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any
more" [Is. 2:3]. And that this did come to pass, we can convince you.
For from Jerusalem men went out into the world, twelve in number and these
illiterate, of no ability in speaking; but by the power of God they proclaimed to
every race of men that they were sent by Christ to teach to all the word of God.
Now we who used to murder one another do not only refrain from making war
upon our enemies, but also, that we may not lie nor deceive our examiners, willingly
die confessing Christ.
For that saying, "The tongue has sworn but the mind is unsworn" [a justification
for lying used in Justin's time], might be imitated by us in this matter. But if the
soldiers enrolled by you, who have taken the military oath, prefer their allegiance to
their own life, parents, country, and all kindred, though you can offer them nothing
incorruptible, it would be truly ridiculous if we, who earnestly long for
incorruption, should not endure all things in order to obtain what we desire from
him who is able to grant it. (First Apology 39)

11. Justin believed that
• the early church was a fulfillment of this passage he quoted in Isaiah 2:3. In the second
paragraph, Justin is referring to the disciples who after Jesus had worked through the
cross had sent the disciples out to teach people about God.
• The culture of the world then had people how had many enemies. For example the Jews
were enemies with just about all the cultures: the Romans, the Greeks, the Gentiles. The
Romans did not like the Jews. The Gentiles had issues with the Jews. The list could go
on but I hope you get the idea.
• However, when people began to believe the word of God, people who were enemies
were then laying down their weapons and were instead praising God and embracing each
other. Not to say there were not problms and even the book of Acts does record some of
these in Acts 15.
• However those in service would abandon their oath and their service. They knew they
belonged to a "new" kingdom. One that Jesus was bringing in that even John saw in
Revelation 7:9 where all peoples of the world gathered.

12. Another quote by Justin
• We who were filled with war, mutual slaughter, and every
wickedness have each, through the whole earth, changed our
warlike weapons—our swords into ploughshares and our
spears into implements of tillage. In their place, we cultivate
godliness, righteousness, philanthropy, faith, and hope, which
we have from the Father himself through the One who was
crucified. (Dialogue with Trypho 110)

13. • Again, the people who once were fighting and used weapons, or as
I would call it "the way of the world" now abandoned there spears
and swords and embraced each other.

14. • Clement of Alexandria, c. A.D. 190

15. • Clement of Alexandria, c. A.D. 190
• For we are not to delineate the faces of idols, we who are
prohibited to cleave to them; nor a sword, nor a bow, since we
follow peace. (The Instructor III:11)

16. • Tertullian, c. A.D. 210
• The Christian does no harm even to his foe. (Apology 46)

17. Two more good quotes...
• This seemed to be how the early church functioned.
• I have often heard a very good quote. Granted the first few times I
heard it with my former beliefs I mocked it... however now I
embrace it:
• "When God said to love our enemies, I don't think He meant to kill
them." Perhaps it is a "cheesy" line, but I think it is true. We are to
love our enemies.

18. I have heard...
• That there will be war regardless.
• I agree with those who say that. In fact, I would be worried if there
was not now as even Jesus said "there will be wars and rumors of
wars and nation shall rise against nation."
• However, it seems like some people in church seem to think that
we can have justified wars or even that we can help to do our part.

19. I challenge this view

20. I challenge this view
• I would say if the world is going to go to war, then let it.
• However, Christians I believe should not get involved other then
the loving of the people that are under attack and persecution and
the people in the military.
• In fact some of the most wounded people can be some that come
out of military service.
• They may or may not have physical problems... however many of
them have deep wounds that need healed and they needs to be set
free from the horrors of war.
• This is what I believe to be the church's mission in regards to war
and those serving. A Christian should hate to see death and war
brings death.

21. A more modern look on
this subject
n A Culture of Peace: God’s Vision for the Chruch
n By Alan Krieder
n Eleanor Krieder
n and Paulus Widjaja

22. The church as a culture
of peace

23. The church as a culture
of peace
• The authors discuss suggest that we bring about a church as a
culture of peace (9) which may be odd as in our day and age we
probably would not think of a church with the word "peace."

24. The church as a culture
of peace
• The authors discuss suggest that we bring about a church as a
culture of peace (9) which may be odd as in our day and age we
probably would not think of a church with the word "peace."
• As we have seen from my earlier quotes and even this book
affirms that the church was about "peace:"

25. The church as a culture
of peace

26. The church as a culture
of peace
• The early church were noticed as a culture of peace such as an
early martyr named Justin:

27. The church as a culture
of peace
• The early church were noticed as a culture of peace such as an
early martyr named Justin:
• “We… delighted in war, in the slaughter of one another, and every
kind of iniquity; [but we] have in every part of the world
converted our weapons of war into implements of peace- our
swords into ploughshares, our spears into farmer’s tools- and we
cultivate piety, justice, brotherly charity, faith and hope, which we
derive from the Father through the crucified savior (9)

28. The church as a culture
of peace
• The early church were noticed as a culture of peace such as an
early martyr named Justin:
• “We… delighted in war, in the slaughter of one another, and every
kind of iniquity; [but we] have in every part of the world
converted our weapons of war into implements of peace- our
swords into ploughshares, our spears into farmer’s tools- and we
cultivate piety, justice, brotherly charity, faith and hope, which we
derive from the Father through the crucified savior (9)
• The authors go on to say that the early church had broken down
walls that had separated them such as cultures and tribes and
languages. The people began to share a life together.

29. Acts 2

30. Acts 2
• Pentecost in Acts 2:9-11 transformed the chaos that Babel created into a culture of peace
and harmony.
• In Babel God divided people into groups separated from each other; whereas Pentecost
united people previously separated into one body.
• There were some tensions though such as the Hellenists and the Hebrews in many
churches (acts 6:1-6)(12)
• Back in the book of Genesis, God created a confused language that separated the world
and created divisions among the people.
• Today we can still see this. However, due to the power of God and the work of Christ on
the cross we can see that God had begun to bring all people back together. Currently we
wait to the day that this will be fulfilled as John saw it in Revelation 7:9.
• When Pentecost happened God had begun to heal and reconcile people together. "Race"
was beginning to die, and now we are going to be united as one race as Paul said,
"Neither Greek nor Jew, Male or Female."

31. God’s reconciling work

32. God’s reconciling work
• God had begun a work of reconciliation with Abraham. This was
now being fulfilled with Christ.

33. God’s reconciling work
• God had begun a work of reconciliation with Abraham. This was
now being fulfilled with Christ.
• The early Christians knew this to be true (12) and Paul even
affirmed this in Ephesians 4:3 that the result of the power of the
cross had brought the Jew's biggest enemy: the Gentiles together

34. God’s reconciling work
• God had begun a work of reconciliation with Abraham. This was
now being fulfilled with Christ.
• The early Christians knew this to be true (12) and Paul even
affirmed this in Ephesians 4:3 that the result of the power of the
cross had brought the Jew's biggest enemy: the Gentiles together
• and the result was Jews and Gentiles praising God and living
together in peace (12-13).

35. Even Peter first
questioned this

36. Even Peter first
questioned this
• One of those closest to Jesus had questions when God first brought some of the
"enemies"" of the Jews before him in Acts 10:
• Peter gets the message of Christ’s peace but finds out that it come at work in the wrong
person: the enemy.
• This became central throughout the New Testament. This was important to early
Christians, because with gratitude and puzzlement, were trying to come to terms with
what God had done.
• Through the work of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit despite differences in races
and backgrounds making them into one body. Today we are often different then the early
Christians as we have often forget (or do not know) the origins as the church of Jesus
Christ, are in miraculous reconciliation (18-19).
• It is very clear that how the Spirit of God works then. Culture and race did not matter.
Rather what mattered was Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit was merging people
into one body.

37. Even the language

38. Even the language
• Even in the New Testament the word peace was used so much.

39. Even the language
• Even in the New Testament the word peace was used so much.
• The people even referred to the Message of Jesus as the Gospel of
Peace.

40. Even the language
• Even in the New Testament the word peace was used so much.
• The people even referred to the Message of Jesus as the Gospel of
Peace.
• Paul uses "peace" terms in many of his writings such as Romans
5:1 and 10.

41. Even the language
• Even in the New Testament the word peace was used so much.
• The people even referred to the Message of Jesus as the Gospel of
Peace.
• Paul uses "peace" terms in many of his writings such as Romans
5:1 and 10.
• God has called us to peace 1 Cor. 7:15.

42. Even the language
• Even in the New Testament the word peace was used so much.
• The people even referred to the Message of Jesus as the Gospel of
Peace.
• Paul uses "peace" terms in many of his writings such as Romans
5:1 and 10.
• God has called us to peace 1 Cor. 7:15.
• Finally two of the New Testament writers call us to seek peace
with everyone in Hebrews 12:14 and 1 Peter 3:11.

43. Even the language
• Even in the New Testament the word peace was used so much.
• The people even referred to the Message of Jesus as the Gospel of
Peace.
• Paul uses "peace" terms in many of his writings such as Romans
5:1 and 10.
• God has called us to peace 1 Cor. 7:15.
• Finally two of the New Testament writers call us to seek peace
with everyone in Hebrews 12:14 and 1 Peter 3:11.
• Lastly Paul even starts most of the letters he wrote with something
like "grace and peace to you.(19)"

44. Conclusion
• There is so much more I could say on this issue.
• However, I hope I have made a good point by now. I am asking that churches would
encourage peace.
• Stop suggesting that we join the military and aid in the war efforts.
• I find it odd that many churches are looking for ways to stand out in the world, so that
they are different. However, what I personally see is many churches going on in the ways
of the world. What would happen if all churches (or even a large number) began to
discourage military service? I would wager at this point (at least in the USA), they would
not have enough people to carry on the endless wars that we are now involved with.
Then the USA would be faced with two choices: Stop the wars and bring home the
troops or institute a draft. Then what would happen when the numbers of Christians who
refused to go in the draft? There would be persecution. I want to be clear that I would
hate on one hand to be persecuted or to see it. However, if such a thing happened the
church would grow even more.
So in closing, I am encouraging the church and the people of the world to lay down our
arms and embrace Jesus and the Gospel of peace. Let us do what the martyr Justin said
and trade our "spears" or "guns" for ploughshears and love the people of the world. Let
us again return to a church and a culture of peace.

45. What if...?
• What would happen if all churches (or even a large number) began
to discourage military service?
• I would wager at this point (at least in the USA), they would not
have enough people to carry on the endless wars that we are now
involved with.
• Then the USA would be faced with two choices:
• Stop the wars and bring home the troops or institute a draft.
• Then what would happen when the numbers of Christians who
refused to go in the draft?
• There would be persecution.

46. Let’s return to peace!
• I want to be clear that I would hate on one hand to be persecuted or to see it. However, if
such a thing happened the church would grow even more.
• So in closing, I am encouraging the church and the people of the world to lay down our
arms and embrace Jesus and the Gospel of peace.
• Let us do what the martyr Justin said and trade our "spears" or "guns" for ploughshears
and love the people of the world.
• Let us again return to a church and a culture of peace.