Always At War

The world is constantly at war.

Sometimes the war means bombs from the air, violence on the ground, human death (collateral damage) scattered everywhere among the rubble. It’s terrifying, grotesque, barbaric, unfair, senseless, and cruel,

Mostly, ‘always at war’ is in hidden, more subtle forms of conflict and damage. The war of the minds, culture, rich and poor, haves and have-nots, gender, religion, climate change, politics, families, and so on. Many try to escape the tension of their private wars only to fall headlong into other minefields: addiction, divorce, estrangement, medicated numbness, work, having fun, and/or denial. We could go on forever. The wounded are scattered, homeless on our streets, filing in divorce courts, litigating, or simply retreating into silence and distance.

We so crave peace that many of these wars are ‘sort of settled’ by normalising, compromise, ignoring, or resigned acceptance. We look the other way, shrug our shoulders, affirm diversity, hawk our plastic shrines to peace in the marketplace of public opinion from our storefront emblazoned with the franchise name, Tolerance. There’s a dearth of lasting peace and a litany of estrangements in families and beyond.

War is ugly. It seems we of the human tribe descend into its chasm as naturally and effortlessly as sliding downhill. Our beliefs and opinions flourish like weeds morphing into wild vines. Before we know it, they have consumed us. The fruit on these vines never satisfies our hunger, while their scattered seed inevitably births those really big wars that light up the night sky.

Our inability to live at peace in the midst of our raging wars is precisely why God sent His Son into the Middle East, of all places, to melt the plastic and restore authenticity. Peace and goodwill to all people, everywhere. To invite his war orphaned children back home, where pilgrims rest and hearts are restored. There is no illusion or wishful thinking. His invitation is merciful and pragmatic. Apart from me, you can do nothing. I offer you a peace that is beyond understanding. It has to be gifted from above and find roots from within.

Jesus lived his entire life in a war zone. His weapons were truth, faith, love, forgiveness, acceptance, healing, relationships, integrity, courage, and strength in weakness. Ultimately, perhaps inevitably, he sacrificially surrendered his life for the sake of others. He challenged authorities and rebuked religious leaders. He engaged with ‘the enemy’, even healing their sick. He touched the outcasts and drew the stygmatized closer.

If you were huddled in a foxhole, trembling and fatigued from the war that raged, his presence, like the best form of Rambo, would be of immense comfort and a source of renewed hope and courage. Who does not want to hear, “You are my beloved, peace be with you, neither do I condemn you. I am with you, always.”

It’s the easiest thing in the world to become numb and indifferent in the midst of war. To vent anger, blame another, and live defiantly for today, because tomorrow you might die. It takes no courage to grow self-absorbed, self-righteous, or isolating. To hunker down and dismiss even the idea of God, because he’s the one who causes all this chaos. Why doesn’t he do something? Yet, when he does make a move, we are offended and complain about freedom, rights, cramping our style. conspiracy theories, and the like.

Wars not only kill, they also take prisoners. Multitudes live unaware of their handcuffed limbs and brainwashed minds.

Jesus declared that He came to set people free. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed,“ (Luke 4:18)

The peace beyond understanding is neither naïve nor the stuff of sticking our heads in the sand. It begins with the revelation that there is more to the world than meets our jaundiced eyes. The meanings and purpose of life are far beyond our logic and the churnings of our finite minds. Revelation is our only hope; we require help beyond ourselves to make sense of life. A power far greater than our muscles to have the courage to walk with Jesus in the dust of this broken earth.

Security will never be found in owning the biggest nuclear bomb, being a billionaire, pounding Gaza to smithereens, invading Ukraine, or destroying the potential lethal capability of another to hurt me. Such mindsets are hallmarks of defeat, no vision, cowardice, and the ultimate refutation of a living and powerful God. They are traits of people giving their best impression of being godlike, as convincing as a child in a Superman outfit pretending to be him. Being right may not be the most important thing.

As we pray for peace, and God knows, we need to, let’s be humble, “There but for the grace of God go I.” (A saying thought to be credited to a mid-16th-century statement by John Bradford. “There, but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford.” This was referring to a group of prisoners being led to their execution).

Consider what wars we are perhaps contributing to that others may be unaware of.

Peace begins with me,

Come and do what I’m not able
Come and flip every table
Come Lord Jesus, come
Come and be the hero I can’t be
The Savior that I really need
Come Lord Jesus, come
Come Lord Jesus, come

Make my heart a cathedral
Make my soul Your temple
Make my life an altar where Your fire falls

Come and flow like a river
Fill my heart with living water
Holy Spirit come
Come and do what only You can do
Let your glory fill this room
Holy Spirit come
Holy Spirit come

Make my heart a cathedral
Make my soul Your temple
Make my life an altar where Your fire falls

Make my heart a cathedral
Make my soul Your temple
Make my life an altar where Your fire falls

Let the glory of the Lord fill the temple
Let the glory of the Lord fill the temple
Let the glory of the Lord fill the temple
Holy Spirit come, hey

Let the glory of the Lord fill the temple
Let the glory of the Lord fill the temple
Let the glory of the Lord fill the temple
Holy Spirit come, hey

Let the glory of the Lord fill the temple
Let the glory of the Lord fill the temple
Let the glory of the Lord fill the temple
Holy Spirit come
Holy Spirit come
Holy Spirit come

Make my heart a cathedral
Make my soul Your temple
Make my life an altar where Your fire falls

Make my heart a cathedral
Make my soul Your temple
Make my life an altar where Your fire falls
Make my life an altar where Your fire falls
Make my life an altar where Your fire falls

Writer: MELISSA HELSER, MOLLY KATE SKAGGS, JONATHAN DAVID HELSER
Copyright: Lyrics © Bethel Music Publishing