Peace On Earth

With Christmas almost one day away I sit here having experienced and watched some very thought provoking events, documentaries, and movies concerning the end times. Around this time of the year we sing songs about peace and joy and stillness. And yet this year was unique as December 21st was, according to the Mayan calendar, supposed to be the end of the world. Seeing that the 21st is now over and the earth is indeed still alive and kicking we begin to once again let our minds contemplate what Christmas is all about. And it is this odd mixing of the two thoughts - peace and destruction - for this particular season of 2012 that has gotten me wondering if we really understand the significance of the Mayan calendar ending on the 21st - 4 days before we celebrate Christ's birth - life coming forth out of death. And this idea of world peace in both the story of Christmas and the story foretold of the end of the earth. Last night, while on my Christmas break and needing something to do I stumbled upon the movie "The Daniel Project" on Netflix. It was a very thought-provoking and difficult documentary to watch (especially considering I watched it after midnight). The whole documentary was examining Biblical prophecies about the end times and how some have come true and how there are some things already set into place that could lead to the fulfillment of those Biblical prophecies (literally) that have yet to be fulfilled. There was discussion on how there was a lot of evidence for the correlation between the advancement of technology and the rate at which the prophecies are being fulfilled. But one intriguing point the documentary brought up was this discussion of a single leader, heading a new global movement toward world peace but it would be out of this movement that the war to end all wars (Armageddon) was going to take place. There were many snippets of speeches by President Obama where he adamantly pushed globally for this movement toward world peace - ultimately sending us towards a one world government. Peace on earth? I asked myself the question, that if these prophecies do come true and that out of this movement toward world peace we would all find ourselves united as one - globally - how can we not move towards that final battle? The only hope for world peace is to have peace within ourselves. Mr. President, how do you expect us to live united, and peacefully, if we are a people whose hearts and souls are anything but peaceful? And how does the Church remain united and devoted to God Almighty when there is so much division and hatred within our hearts towards one another? I may attend one particular Church where relations are healthy but the Church is not just one building, or group of people, the Church is global. Are we to forget our brothers and sisters to save ourselves on that last day? A community of peace can only come from a group of individuals who live with peace indwelling in their own hearts - a peace that is not self-serving but is an expression of the Spirit's indwelling work in an individual. On this almost eve before the celebration of Christ's birth, I want to send a message...when a child is born it takes a community to raise a child; that child becomes central to everything a community does. It's this (albeit oddly rationalized) idea of Christ being the center of our lives where the world finds "peace on earth." It is with the birth of one child - fully God and fully man - that becomes central to a global community (not to make the mistake of thinking that somehow God is incapable of working or doing anything without human efforts because He's not) by which peace came to earth. I challenge you and I challenge myself this new season to not fall prey to a false understanding of peace - for world peace will not come without God's peace being in the hearts and souls of every individual. What an odd holiday season this is.