The True Nature Of Peace

Chronicle (Levin), 29 April 1949, Page 4

The True Nature Of Peace

"We are loyal citizens of our co.un.ry, but here we assemb'e as" citizens of the heaveniy common^ Avaalth, under tht discipii.ns cf 'God's Word and sharing in the g.orious hope oi eternal life," said Rev. A. Saimond, preaching in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church on Sunday. "We eannot regard peace as a dfrect huma.n achievement, but believe it to.be God's gift to men and women whose lives are mau-ded on a Divinely given pattern." The Oxford dictionary apfy expressed the popular idea of peace as. freedoni from war or from civil commotion. The Biblical idea of peace was posi.ively and vigorously different. For God's peup.e a peaceful hfe was a life in which all legitimate desires were satisfied. A peaceful life meant perfection oi life." It involved -whoieness and compieteness. EmphaticaLy the early Hebiew peopies 'did not mean py •peace, freedom from the risk of having o fight. If modern men thought of peace as freedom from troub.e they had net learned the most elementary iesson of the Bibie. There the attainment of peace was bound up with righteousness, rightful action on the part of men, and salvation,- acts of de--iveranee on the pare of God. "A tempvation • that fe-1 upon Israel, and that was now fahing

up.n our nation, was to et the hope of Salvauon become the hope of not having to face the perils of experience. Peace then tende'd to mean material prospferity enjoyed in security without having to mak.e any s.renuous eii'ort to maintain it. Such.a coneeption had nothing. of the triumphant note of victory achieved by God's grace amid the chances and changes of this fleeting world," concluded Mr. Saimond.