Since the beginning of this new century and millennium, our world has been in a state of fear, turmoil and war. The present strife is so unlike the many wars of the twentieth century. This one is a war of terror. By its very nature, it affects us emotionally and inwardly. We have lost a sense of security that we had before. The terrorist attack on our country, afflicting a terrible loss in human life, the wars against Afghanistan and Iraq, and the ongoing international war against terrorists tend to take away peace from our lives.

One of the central aspects of Christianity is its teaching about peace and its offer of peace to mankind. However, we should say from the beginning that the Gospel does not offer us "world peace." Jesus said,

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27.)

The kind of peace that Jesus offers is not world peace or physical safety. It is rather a better kind of peace than that. Of the two kinds of peace—world peace or inner peace—the last one should be preferred. It is this kind of peace that can solve all forms of conflict.

Grace and peace. One way to note the importance of peace in Christianity is by observing how Bible writers address their audiences. The most common greeting in the biblical letters is "grace and peace unto you from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ." Note Rom. 1:7,

1 Cor. 1:3, 2 Cor. 1:2, Gal. 1:3, Eph. 1:2, Phil. 1:2, Col. 1:2, 1 Thess. 1:1,

2 Thess. 1:2, 1 Tim. 1:2, 2 Tim. 2:2, etc. It is easier to name the books where it is not found in the greeting: the Gospels, Acts, Hebrews, James,

1 John, and 3 John. Only nine books do not have the greeting; all 18 other books have "grace and peace." A few have mercy included with grace and peace.

We already should be aware of the importance of grace in the Gospel. Grace sums up the entirety of the Good News toward man. Think about how important that concept is, and then to note that peace is conjoined with it. That means that it should be of similar import and significance.

The familiar Hebrew greeting among the Jews is Shalom, which means peace, be healthy, joyful or happy. It is a happy greeting, from one friend to another wishing the other the peace of God.

All areas of life. The significance of the expression is also seen by the application of peace to all relationships. Thayer discusses the use of the word, eirana, under five different headings: national tranquility (Acts 24:2, Rev. 6:4), harmony between individuals (Eph. 2:16-17, Gal. 5:22), security and happiness as a departing wish (Acts 16:36), the Messiah’s peace (Luke 2:14), and the peace that one has with God in his salvation (Rom. 5:1).

Acts 24:2

"And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence." (Said to Felix, Roman governor, by Tertullus.)

Eph. 2:16-17

"And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: [17] And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh."

Acts 16:36

"And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace."

Luke 2:14

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." "Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end." (Isaiah 9:6.)

Romans 5:1

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

It is obvious that this theme is comprehensive in the Bible, touching all areas of human life and relationships. Grace has received more attention than peace. It is grace that brings about peace. Peace is the resulting state of one justified by grace through faith.

There are scores of references to peace offerings in the Old Testament in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. It was a voluntary sacrifice made by the worshipper. The peace offerings indicated right relations with God, expressing good-fellowship, gratitude and obligation. Other offerings were sin offering (which was a burnt offering), trespass or guilt offering, wave or grain offerings, libation or drink offerings, etc. (Lev. 3 deals entirely with peace offerings—how they were to be made by the priest.) Leviticus 7:15-16 describes the peace-offering as a vow, thanksgiving (praise) or freewill offering.

The object of these peace offerings was invariably salvation. Sometimes they were offered for salvation already received; sometimes as a prayer for the salvation desired. So they embraced both supplicatory and thanks offerings. The offering ended with a meal eaten before the Lord from the meat of the sacrifice offered.

Why would Jewish worshippers offer sacrifices of their animals as peace offerings? Of course, we could say that God commanded them. But why was such a provision made in the law for such offerings. These were not just arbitrary commands without any meaning. The offerings met a real need in the lives of individuals as well as the nation of Israel.

Why do we need Jesus as our peace offering? We, like the Jews of old, have a need for peace in our lives. We need world peace for self preservation and the enjoyment of life. Conflicts with one another are not pleasant. No one really enjoys strife and divisions. Emotionally, we need to be at peace with one another. We likewise and especially need to be at peace with God. Sin causes a conflict within our consciences. We realize that we are not in fellowship with God.

Isaiah 59:1-2

"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: [2] But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."

Let the peace of God rule in your heart. "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." (Col. 3:15.) Next, he admonishes, "Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly in all wisdom." (16). This is something that we allow to happen or let occur within us.

Righteousness grows in context of peace. "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace." (James 3:18.) The Hebrew writer indicates the same thing. "Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord." (Heb. 12:14.)

Peace passes knowledge. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. [7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7.)

Unity maintained in peace. "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph. 4:3.)

One of fruits of the Spirit. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith." (Gal. 5:22.)

What Kingdom is. "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Rom. 14:17.)

Called the Gospel of Peace. "And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Rom. 10:15.)

Centered in Jesus Christ. He is the Prince of Peace. (Isa. 9:6.) When he was born, the angels sang, Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men. (Luke 2:14.)

a. This Reader's Digest selection has sold more than 300,000 copies. It is an outstanding mission report about a very adverse culture. The story line is worth our attention because it relates directly to Jesus Christ as our "peace child."

b. In Don Richardson's effort to teach the Sawi people of New Guinea, he bridged the cultural gap by using a common practice among them to teach them about Christianity.

c. The Netherlands New Guinea island is just north of Australia; the Richardsons (Don & Carl) moved there to work in 1962. Even though this is recent, yet the practices among the Sawi people were savage. They were known for their head-hunting and cannabilism.

1. Where Christ is not known, many un-natural and ungodly practices arise. These tribes not only committed murder and ate their victims, but their method of doing it was carefully planned. The very method was honored among them.

2. They idealized treachery! The Sawi expression for this practice is "to fatten with friendship for the slaughter."

3. They would pretend to make peace between tribes by sharing feasts and all-night dances together. A leading man from among one tribe would be selected and invited to come to their feast. The friendship would last for weeks and months before they made their move.

4. See pages 32-35. His reply was, You should have offered me a peace child and I would have protected you. (p. 35)

5. After Yae was slaughtered and eaten, his widow Kautap sang a dirge as she wept:

"O who will deal with the children of treachery?

O who will overcome those who use friendship to fatten their victims?

O what will it take to make them cease?"

6. Deeply moved by her incessant repetition of this plaintive theme, Yae's relatives sat down to plan revenge against Haenam. The possibility of any other answer to Kautap's question was quite beyond their comprehension.

1. We are accustomed to familiar analogies to describe spiritual things. Each culture has such analogies or bridges from the known in their every day life to the unknown, spiritual things of God's Kingdom.

2. Paul used the altar to the unknown god in Athens to tell them about the one true God of heaven and earth that they indeed did not know. (Acts 17:23.)

3. Since the Sawi people honored or idealized treachery, a real problem arose when Don Richardson told them about Jesus being betrayed by Judas. They were not so interested in his message about Jesus until they heard about Judas' treachery.

4. See pages 177-180.

5. They had the wrong concept in mind; it led them to honor Judas instead of Jesus! How could they be taught the Gospel?

6. God had prepared the Jews and Greeks for centuries building good analogies that would help them understand the Gospel. For example:

a) The use of sacrifical lambs

b) The use of logos for the Greeks

c) Paul's use of the unknown god on their altar

d) Socrates' use of the Righteous Man

e) The Jews were waiting for the Messiah

7. The Richarson's learned through a crisis about their practice of using a peace child to settle disputes among the tribes. Earlier Yae's friend said that if he had offered a peace child, he could protect him.

1. The tension between the Sawi and their neighbors became so intense that the Richardson told the Sawi that they were planning to move away from them if they did not settle their disputes. They must make peace or else!

2. He noticed the sober look on their faces when they told this. Richardson did not know what was going through their minds.

3. They agreed that they would make peace the next day. Many did not sleep during that night trying to decide how they would make peace with enemies.

4. See pages 193-205.

5. The cruelest form and final act of treachery would be to kill the peace child. If that happened, there would be hostility with end between the two tribes. Just as one might expect among such savagery, a peace child had been killed before.

6. If a peace child died while living with the other people, his death would always be under severe suspicion. It was very necessary to keep the child alive at all costs. Yet this was a very difficult matter in the jungle---disease was prevalent, snakes were a constant threat to children, drowning in the river was possible.

7. However, this analogy was the key to presenting God's Peace Child to the Sawi. Jesus was called by Isaiah the Prince of Peace. He also that a child was born and unto a son is given. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. (Isaiah 9:6.)

8. Since there were dangers involved of the frail peace treaty being broken by accusations if anything at all happened to the peace child, this whole process had to end if they were to have real peace.

9. Richardson pointed this out to the Sawi. They agreed. He pressed the point that Jesus was raised from the dead and lives without the possibility of Judas or anyone else putting him to death. We can have continuing peace only this living Peace Child of God.

10. I thought about how this applies to us. What can keep the peace among God's people? Is it not by each honoring God's Peace Child? We do not "fatten one another by friendship to the slaughter" literally as they did. However, we do have our petty quarrels. Sometimes they go on for years. Can not we learn by this example among the Sawi the need for our being at peace through Jesus Christ?

1. Richardson's satisfaction came when the first leaders among the Sawi stood and said that they wanted to receive God's Peace Child in their hearts and lives.

2. We have exactly the same need today. There is so much selfishness, pride, animosity, tension among people. We need to be at peace.