Religion of Peace

“And when it is said unto them, Do not make mischief in the land, they say: We are but peace-makers. Now surely they themselves are the mischief makers, but they do not perceive.” Sura 2:12-13 (From the Qu’ran)
My, my, my, what a contrast! The New Testament opens with the birth of a child who was to bring On earth peace, good will toward men. The Qur’an begins with a curse on ‘peace-makers’. Doesn’t Islam mean religion of peace? Isn’t Jesus supposed to be the Prince of Peace?

‘Peace’ has to be the most deadly word in politics and religion. Arab and Israeli ‘peace’ talks since 1948 are handshakes with the right hand and daggers in the left. The papacy flaunts “Peace, peace, when there is no peace.” (Jeremiah 8:11) Some of the ugliest, vilest demonstrations have been staged under the crow’s-foot peace sign. By far THE greatest symbol of peace, the rainbow, has had its use perverted as sexual deviants shove their agenda forward.

Islam, though touted as a religion of ‘peace’ is actually a system of bondage. The Bible begins in Genesis with the account of the wonderful works of the Almighty Lord Jesus. Allah opens his Qur’an with mad threats on those who disagree, saying they have diseases in their body, will have a painful chastisement, and are deaf, dumb, and blind, and should not be taken seriously. Allah and his ‘messenger’ have major problems keeping their peace!
Boko Haram, which formed in 2002, has reportedly killed more than 17,000 people since 2009, when its current leader, Abubakar Shekau, took power. In March of 2015, Abubakar pledged allegiance to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (ISIS). For three years, Bahdri Diallo killed Christians and raided villages in northern Nigeria as a member of Boko Haram. As he murdered and plundered, his conscience was overwhelmed with guilt and fear, and one night as the Nigerian army attacked, he deserted, and ran back to Christ.
Five years after escaping militant Islam, Bahdri is still overcoming guilt through the blood of Jesus.

“I wrestle with my past,” he said. “Lord, forgive me! I wasted the best years of my life on Boko Haram. I led men on to murder, and I committed murder myself. I feel so awful about that… I still weep bitter tears over those sins.” –excerpt from Voice of the Martyrs, January 2016 issue, feature article: “Once A Terrorist” That is the peace the world can give you.

“And by peace shall destroy many.” (Daniel 8:12)

Thomas DeWitt Talmage looked forward to the World’s Fair in Chicago back in 1892 as, “the calling at that time and place of a great peace congress for all nations.” He dreamed that the International Exposition would host the first and last “international arbitration commission to whom shall be referred all controversies between nation and nation, their decision to be final, and so all nations would be relieved.” (Sermon: The World’s Fair, 1889) He died years before two of the bloodiest global conflicts (World War I in 1914 and World War II in 1939) would rudely awake the sleeping Christians that man CAN NOT bring about any reign of relative safety, let alone a 1,000-year millennial kingdom of peace, without the commanding presence of the King of Kings.

The true Prince of Peace said this: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 Matthew Henry said “Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything but truth for it.” Thomas a Kempis said, “All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace.” The Bible says “And the work of righteousness shall be peace” (Isaiah 32:17) The pessimist’s darkest suspicion is that the human race, deep down in its heart, hates peace.” (The Boston Globe)

Oliver Cromwell, in quoting King James Bible principle, said “If we will have peace… lay we the foundations of justice and righteousness.” Jesus Christ made our peace with God through the blood of his cross. “There is none righteous… but God commendeth his love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 3:10, 5:8) His peace is nothing like the world’s. Islam is peace at a cost, Christianity is peace at a cross.

Do you have the peace of God that passeth all understanding? Or are you without comfort this season? There is only one way to peace- and that is to know and to walk daily with the Prince of Peace, Christ Jesus.