The secular version of Christmas is fascinating to me. In a previous post I called it the “worst cover song ever written”, as the consumerism and overindulgence of the holiday season point to worship of ourselves replacing worship of God. At it’s best, secular observances of Christmas are times when mankind lifts up peace on earth and good will toward men. These traits are noble and the world is a slightly more pleasant place for a few weeks but there’s no lasting change. This is because on our own we’re incapable of peace. Can anyone point to a culture or civilization who has achieved lasting peace? This isn’t due to the mysterious nature of peace but our corrupt and sinful nature; we cannot live out peace when war rages inside our hearts and minds. The result is a season when everyone tries really hard to be kind to one another, all with the nebulous explanation “It’s the spirit of Christmas!” Come January, the decorations and lights disappear, the lustre of our gadgets becomes commonplace, and we’re back to the way things were.
Perhaps the most powerful example of man-willed peace occurred during World War I. During the 1914 holiday season troops from Germany and Britain were engaged in trench warfare. The horrific conditions and close proximity to the enemy (in some places as close as 30 yards apart) made for a terrifying experience. In an unpredictable turn of events soldiers left their trenches on Christmas Eve and peacefully engaged their enemies. They played pickup games of football and even exchanged gifts of tobacco and food. All because of “the spirit of Christmas”! Yet even the power of this tradition of peace brought no lasting change. On December 26 the bombs, sniper fire and hatred resumed.
This isn’t to say that Christians don’t see brokenness or experience selfishness. Sadly, some of the most horrific acts occur from those who claim to follow Jesus. In addition, churches are full of Christians who struggle with depression, anger and hatred. The Western Church’s portrayal of peace is often as ineffective as that of the world. Whether we live it or not, God’s word teaches us that the hope for true peace comes from Jesus. We sing of peace not because we can achieve it, but because Jesus is Prince of Peace. Our goodwill towards men is only possible because “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:5). As amazing as it sounds, the secular world’s idea of peace is weak. If we all agreed to end war, murder and rape, this will not solve the problem of our selfish hearts and separation of our souls from God. As history has proven, the worship of self above God goes back to the beginning of time, and no man has ever come up with a solution.
Except the man Jesus.
The peace of Jesus is more than a cease of outward harm to one another; it’s reconciliation with God. His sacrificial death on the cross and powerful resurrection have brought about “at-one-ment” with God. Because Jesus is also Mighty God and Everlasting Father, this peace cannot be shaken. Therefore, no matter the state of the world, we as followers of Jesus should and can let the peace of Christ rules in our hearts (Colossians 3:15). Just as history betrays the inability of man to achieve peace by our will, it points to the ability of God to bring about peace through His Son. The actions of martyrs who face constant persecution and death with joy and peace have been perhaps the greatest testimony of a living God. This is only possible through the peace of God, given to us by His Son: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) For thousands of years, men and women have faced trials and tribulations with peaceful hearts.
Where is this peace in the Western church? Instead of the peace of Christ ruling within our hearts (Col. 3:15), too often we find ourselves living in fear of man or disbelief of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Why is this? If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, if we have received hope, love and peace through the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts, why don’t our lives reflect this? Through hardship and suffering over the past few years, the picture of rejoicing in suffering found in Romans 5 has been distant to my wife and I. While I believe it in my head, this truth struggles to take root in my heart. Have you experienced this as well? Please share thoughts or experiences below- I don’t believe we’re alone in this. During this time of year as we consider Jesus as Prince of Peace, let’s taken an honest look at our hearts. Are they troubled? Are we afraid?
Make sure to join us this week at Vintage21 Church as @PastorTyler Jones preaches on the Prince of Peace from Romans 5 and Isaiah 9:6. Will you invite your friends, neighbors and family? This issue of peace within our hearts is something everyone struggles with, and the truth will be shared on Sunday. Many people will attend church during the Christmas season!
Visit worship.vintage21.com tomorrow as we unveil a new song we’ll sing this Sunday at the West Street campus.
Previous Advent posts:
- Advent: More Than A Manger
- Christmas: The Worst Cover Song Ever
- Redeeming Christmas
- Mighty God or Helpless Babe?
- Jesus, Everlasting Father
Matt Stevens is the Worship Pastor for Vintage21 Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Contact him via Twitter: @MattStevensNC
Matt,
I’ve been following you in stealth mode for a little while. Thought I’d say hey. I’m the worship pastor over at Journey Church in north Raleigh. Would love to catch up with you sometime and grab coffee if you’d be up for it. I love connecting with guys in the area that are kingdom-minded and getting it done! Thanks for what you do, bro.
Blessings,
josh via
Josh,
Thanks for stopping by the site! Email me when you have a chance – matt at vintage21 dot com – and let’s get together. I’d love to hear what’s going on at Journey Church.
Matt
We talk a lot in community group about how we pray we get to the place in our faith that during the trial we are able to honestly rely on the Lord, and rest in His peace. Hindsight always shows us His provision, but we pray that God grows us to a place that in the middle of the fire we remember that He will not let us be burned, in the middle of the river He will not let us drowned. It takes a strong rejection of the world’s view of idyllic peace in order to say, “Yes, I am walking through a fire right now but God gives me peace.” His peace passes our meager understanding. Instead of removing the trial He bears it with us, and in that we can have peace.
Matt, I so appreciate these blog postings that you have been doing for the Advent season. It really helps keep the series on my mind all week and provides new and great insight into these different roles of Jesus that we are studying. It is a huge blessing and I know it’s been a sacrifice for you to work so diligently on this.
Thank you!