A BRIEF LOOK AT SOME OF THE KEY WORDS IN THE BIBLE
Bible Corner - No. 21 PEACE
In recent years many churches, including our own, have included the lighting of a 'peace candle' as part of Sunday worship. But what does peace mean? Of course, it means an absence of hostilities with all their attendant miseries but that is a fairly negative concept. The Bible notion of peace is very positive.
The Old Testament word shalom stands for something akin to abundant life, full of well-being, harmony and abundance, all untouched by violence or misfortune. However, in time it became clear that such an ideal state was beyond the reach of human effort and that it could only be God's gift to those in a right relationship with himself. Consequently there would be no peace for the wicked (Isaiah 57:18-22).
The New Testament always expects Christians to be people of peace (see Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18) but it is also aware the loyalty to Jesus Christ and the Gospel may produce disharmony and division - even hatred (Matthew 5:10-12), 10:34-36; Acts 4:18-20). Indeed, such reactions are symptoms of the estrangement between humanity and God that Jesus came to reconcile (Romans 5:1-2; Colossians 1:19-20). Thus it is only when people are right with God that they are able to maintain true 'shalom' with others, helping them towards the abundance of life.
For individual believers, peace of mind is not a matter of psychology but a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), the peace of God acting like a sentry and guarding the soul against destructive forms of anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7).
Howard Rady
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