Parakalein

Some argue that there is no point to peace rallies because there will be no peace until Jesus returns and sets up the New Jerusalem or literally: "The City of Shalom/Peace".

Interestingly that theInternational Day of Peace follows the Lectionary reading for yesterday of James 4:1-12  Where do wars come from do they not come from inside where ether is conflict.  All human conflict from the domestic dispute to World War II, come from the inability to resolve inside of people the conflict that is inherently based on a win lose orientation to life and a winner take all concept.  This fosters the internal conflict of I either kill you or you kill me, or either I rule you or you rule me.  There is little room for cooperative, collaborative and communion building.  Our desire to win and our fear of losing foster the hostility that is justified by the hostility in others.  Mutual hostility creates mutual destruction.  Mature respectfulness and responsibleness fosters dialogue and resolve to be "sowers of peace who reap righteousness" (James 3:18).

So to those avid religious people who believe they need not be engaged in peace work.  How do they square that up with the clear injection into our mainstream of thought and injunction to our mainstream of Jesus to be "peace makers", to "sow peace", and "God has called us to peace" etc.

So I do advocate for peace in the name of him who is peace.  I do not abdicate the peace calling because of the futility of people but I engage in it as the utility of the peace of God available to all, for all, and intentionally in all.

Peace be to All in the name of the one w=at whose birth the angels sang:

"Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth (as it is in heaven) Peace, Good will toward all humanity"