200 million people have died in wars since 1900. There is a better way, says Alan Storkey. He believes the disarming of the world is possible, and it all starts with Christians grasping the counter-cultural implications of the gospel
Christian peace is part of the Gospel.
Christ gives us peace. We have peace with God. We are to make peace.
Jesus warned that those who take the sword, die by it (Matthew 26:52), and so we aim to, as foretold by the Old Testament prophet, turn weapons into farm equipment (Isaiah 2:4).
We love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) and are slow to anger (James 1:19). God brings down the mighty (Luke 1:52), and Christ is the Lamb on the world throne (Revelation 5:13). Christ is to be the gentle world ruler and we look to peace on earth and the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:2).
Yet, sadly, much of our lives has been ruled by militarism. The first world war, the second world war, the Cold War and many other conflicts dominate the world down to the present.
We have been taught to accept “defence” and armed forces as sacred and unquestionable. For the present it seems Christian Peace has shrunk to Christmas cards and personal feelings, rather than the biblical good news of God for the whole world.
Meanwhile, militarism has been a disaster. 200 million people have died in wars since 1900 with even more injured and traumatised. The news is filled on a daily basis with war, poverty, genocide, vast economic destruction and military dictators who are governing over half the world’s population, not to mention the constant threat of nuclear destruction.
Can we Christians dethrone might and weapons? Yes. We believe in full peace on earth. It would be silly not to
Defence is actually Attack-Defence, creating the problem it sets out to solve. Arms threaten, break trust, undermine democracy and law. Most wars are actually about weapons. Ordinary people can nearly see militarism is washed up; Ukraine and Gaza evidence it every day on our screens.
The arms people try to keep us from thinking – through enemies, fear, scares and mistrust. Always it is Us against Them – the enemy game in the dark tunnel of stupidity. They make us follow the broad road that leads to destruction. The superpowers are stuck, locked in military power, arms sales and new weapons. The military system grows worse, marketing evil.
Can we Christians dethrone might and weapons? Yes. We believe in full peace on earth. It would be silly not to. The process needs a clear central rule – all states cut their militaries by 20% a year until it is all gone, with open inspection, re-purposed arms companies and policing. Making and having weapons is a criminal offence everywhere. We replace the warring superpowers with the gentle way of Christ and the rule of peace and law. The practicalities of a safe, clear process are in the petition below.
But how can it be brought about, when the superpowers think they rule? We, Christians, walk round them. We stand for peace. We vote against the false god of militarism, without enemies, to disarm the world, in our thousands, millions and then the two billion who are the body of Christ in this fallen world. We use the armour of God to defeat militarism. We make peace by faith. We live in the power of the Holy Spirit against the power of this age. We move the war mountain.
Of course, all this will make sense to the rest of the world too. World disarmament through the UN becomes irresistible. The key is getting the snowball rolling. At 5,000 votes, momentum will grow. When we pass a million the world will take notice. Signing for full world disarmament takes two minutes for each person. Will you join us?
Sign the petition at change.org/DisarmTheWorld
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