Christmas Truce
On Christmas Day in 1914 during the height of World War One an incredible thing happened. British and German soldiers who had been brutally slaughtering each other in the muddy fields of Belgium called a temporary truce. It was a truce not negotiated by the generals or politicians but by the simple fellowship of believers in Christ who were able to put aside their weapons and worldly animosity long enough to honor the birth of their savior Jesus Christ. Jesus often talked about His kingdom which is revealed to the world through the Holy Spirit by what the apostle Paul called the fruits of the spirit. In Galatians 5:19-23, Paul lists these attributes of the Spirit which include “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. In contrast, Paul describes the kingdom of the world as a world controlled by “sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like”.
In essence, the kingdom of God that Jesus spoke of is a kingdom of opposites from that of the kingdom of the world. In God’s kingdom the meek are strong and the strong are weak, the leaders are humble instead of superior to their followers, revenge is not taken but reserved for God, and forgiveness is given freely even if not deserved or earned. In fact, we are commanded by Jesus to love our enemies and even pray for them instead of striking back at them with the same hatred they have shown us.
In today’s troubled world there exists the equivalent of trench warfare similar to the battlefields of World War One. There are trenches dug everywhere by all types of groups who disagree on all types of issues especially among factions of Christians. A recent survey revealed that over 88% of the members of congress identify as Christian. Imagine if they would put down their weapons of this world (hatred, division, discord, jealousy, rage, ambition, factions, and envy) and pick up the cross of Jesus and focus on the weapons of God’s kingdom (love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). Jesus says in Matthew 6:33. “But first seek his kingdom (kingdom of God) and all these things will be given to you”. This applies to nations as much as it does to individuals. The popular motto of the day is “America First” but I tell you that Jesus’ motto for all of us individually and as a nation is “God First”.
So instead of trying to solve the problems of the world by using the ways of the ruler of this world (Satan) we should instead leave our trenches and come together by focusing on the peace, love and grace which exists only in God’s kingdom. Politics is often called the “devils playground”. It is a system developed by man to govern a worldly kingdom which scripture tells us is controlled by Satan. Therefore, what makes us think that lasting peace and loving solutions to our problems will be the result of a political process? The great secret that the enemy does not want revealed is that politics will not provide solutions to our problems. The idea that something created by man and influenced by Satan can bring peace to the world is the greatest lie ever told. Remember, Jesus himself did not change the world through the politics of His day even though His followers wanted Him to lead them in an armed revolt against the Romans as a military and political leader. He changed and continues to change the world through His ultimate display and example of humility by suffering and dying for all of us on the cross at Calvary. Only through the concerted effort by the citizens of the kingdom of God to bring His kingdom’s goals to this world will lasting solutions be produced. It’s time for all followers of Christ to climb out of their trenches and start working together for the only kingdom that matters.
