Christian faith is oriented to the future. In the Bible there are magnificent and powerful eschatological visions of the time of peace yet to come. The Kingdom of God is already near but in the future it will come in its full power (Mark 1:15; Matthew 6:10) It is �righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit� (Romans 14:17) There will come a time when �..they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more (Isaiah 2:4).
The desire for peace will increase when we have these visions clearly in our minds. The visions of the future must guide and encourage Christians in what we do.
Religion as a part of the solution
Why in international conflicts religions, including Christian churches, are often part of the problem? It is because religion is a way to express reality and to give it meaning. Religion is the mother tongue of culture. Christianity has had an influence on cultures and the lives of people and the aim is to deepen that influence. But at the same time the Churches and the Christians as well as other religions in their own environments end up looking after the interests of different groups, nations and cultures. Dissimilarity is easily demonized through religions � and so hostilities seem to be originated from religion.
However, Christianity is by nature universal. The Gospel belongs to all nations. All nations and all people are part of the same creation (Acts 17:26) and they form a family, so to speak. We must stop thinking locally. We must find a stronger view of the universality of Christianity in our biblical faith. In a globalized world we are needed to promote the peaceful encounter of nations, ethnic groups and cultures for theological reasons.
Therefore we need first to work for the unity of Christians. Our testimony is not efficient if we are divided. The enemy of a Christian is not another Christian � our common enemy is a godless world.
There will not be peace in the world without the peace between religions. In conflicts we must make religions part of the solution.
Religions can be examined in the light of their influence on the society and everyday life. All religions have the potential for violence. The representatives of religions should together prevent fundamentalism from spreading. But all religions also have a desire for peace. This International Meeting for Peace is a very good sign of will to strengthen that common desire. It has also been expressed in the Global Ethic project and the Chicago Declaration (1993). We need a better understanding of other religions and we need to be ready to work together with them.
Religion and ethics
My church is an Evangelical-Lutheran Church. For us it is important to be able to separate faith from ethics and religion from morals. We find that God has two regiments: the spiritual and the earthly. In the area of spiritual life we must not give up the things we believe to be right. There we include the truth of God and salvation. Syncretism is not the answer. But the work for peace in cooperation with other religions does not require us to compromise our spiritual beliefs.
In the area of earthly life, in other words in matters of ethics and morality, God is carrying out justice by human reason and judgment. By means of his reason and conscience man can make a society where the powers of evil will be chained and thus there is a chance for peace.
The aim in the work for peace is the same for Christians and also for other believers. It should be promoted together and with common methods. The mission of all believers is to make the voice of people overcome the voice of power politics.
Peace for Christ�s sake
�Repent!� , Jesus says. We have to change our attitudes. As Christians we must not accept that there is violence, injustice and trampling on human dignity.
We know our task is to work against violence and to further the cause of peace but we often lack the will and the power to do so. It is not enough to have knowledge in your head, you have to feel it in your heart. We need love. But we don�t have it in ourselves. We have to turn our eyes upon Jesus Christ. If we look at Christ we are prepared to forgive and to live in harmony with others. Inner peace is a gift of God. He gives us strength to will and to act for peace.
The Church is furthering the cause of peace by preaching the Gospel. �Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.� (John 14:27). If we are faithful to the One who sent us, we have the urge to bring peace to this world.
Poverty, the situation of the minorities, and the lack of democracy are sources of violence. In the biblical sense peace (shalom) is more than the lack of war. It is integrity, freedom, security, justice, material and emotional well-being and equality, as well as harmony between man and nature. As Christians we further the cause of peace in our daily life by promoting these goals.
The future ahead of us
God is constantly creating. This faith protects us against despair. If we lose hope, we lose our ability to work for a better future. Our faith gives us the will and the strength even when we are facing a task that seems to be impossible.
The Church works for peace anticipating the eschatological peace. The Bible says there will be a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1). Everything will be different. �No longer will there be any curse� (Rev. 22:3). May these visions guide us, direct us and encourage us to act.
