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Peace


And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

                “We could have peace on earth if they would just get with the program.” Just who they are is up to you. Just what getting with the program means is up to you, but we all seem to have a they and a program. And we’re right. We would have peace, for a time, if we all became Socialists. We would have peace if we all became true Conservatives. We would have peace if we all became Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, possibly even if we all became Satanists – at least if we all became any specific subgroup of one of those. The key is the all. If we all agree we would have peace, at least until something went wrong from someone’s perspective. 
          This brings us to an understanding of peace that we all have, but may not think about. We think of peace as a lack of strife, but there are only two means to a lack of strife: Agreement and Submission. Alyssa Milano understands this. The men in Georgia aren’t agreeing with her, so she’s called for women across the country to join a sex strike to force men into submission. We could have peace if men would just bow to the moral superiority of women and give us what we want.
          It’s not really surprising that we think in these terms, because alternatives aren’t comfortable. The first is that peace isn’t possible. The second, and more difficult, is that we could have peace on earth if we got with the program. That wouldn’t be too bad, if we got to choose the program; if it were just a matter of dedicating ourselves a little more fully to the program of our choice – with the emphasis on little. And, well, if someone can’t get with the program, we might have peace if they would just sit down, shut up, and let us have our way. 
          What it comes down to is that we would have peace, if they would let us or something that we agree with be our god. It’s true. I just happen to think that the right choice for that godhood is Jesus Christ. As I see it, He has the right combination of skills, talents, temperament, and experience for the job. And those who don’t agree? Maybe they’re the ones who are preventing there from being peace.

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