The understanding of peace expressed in the New Testament
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The New Testament is the normative text for all Christians, the principal and
foundational source of teaching for all Christians
Made up of 27 individual books, 4 gospels, 21 letters and the Acts of the Apostles and the
book of Revelation
Peace is mentioned over ninety times in the New Testament
The announcements of the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:14 )
The teaching of Jesus (Matthew 5:9)
The life of the early Church communities (Galatians 5:22 )
The vision of the messianic age (Revelation 6:4).
Commonly used as a form of greeting and/or blessing (Romans 1:7).
Many other occasions where peace is clearly an underlying value or principle in the
message
Peace is at the heart of Jesus' life and ministry
Peace is a foundational element of the Christian communities
New Testament extols peace as a virtue and identifies it as a key element of the reign of
God
Jesus is known as the prince of peace and is regarded as the source of peace. Christians
are encouraged to model their "peacemaking" on his example
Very few practical instructions relating to the seeking of peace and the avoidance of
conflict
The vast majority of references relate to an inner peace and or a state of peace in
interpersonal relationships
A small number give guidance to Christians in relation to peace at a global level and the
involvement or otherwise of Christians in warfare
The Peace of God
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Philippians promises that "the peace of God which is beyond all understanding will guard
your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7).
Inner peace promised to Christians who live faithfully according to the requirements of
the gospel and who place their faith and trust in God.
Peace understood as a sense of wellbeing, free from anxiety
Not merely an absence of conflict and violence but a far deeper notion recognising a
profound serenity and sense of wellbeing
The peace of God as a foretaste of the peace experienced in eternal life with God
In Jesus' ministry peace often accompanies the forgiveness of sin or an occasion of
healing. (Luke 7:50 & Luke 8:48 )
Jesus promises peace as his parting gift. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you"
(John 14:27 )
Peace associated with the presence of God through the gift of the Holy Spirit Peace is
seen as one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22 )
Regarded as a sign of God's activity and the fidelity of the Christians to the gospel
Contrasted with selfish values which undermine the gospel (Romans 8:6).
To experience the peace of God Christians must devote themselves to listening to the
good news and commit themselves to following the example of Jesus in his life and
ministry
Includes a requirement of prayer and contemplation, of communal life and celebration
and of commitment to the welfare of others and to the wider community
Peace in Relationships
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"If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all" (Romans 12:18 ) Christians
expected to live in peace with others
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Christians obliged to be people of peace and to work towards harmonious dealings with
all people
To diffuse situations of tension before they escalate and to create cycles of harmony and
reconciliation rather than support cycles of conflict and violence
Christians are encouraged to forgive one another, to bear with one another, to act with
love towards each other and to avoid selfish motives in dealing with each other
These responses in relationships will lead to peace and help avoid the destructive
behaviour which often leads to conflict and violence
New Testament communities expected to live peacefully with other members of the
Church
The peacemakers are recognised as God's children
War and Peace
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In Matthew 6:39, Christians are told not to retaliate or return violence with violence.
The Beatitudes provide another statement against warfare with their praise of the
peacemakers. (Matthew 5:9).
Other teachings include the command to love your neighbour as yourself (Matthew 22:39
), the requirement to love enemies (Matthew 5:44 ) and to treat others as you would want
to be treated (Luke 6:31 )
Jesus was a strong advocate of peace and a staunch opponent of violence
Until the fourth century Christians refused to undertake military service and engage in
warfare
The pacifist stance of the Christian communities came to be one of their identifying
features and was one of the reasons that they suffered persecution from Roman
authorities
The gospels provide accounts of Jesus ministering to the needs of military personnel such
as the Centurion's request on behalf of his servant (Matthew 8:5-13)
Jesus does question the Centurion's profession
There are no indications in the New Testament letters that soldiers who convert to
Christianity must renounce their military service.
Other issues include the account of Jesus expelling the money changers from the temple
(Mark 11:15 -18) and his statement about his mission bringing division not peace
(Matthew 10:34 )
It is not legitimate to portray them as an endorsement of the use of force or violence
In the context of the wider teaching of the New Testament they do not take away the
strength of the message condoning peace and condemning violence
Principal teachings about peace in Christianity
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New Testament affirms the centrality of peace to the Christian message
At the heart of the life and ministry of Jesus
Sought after and taken up by the Christian
Peace is more than merely an absence of violence and conflict
Refers to an overall sense of wellbeing
Peace is found in union with God
Christians are taught to live at peace with others, both within their own communities and
in the wider human family.
Christians initially adopted a pacifist position and refused to engage in military service or
warfare
This contributed to them being marginalised in the wider community and persecuted by
the Roman authorities
Despite this Christians refused to engage in warfare, believing that to do so would be
contrary to their faith
Situation changed with the conversion of the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century
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Christians now part of the establishment and the empire was their ally rather than a threat
to their existence
Resulted in a rethinking of the position of the Christian Church in relation to its
involvement in warfare
Created a number of philosophical challenges to the pacifist stance held by the Christians
How could they maintain and guarantee the freedom of people in the society, in particular
their religious freedom
How could they protect their property from theft or destruction
How could they protect innocent people in the light of acts of aggression by others
The Just War Theory
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The challenges of this new situation over time led to the development of a Just War
theory
This theory originated from Augustine in the fourth century, modified and refined by
others including Aquinas in the middle ages and de Vitoria in the 16 th century.
The "Just War" theory sought to establish guidelines under which it was morally
acceptable to engage in warfare
The Just War theory is the source of ongoing debate
The Just War theory maintains that nations are morally justified in waging war providing
that the circumstances of the conflict and the waging of the war meet the following seven
principles.
War must be aimed at repelling or deterring aggression and safeguarding human rights.
It must be authorised by a legitimate authority.
The stated objectives for going to war must be the real ones.
War must be a last resort; all peaceful alternatives must be exhausted.
The probability of success must be sufficiently clear to justify the human and other costs.
The damage inflicted by war must be proportionate to its objectives.
Noncombatants must not be targeted.
The application of the Just War theory remains problematic
In recent decades religious authorities have been virtually unanimous in their
condemnation of warfare.
Peace and Justice
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In modern times emphasis has been placed on the underlying causes of the conflicts that
undermine peace
Leaders of the Christian Churches have increasingly focused their attention on the
relationship between poverty, justice and human rights and the escalation of conflicts
That the world cannot expect to achieve peace without first achieving justice and that
while so many people live in poverty and without basic human rights that there will
always been unrest leading to conflict and violence
Guidance for Christians in achieving inner peace
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New Testament literature reveals an important relationship between an individual's
fidelity to the requirements of the gospel and their own sense of peace and wellbeing
Christians can expect to find inner peace in and through living out their vocation as
disciples of Jesus Christ and directing their lives towards the following of his teaching.
Jesus is regarded as the bringer of peace and to live in close relationship to him and his
teaching will allow the follower to experience this peace
Jesus' life is seen as a model of living in peace
Christians are encouraged to model their lives on his example in doing so they will be
able to find peace
Integrity and Fidelity
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Integrity and fidelity to one's vocation fundamental to finding inner peace
Not possible to achieve inner peace while experiencing turmoil and inner conflict due to
compromising personal values
Jesus faced temptations to compromise his integrity
These temptations are about serving self or avoiding challenging situations
Jesus' example shows the importance of being true to the values of the gospel and not
being prepared to accept compromise
Compromise would inevitably erode a sense of inner peace as it amounts to a lack of
integrity and will result in inner conflict
By refusing to be tempted Jesus retains his integrity and is able to faithfully go about his
ministry
Selflessness is a liberating quality which has a significant impact on the capacity to
achieve inner peace
Prayer and Service
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Ministry of Jesus highlights prayer and service being kept in balance
Jesus portrayed as a man of prayer who is frequently in communion with God Occasions
of prayer are particularly evident leading up to significant moments in Jesus' ministry
Prayer is a vehicle through which Jesus is able to nurture and sustain the relationship with
God which is the source of his wellbeing and inner peace
Prayer is something which followers of Jesus try to emulate in order achieve this sense of
peace and serenity.
Prayer is not a withdrawal from the events of daily life
Prayer an opportunity to reflect on events and gain strength to face challenges Jesus'
ministry conveys a sense of balance between prayer and contemplation on one hand and
active service on the other
Two elements are seen as complementary, not in competition with one another Prayer is
seen as an essential adjunct to the active ministry
Ministry is seen as a practical expression of the life of prayer
Prayer enables the Christian to sustain and nurture their relationship with God Through
prayer Christians draw meaning and understanding concerning day to day life
Christians also gain strength and inspiration from prayer to enable them to meet daily
challenges
Service flows out of the contemplative element of prayer
Understanding gained through prayer and reflection informs and guides the Christian to
respond to the call to service
Strength and inspiration gained through prayer enables Christians to rise to the challenges
they may face in serving others.
Christians are encouraged to find a balance between the contemplative and the active
elements of life
Overemphasis on prayer and contemplation can lead to insularity
Overemphasis on active service can lead to burn out
Either of these excesses will undermine the search for an inner peace
Community
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Christian community is an important source of help and support
The unity exists in community assists in the search for inner peace
Jesus' community of followers shared a great deal of his experience, learned from him
and supported him in his ministry
Elements of sharing, learning and supporting will assist individuals to find a harmony and
sense of purpose in community which assists in the search for inner peace and wellbeing
The absence of community leads to isolation and separation
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The breakdown or disintegration of a community through conflict, disunity etc will also
have a negative effect on an individual's sense of wellbeing
Towards Inner Peace
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Following the example of Jesus is a fruitful and worthwhile path to find inner peace
Various groups within the Christian tradition will have established methods of following
this example
These include the use of prayer, ritual and the reading of scripture, the service of others
and the participation in community with those of similar beliefs
A basic orientation in life which supports the quest for integrity and fidelity to the gospel
is an important foundational element
Not be possible to achieve inner peace while values are seriously compromised.
Maintaining a balance between prayer and service is also fundamental to the quest for a
sense of peace and wellbeing
Both prayer and service are essential and each should support and draw from the other
Engaging with a local community is also an important element
Communities provide important occasions of interaction for sharing, for learning and for
support
The absence of meaningful community undermines the possibility of achieving inner
peace
Contribution of Christianity to World Peace
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The Christian tradition makes significant contributions to world peace at a number of
different levels
These contributions include public statements by Church leaders, programs of action at
local and international levels, organisations dedicated to bringing about peace, courses of
study, commemorative days etc.
Public Statements
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Church leaders have frequently made statements in support of peace
Some have been specific appeals for peace in particular circumstances however,
Some have also published more comprehensive statements on the need for peace and the
means of achieving it.
In the Catholic community, one of the more well known statements was the 1963
statement of Pope John XXIII "Pacem in Terris" (Peace on Earth)
In Pacem in Terris John XXIII discusses an issue of critical importance to the
establishment of peace
Other organisations such as the World Council of Churches and individual denominations
such as the Society of Friends (Quakers) have also released many public statements
relating to peacemaking
In the months before the beginning of the 2003 Gulf War, Christian Churches in the
United States made frequent public appeals to avoid the conflict
The Society of Friends website contains excerpts from over forty statements from US
Churches, many of them representing the views of groups of Church leaders from a
particular State or region
Similar statements were made throughout Europe and the UK
In Australia statements were made by leaders of most major Christian denominations
together with representative statement issued by the National Council of Churches of
Australia (NCCA)
Programs and Organisations
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There has always been a tradition of opposition to warfare in Church communities
Francis of Assisi is a famous example of opposition to war. Another interesting example
The Society of Friends (Quakers), a Christian group with a pacifist stance.
The modern peace movement has a strong link to Christian peace groups in its infancy.
Movements such as the Catholic Worker movement led by Dorothy Day and Peter
Maurin have been prominent in the quest for world peace
The Catholic worker movement developed an approach of active non-violence and often
used civil disobedience as a means of protest.
Another well known organisation is the international group Pax Christi who have
pioneered peacemaking at an international level for decades
In preparation for the coming of the third millennium, Pax Christi published a manifesto
for a culture of peace and non violence.
This manifesto came in support of the United Nations declaring a decade for a culture of
peace and non violence beginning in the year 2000.
Pax Christi's declaration contained 6 principles which it invited people to take up
respect the life and dignity of every person without discrimination or prejudice
practise active non-violence, rejecting violence in all its forms: physical, sexual,
psychological economic and social, in particular towards the most deprived and
vulnerable such as children and adolescents
share my time and material resources in a spirit of generosity to put an end to exclusion,
injustice and political and economic oppression
defend freedom of expression and cultural diversity, giving preference always to dialogue
and listening rather than fanaticism, defamation and the rejection of others
promote consumer behaviour that is responsible and development practices that respect
all forms of life and preserve the balance of nature on the planet
contribute to the development of my community, with the full participation of women
and respect for democratic principles, in order to create together new forms of solidarity
The World Council of Churches in launched a campaign of a "Decade to Overcome
Violence"
This campaign provides an ecumenical dimension to the search for peace and highlights
the commonalities held among Christian Churches in this area
The campaign of the Decade to Overcome Violence has also highlighted the statistic that
domestic violence is responsible for the deaths of more women worldwide than any other
single cause
Other important organisations include the Church and Peace alliances in Europe and the
UK as well as the Kairos organisation in Canada and the USA .
In Australia major Christian denominations have organisations which have responsibility
in working towards peace
These include the Uniting Church Board of Social Responsibility and the Australian
Catholic Social Justice Council
These organisations, together with the National Council of Churches of Australia have
peacemaking as an important part of their mandate
The element of working towards peace is carried out alongside other social concerns such
as justice and ecology
This highlights the close relationship between the search for a more just society and the
search for peace
Church organisations have frequently stated that the achievement of lasting peace will
only be possible with a renewed social order where there poverty is substantially
overcome and there is justice among people and between nations
Courses of Study
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Throughout the world major learning institutions provide studies in peacemaking. Among
these, universities run by Christian denominations often feature prominently in offering
such courses
Some significant organisations providing for the study of peace and peace making
include the Washington based Center of Concern and the Maryknoll Justice and Peace
Office
In Australia the Society of Saint Columba (Columbans) have been prominent in
providing peace education
Firstly through their Columban Mission Institute and through their Centre for Justice,
Ecology and Peace.
Courses of study in peacemaking are available at major theological institutes such as the
United Theological College and the Catholic Institute of Sydney
Days of Commemoration
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Christian Churches have made use of significant days of commemoration to help focus
people's attention on the need for peace
All major denominations will have special liturgical events on Anzac day
Many would also hold events on other occasions such as Remembrance Day and
Hiroshima Day
Palm Sunday has become a day for public gatherings, marches and rallies in support of
peace
Christian churches have traditionally sponsored these events which usually begin with an
ecumenical service followed by a rally and a march through city streets
Palm Sunday rallies have become a regular feature of life in Australian cities
The numbers of people attending had tended to fluctuate depending on the world
situation at the time
Very large numbers gathered in 2003 to protest against the war in Iraq
Smaller, but still quite significant numbers took part in subsequent years