Active Piety instead of War-pg2

(This is not a personal letter.)

Active Piety instead of War

Active piety by means of non-retaliating sufferance (not passivity) and overcoming evil with good, integrated with preaching is a replacement for war. The New Covenant constitutes a new, Christ-like principle that differs from the Old Covenant in regard to the response of a Christian toward his enemies (Mt. 5:39; cf. Ex. 21:24). The believer is commanded to refrain from the once appropriate eye for an eye; and furthermore, offer with joy what may seem less precious than the abiding possession he has in the heavens, whether having been spoiled by plunder (Heb.10:34), defrauded (I Cor. 6:7, 8), or personally assaulted (Mt. 5:39).
God is concerned with the means of achieving that which is good rather than only the desired result. If we Christians throughout the world obey, "See that none render evil for evil unto anyone; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men" (I Thes. 5:13), what a peaceful and harmless, spiritual example of morality we will establish! Then wars would have to be fought by unbelievers alone.

The peace of God is hidden from anyone who does not believe in His son, who is the "Prince of Peace" (Is. 9:6). All of us have been born under the inherent sinful nature of mankind (Rom. 3:23); thus in order for anyone to have peace with God, he must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Perversely, in contrast with peace, enmity is the disposition or feelings of an enemy; and it is also a manifestation of the lust of the flesh (Gal. 5:20), which is contrary to the Holy Spirit and the will of God. The Bible says the mind of the flesh is enmity against God (Rom. 8:7).