Answer
World peace is a beautiful ideal, but one that will be realized only when Jesus returns (Revelation 21:4). Until that time, peace throughout the world will never occur. Jesus said that until the day of His coming, there will be “wars and rumors of wars” and that “nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:6-7). There has never been a time in the history of the world that somewhere, someone wasn’t fighting with someone else. Whether it was a world war involving dozens of nations or a local skirmish involving tribes or clans, men have always been at war with one another.
Promoting world peace even though we know human beings, no matter how hard they try, will never be able to bring it about, is not biblical. While giving to charity, promoting tolerance and sharing are certainly appropriate for Christians, we should do so in the name of Jesus, understanding that He alone will be the bringer of world peace. Until every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:10), there can be no true and lasting peace. Until that time, Christians are to “make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
As Christians we should promote peace instead of conflict, remembering that by our own actions, complete peace will never be achieved because of the fallen state of man. Our faith remains in God and Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Until He comes to renew the world and bring true peace, world peace will remain little more than a dream. Our most important task is to convince others of their need for the Savior, who is the only One who can bring about peace between individuals and God. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). This, then, is the way we promote world peace—by bringing to the world the message of peace with God: be reconciled to God through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20).
