December 25, 2002

Peace on Earth to Men of Good Will

While the Times editorializes the hope that is Christmas in the secular context and only partially quotes the familiar biblical promise in its context:
The purest expression of that seasonal hope has always been universal peace. The familiar phrase is "Peace on Earth" — so familiar, in fact, at this time of year that it seems like mere metaphor as you sing it while harking to herald angels. And perhaps that metaphorical quality, that sense of near-impossibility, is what we were meant to hear in the gospel when, in the words of the King James Version, the angels proclaimed, "Peace on earth, good will toward men."

The truth as stated in Lk 2:14 of the KJV is: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." The Times neglects "Glory to God" in favor of a secular spin perhaps to satisfy those for whom Christmas is a Holiday rather than a Holy Day. The New International Version of the bible translates Lk 2:14 this way: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

First, the Glory belongs to God and, second, peace is bestowed by God on men, perhaps only to those of good will. This peace that Christians live in (or not) is an internal peace born of salvation from the babe, the Christ , the only son of God who came to dwell among us. But his peace comes because He came to die for the sin of the world, personal and corporate, that we may have resurrection life.

The peace of the world, in the secular sense, is a hope, as the Times suggests, but true peace as bestowed by God is found only through the Savior whose birth we Christians celebrate at a season of the year that is linked with the solstice rituals of ancient paganism. In unbelief there is no peace. Acceptance of the Truth brings peace to one person at a time.

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