A Truce of God by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 28, 1914

A Truce of God

By C. M. S.

During the Dark Ages, when the education and enlightenment of the common people were under the ban and conscience was made an outlaw whenever it sought to assert itself, there came a time when it seemed as if the blood lust of war would depopulate the world. There were feuds of family against family, of clan against clan, and of nation against nation. In the thirst for revenge, men almost forgot to till their land; and though professing the name of Christ, they forgot their duty to love their enemies, and broke every command of the divine law to accomplish their enemies’ ruin. War was an occupation, and murder a pastime; and the victor and the victim were members of the same church, absolved by the same priest, and given passports to the same heaven.

It was in such a time that there was brought into existence what was known as “a truce of God,” or “God’s truce” (treuga Dei). It originated in southern France in 1027, and soon spread over western Europe. By the terms of this “truce” there must be no fighting from Wednesday night until the following Monday morning, nor during Advent or Lent, nor on principal saints’ days. Pilgrims, priests, women, agriculturists, and merchants were specially exempt from the ravages of war.

This arrangement left four days for peaceful pursuits, and three days for war and for all private and public combats. Peace had the advantage over war by one day of each week regularly, and an added advantage during Advent and Lent and special saints’ days. These continued interruptions of the business of war and feudal strife served to decrease the cruel business to a very considerable extent. It also gave the people an opportunity to attend church with greater regularity, for the days of peace included Sunday.

It is proposed now to reenact this “truce of God,” not to stop literal war, but to put an end to the conflicts of the creeds for a time, and unite Christendom in some kind of religious undertaking. Now it is well known that every truce is a compromise. Each party to the conflict or controversy yields something in order that they may meet on common ground for a time without fighting. Sometimes, in actual war, a truce is declared that both armies may bury their dead and get their wounded off the battle field. Sometimes a truce is declared that terms of surrender may be discussed.

A truce is always a compromise. But nowhere in the Word of God do we read that God has ever made a compromise, or truce, with sin or with his enemies in this world. This conflict calls for victory. When the Spirit of God enters into battle with a human being in sin, there is no alternative offered, no compromise, no truce. The human heart is called upon to surrender. If it refuses, God still is conqueror, for man perishes. If it yields, God is victor, and man is victor also, for, in the triumph of God over him he himself has triumphed over self and sin and Satan. But there is no truce and can be none. God must triumph completely, or he does not triumph at all. A world is in rebellion, and God calls for surrender. Human hearts are in rebellion, and God calls on each individual for surrender. The gospel of Jesus Christ is nothing but a call of God upon individual hearts to surrender. The blessed part of it is that they who surrender conquer. The sad part of it is that they who refuse to surrender perish.

This “Call for a Truce of God Throughout Christendom,” which is issued “by order of the Advisory Committee of the Commission on the World Conference on Faith and Order,” reads in part as follows:—

To Our Christian Brethren in Every Land, Greeting.

We, the advisory committee, representatives by appointment of many churches in the United States, have become associated with the commission of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the preparation of the world conference on questions of faith and order as a first step toward unity. We believe in the one people of God throughout the world. We believe that now is a critically hopeful time for the world to become Christian. We believe that the present world problems of Christianity call for a world conference of Christians.

This proposal has already received the approval and cooperation of a large number of Christian churches; approaches are being made to others as rapidly as possible; so that we hope ere long its world-wide representative character will be established beyond peradventure. . . .

From the mission field the long-outstanding problem of Christian unity has been brought by the providence of God and set directly in the way before all

Christian communions. It cannot longer be passed by. The great interests which Christian people of every name have most at heart call for its solution. But solution cannot be secured by surrender. It must be preceded by conference. Before conference there must be truce. The love of Christ for the world constrains us to ask you to join with us and with his disciples of every name in proclaiming among the churches throughout Christendom a truce of God. Let the questions that have troubled us be fairly and clearly stated. Let scholars, Catholic and Protestant, give freely to the people whatever light from their historical studies they can throw over these subjects. More than that, it is of essential importance for us to seek to understand what in the religious experience of others are the things of real value which they would not lose and which should be conserved in the one household of faith.

. . . We would therefore urge all who hold positions of leadership or authority in the church to labor without ceasing to work out in this generation, by mutual recognition and possible readjustments, a practical basis of union and liberty, in order, in truth, in power, and in peace.

It will be noted that this union of all Christendom through this “truce of God” is designed to be brought about in this generation. We also have a work set before us to be completed in this generation. Is it not significant that the leaders of that great movement for the union of Christendom expect to accomplish their purpose within a period when such a work must be accomplished to fulfill prophecy? The “image” power, whose decree goes forth against commandment keepers, is a union of religious forces; and such a union there must be before the work of the third angel’s message closes. We expect it to close in this generation. By the proposed “truce of God” it is expected to unite the religious forces of the world, in some way, into “one household of faith” in this generation. How can any one continue to doubt God’s Word when he sees its prediction actually working out under his own eyes? The true Christian cannot repress a thrill of exultant joy in the presence of such demonstrations; for just beyond the culmination which that involves is the paradise of God and the reward of the faithful followers of Christ.

The call for this truce states that the solution which is sought for the problems of a united Christendom “cannot be secured by surrender.” But unless there is surrender of one to another, the purpose of the “truce” will not be accomplished. There will be compromise, there will be surrender, and out of that compromise and surrender will come some basis of unity; and through that unity a decree will be formulated which will bring about the culmination of the controversy. “It is high time to awake out of sleep.” C. M. S.