The Peace and Safety Cry
By C. E. Holmes
Hand in hand with wars and rumors of wars has gone the cry of peace. The present strife is no exception; it has seemed as if the magnitude of the struggle has increased the volume of the peace cry. One writer has stated that this war will have advanced the cause of peace one hundred years. It is being freely predicted that the age of universal peace is soon to arrive. The first of August the Church Peace Conference, conducted by the Church Peace Union, was to meet in Constance, Germany. By a peculiar irony of fate the great struggle in Europe began at the same time. Several delegates to the conference were arrested while on their way. They were later released. Conditions made it necessary for the conference to adjourn immediately. It was continued in London. Thirteen nations were represented. The student of the Bible can see in the great preparations for war a striking sign of the near approach of the battle of Armageddon and Christ’s second coming. Paradoxical as it is, there are to be prophecies of peace contemporary with the anger of nations and consequent strife; and parallel with the growth of war preparation, has been the development of the peace propaganda. The Church Peace Union, founded by Andrew Carnegie, is one of the strongest factors in this movement. H. K. Carroll, associate secretary of the Federal Council of Churches, under date of August 7, sent out a brief report of the peace conference just mentioned. A very interesting prophecy is incorporated in his statement:— “The conference believes that the present situation indicates that the old political order is breaking down, and that as the outcome of the present war it will crumble to pieces. The churches have the prophecy of a new order that will save the nations.” This ‘new order’ of the churches is a peace plan. It is given in these words by the secretary of the Church Peace Union, in his report of the conference:— “Two great truths which the delegates had been prepared to utter were given proof before their eyes: that the present international political order is essentially unchristian and must break down and give place to a new order to be founded on justice instead of force; and that the old fallacy that preparation for war is a preventive of war, is vain and foolish. “One voice for peace on earth and good will among men was heard amid the din and clamor of war. It was the voice of the Christian churches, and, although it was drowned by the sounds of conflict, it will still be heard — and some day be heeded — by the nations.” Prof. Sidney L. Gulick, in an appeal to the churches in behalf of peace, says: “Instead of surrendering the leadership in international peace movements to statesmen, economists, and jurists, whose viewpoint is almost of a necessity utilitarian, political, and legal, the churches should assume the leadership.” The apostle Paul, in writing to the Thessalonian church, says: “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them.” 1 Thess. 5: 2, 3. What inspiration recorded in the first century regarding the last days, it will not contradict when those days arrive. The true church will not be preaching peace and safety in days of peril. Another prophet of God, in the figure of a great international announcement, cries, “Prepare war.” See Joel 3: 1-17. Every nation, small and great, is responding to this call. The Scriptures predict this peace movement: “Many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Micah 4: 2, 3. This whole movement of the nations for peace, as depicted by the prophet, is based on religious grounds. In view of the present peace movement, this prophecy is receiving a wonderful fulfillment; for, as stated above, the “one voice” heard for peace is that of the churches.