Give Peace a Chance

John 14:27

By Harold D. Dinsmore, M.Div.

Ó 2007 Harold D. Dinsmore

            On June 1, 1969 a world famous musician, recorded a song that was to become the anthem of the peace movement in the late 60’s and 70’s.  John Lennon wrote and recorded “Give Peace a Chance” in a hotel room in Montreal, Canada.  The catch phrase resounded through the pop culture of the day and was sung en masse at the White House by more than a million people later in protest rallies not only in Washington but around the country and around the world.

            What kind of peace was Lennon suggesting?  Of course they were protesting the war in Viet Nam.  During that conflict more than 50,000 U.S. troops were killed, close to 750,000 South Vietnamese were killed and more than 1,000,000 North Vietnamese were killed.  The entire U.S. population was divided on the issue of Viet Nam.  Young people who were normally told to keep quiet were speaking out.  The nation was in turmoil.  Peace was being advocated as the answer to all things.  And quite honestly there is some truth in that statement.  The American Peace Movement began in the 1960’s and spread worldwide.  The peace symbol was advocated and worn by people of all ethnic and cultural backgrounds.  Many Christians blasted it as the mark of the beast!  However, many do not know that it is a symbol created in 1958 by Gerald Holtom a professional designer and artist and a graduate of the Royal College of Arts in Great Britain.  It is the symbols used to communicate between ships using flags.*  The first is the symbol for the letter D and the second is the letter for N.  Put together it was to symbolize nuclear disarmament.

(*Source: www.nonukesnorth.net/peacesymbol.shtml)

            But did it bring peace?  No!  Was Lennon the first to advocate peace?  No, Jesus was!  In our passage we discover that it was a different kind of peace Jesus was advocating.  Read with me John 14:27.  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  He is leaving us with his peace, but it is not the same as the peace the world clamors for. It is not the same kind of peace they crave.  In fact it is I Thessalonians 5:1-3 we read, “Now, brothers about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”