“From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” (James 4:1). “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness” (Mark 7:21-22). Primordial to all these is the inherent human drive to dominate others and the equally strong drive not to be dominated.
If there is ever to be true peace, it will only happen when there is One to whom ALL humans abandon their drive to dominate and to whose domination they ALL abandon themselves. And who is this One? It is He who, possessing the power to command even the wind and the waves, washed the feet of those subject to His command. It is He who could call down twelve legions of angels to defend Himself, but who instead forgave those who tortured and crucified Him.
There is only One to whom we can surrender so completely, trusting to be treated fairly, mercifully, lovingly. This is Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God. He has the authority and the power to reign as KING OF KINGS and LORD OF LORDS, yet submits His will entirely to God. This Jesus, as a seed, as a spark, lives deep within every person. When we submit to the weeding of our own desires that makes way for Him to grow; when we nurture that growth with the compost of our own dead wills, we will become as He is and we will live in that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars.
If we want peace in the world, we must not only experience and live this truth ourselves. We must acknowledge that we as human beings cannot make peace, bring peace, keep peace. What we can and must do is to proclaim the truth of Christ to the world.
Conrad Lindes, (Salem Upper Springfield Monthly Meeting, OYM-C), 4/2026
