Matthew 22,37-40:
37 Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Without doubt the most important benefit of heeding this command from God is that wars across the Globe would cease and for
as long as the command was obeyed wars would not return. This would completely transform civilisation and would make God
very happy, but is it possible to achieve?
To put the issue into perspective consider the following factual information published by the UCDP, the world's most widely
used data source on organised violence and the oldest project to collect data on civil wars still in operation:
UCDP's definition of armed conflict has become the global standard of how conflicts are
systematically defined and studied.
Extracts from their website:
2023 was one of the bloodiest years on record with an estimated 310,000 people losing their lives due to armed conflict,
the number of conflicts involving states totalling 59.
This of course pales into insignificance compared to WW2 casualties between 1939 and 1945:
The most up-to-date estimates calculate that between 70 and 85 million people died in World War II. That
equates to roughly 3-3.7% of Earth's entire population at the time. OK, so plenty left to exterminate so boredom
shouldn't set in any time soon!
Whilst on the subject, and to prove a point, it would be remiss of us not to quote WW1 casualty figures:
15 million soldiers and civilians combined lost their lives in this conflict and an additional 23 million were wounded.
In both conflicts extreme evil was perpetrated involving mass rape of women and children. There is indisputable
documentary evidence to support such claims. Clearly human suffering escalates out of control in war situations
especially amongst innocent members of the population in war zones.
One could be excused for thinking that human beings unlike animals enjoy killing one another. Clearly such an argument does
not lack foundation. The instigators of these horrendous crimes against humanity however are groups of evil individuals. They
enjoy the power that weapons of war give them more than the joy derived from loving their fellow human beings. Pure evil
stemming from the influence of Satan is at the heart of it, fuelled by extreme avarice, jealousy and disregard for human life.
Those participating in such crimes often have little choice because their Earthly masters threaten them with extinction if
they do not fall into line and meet expectations.
The short answer to 'is it possible to permanently end worldwide conflicts' is NO!
This has never been achieved throughout the thousands of years of human history. The only person extolling the benefits
was Jesus and of course He was unique. There is no recognition that humanity should strive to achieve such a goal therefore
it is unlikely to ever happen! This of course fits in with the understanding made clear in the Bible that the World
as we know it will come to an end at the second coming when wars will cease. The foundation of our hope in Christ's second
coming rests firmly on His own promises:
John 14,3:
Jesus assured His disciples, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you
also may be where I am."
This wasn't a vague possibility but a definitive promise from the Son of God Himself!
So where does this evil desire to annihilate one another come from? Can the perpetrators simple blame Satan and hope to
get away with it, avoiding any adverse repercussions whilst here on Earth? Such people in positions of power often do escape justice.
The more power the perpetrator possesses the better placed he/she is to escape the consequences. Hitler for example had to
bump himself off!
So what can ordinary members of the public do to minimise, or better still eradicate acts of wickedness which are diametrically
opposed to God's teaching? Societies in the West rely heavily on the judicial system to punish and deter evil doers. Sadly
in many Countries the judiciary is corrupt allowing criminals to escape justice. Decent people in such countries
characteristically endeavour to abandon their Country of birth and migrate to the West. Sadly a proportion of these travellers
inevitably come with evil intent, out to exploit our weaknesses.
There is only so much that better run Countries can do
to block such individuals from entering, only admitting people with good intentions who wish to adopt
their norms and way of life. A case in point is the Islamist groups who have entered the UK
establishing their own religious framework and networks separate from our own.
The Genesis Account shows how all the doctrines of Christianity have their foundations in
Genesis. How did Jesus and the NT writers understand Genesis?
Conclusion: The organizations that could make a positive difference strive to do so against difficult odds.
The Church is one of the main
arbiters on issues of human goodness, morality and justice and does a great deal to foster peace-loving relationships. We still
turn to the Church to conduct weddings for example.
One of the greatest problems facing society today is the ever increasing adverse
influence of many media outlets, TV channels, newspaper articles, etc., that seem to delight in focussing on the worst aspects
of human behaviour. Rather than creating entertainment material, and reporting facts, based on moderate human behaviour they are
increasingly displaying humanity acting in depraved, violent, sexually perverted and control lacking ways. This inevitably
adversely influences younger generations as they understandably begin to adopt these practices themselves believing them to be
normal and acceptable. Instead of spending a little time on a Sunday attending a local Church service time is taken up drooling
over mobile phone messages, for example, that only exacerbate the issues outlined above if left unchecked.
So can anything be done to enhance the better side of human nature? The Church is the one place where unconditional, unselfish,
love is practiced and promoted. We must hope that a reset takes place where there is a return to attending Church services on
a Sunday and that it happens in the not too distant future. Let us hope the new Archbishop of Canterbury is a force for good
in this respect. (January 2026).
Jesus himself said, 'Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. (Mark 10 verse 15)'
