Dear friends in the Community of Christ,
You are no doubt aware of the growing and powerful international Peace Movement. It encompasses all aspects of society — the United Nations, educational systems, church organizations and even the entertainment industry. However, while these diverse groups are united in promoting unity, peaceful co-existence, tolerance and equality for everyone, they are decidedly intolerant of those who do not embrace their particular world-view. Universalism (pluralism), the concept that all religions are created equal, and that all people are meant to live as harmonious co-equals, is the “national religion” of our day. However, this cultural world-view has alienated us from the Biblical world-view.
Since 1972, your church has aligned itself with this ecumenical peace movement. The Lord purportedly spoke through prophet W. Wallace Smith and said, “You who are my disciples must be found continuing in the forefront of those organizations and movements which are recognizing the worth of persons…working together to this end will promote unity…”
(Doc. & Cov. Section 151).
As well intentioned as these efforts seem to be, they are doomed to failure. Why? The problem is sin. The human race at its very heart is morally sick. After thousands of years of hatred, jealousy, murder and wars, man still won’t admit the fault is in himself. He blindly insists he can create peace in the world. No delusion could be greater as 5,000 years of human history prove. Instead of the human condition improving until a utopian state of world peace is attained, we are seeing what the Bible foretold: Mankind’s progressive deterioration as it continues to deny and reject God’s will and even God himself. “Evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.” (2 Tim. 3:13)
What’s more, Jesus never promised harmony outside of the redeemed community. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law — a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household” (Mt. 10:34-35). Jesus’ teachings are like a sword that divides and severs and once a person is converted to Christ it often results in alienation from family and friends. For that new Christian to remain faithful to their conversion experience, is the true test of discipleship.
Friends, your church is confusing the worldwide peace movement with the peace that lives in the hearts of those who surrender their lives to Christ. Attempting to bring peace to the world by building God’s literal Kingdom on earth is a vain pursuit according to the Bible. “The Kingdom of God is not visible so that we can say here it is or there it is, but the Kingdom of God is within.” (Luke 17:21).
Christians should always be in the forefront of relief work and charitable efforts, doing everything possible to make this world a better place. However, these efforts no matter how sincere, will not bring peace to the earth because the peace Jesus offers is not world peace but personal peace. When we were born into the world physically, we were spiritually dead. To become a child of God we need a spiritual birth, which involves two aspects. The first is to realize that we are sinners who need help. Sin is the violation of a holy God’s standard of righteousness. Thus, we must own up to the fact that we need a Savior, someone who will accomplish for us all that God requires. The only person who can meet these requirements is Jesus Christ. He lived a perfect, sinless life and is the only sacrifice for sin acceptable to God. He died as our substitute on the cross to pay for our sins because no amount of good works can play a part in our salvation. “…He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy” (Titus 3:5).
Once a person sees his hopeless condition and realizes that Jesus Christ is the answer, the next step is to personally receive the free gift of salvation He offers. Listen to the Lord’s invitation, “…if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Rom. 10:9-10). When a person makes this confession they are born into the family of God and have the assurance of eternal life. The Apostle John said, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). God gives to His children this beautiful promise, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
May God Bless you with HIS peace is our prayer.