To end all wars

World peace—an expression that brings a longing look to some faces—and maybe a derisive smile to others. A worthy goal, no doubt, but a naive unrealistic hope? For decades during the Cold War between the East and the West, it seemed as if only a balance of power was able to preserve peace. But people in Europe lived with an uneasiness during that time that this state of peace was really merely the absence of war. Many felt that only the terror of war (and Europe was very familiar with the terrors of war!) prevented an open conflict. 

Peace needs to rest on something more substantial than a threat of annihilation in order to have the promise of permanence. After all, the Prince of Peace (as Isaiah described the Messiah, see Isaiah 9:6, 7 ) didn’t bring the message of peace on the basis of a stalemate between opposing parties, but rather on the basis of a unified and all-inclusive government by Christ, the manifest power of a God who is nothing but Love.

We can at any time turn to Christ’s government and acknowledge this unifying force that points us to the fact that we all have one common parent, one Father-Mother God. By looking beyond cultural and theological labels we find common ground in our spiritual natures. Respect and a sense of brotherhood are a natural result. 

A lot of this finding of common ground and respect happened in Europe in recent decades. While growing up in Germany in the ’60s and ’70s, I still remember the derogatory words that were used to describe Frenchmen and the terms they used to describe Germans. I haven’t heard those words in decades. One wouldn’t insult a friend. 

The Norwegian Nobel Committee acknowledged: “Over a seventy-year period, Germany and France had fought three wars. Today war between Germany and France is unthinkable. This shows how, through well-aimed efforts and by building up mutual confidence, historical enemies can become close partners” (nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2012/press.html). As a result, the European Union was awarded the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize.

Peace needs to rest on something more substantial than a threat of annihilation in order to have the promise of permanence.

“Mutual confidence.” It might not always seem easy to build trust when we are bombarded with hateful propaganda that focuses on cultural, racial, and theological differences intent on fueling suspicion and contempt. But hatred is no match for God’s love. God’s love speaks to the human heart in a way that each heart can understand. What a powerful affirmative prayer! And it rests on a powerful spiritual fact: “It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love. Mankind will become perfect in proportion as this fact becomes apparent, war will cease and the true brotherhood of man will be established” (Mary Baker Eddy, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 467 ).

Here is an illustration for how a church membership can embrace its community and contribute to healing and peace. It was on a Wednesday night in February. I was sitting in church, listening to the readings, when suddenly an usher tapped me on my shoulder and asked me to come into the foyer. She required some assistance with a visitor who had just arrived and was obviously mentally a bit disturbed. It was pretty cold, yet he only wore a light shirt. His eyes were confused and frightened, his gestures erratic. He said the devil was after him and he was looking for protection. I assured him that the devil would not manage to come into our church. That calmed him down a bit.

We sat next to each other quietly for a while listening to the readings, and then he asked me in a whisper if I could pray for him that his sins might be forgiven. I nodded and prayed quietly to know that he as God’s child is unable to sin and that God never turns His love from His beloved creation.

After a few moments, he turned to me with big eyes and said, “WOW.” Then he turned back to the front and continued to listen to the readings.

What a powerful contribution to world peace each one of us can make by respecting Christ as all and in all.

When later the Reader opened the meeting for the congregation to share testimonies of healing, my new friend next to me whispered to me: “I want to say something.” I must admit that I was a little distrustful. “What do you want to say?” “Well, here I feel so much love and I feel safe.” “Yes, you can say that.” “Well,” he said, “I just did!”

After the meeting, many of the members came up to greet him. Then they left one by one while he told me more about himself. He was from Trinidad and lived in the area in a rather run-down community, earning little income. His mother was angry with him for doing too little for the family.

By now I was alone with him. He showed me his Bible in which he had placed photos of his family. He realized he needed to leave the church at some point. The sweat stood on his forehead. He began to run back and forth in the church. I tried to realize that he is a loved child of God, not governed by culture or his history, but by the one all-governing Mind.

Then he stopped and said to me: “You know, I have a knife. I once made a big mistake, I do not want to make that mistake again.” With these words, he looked at me and suddenly he got a gleam in his eyes. “Oh no!” I thought immediately, “You won’t! You are unable to inflict harm.” I felt the moment of panic disappear in me. I extended both hands towards the ceiling and said quietly to him: “Divine Love fills this whole room.” Then I stretched my arms toward the door. “And all this love flows out and fills the whole city.” He followed my hand movement and trotted in the direction of the door. We walked out into the open together. He became very thoughtful and said he would go home now. We parted and I quietly knew him in God’s love. 

The following Wednesday, I stayed another 30 minutes after the testimony meeting in church talking with a member. There was a young man heading toward the church. He walked upright, with a spring in his step, wearing a winter jacket. He opened the door to the church and offered me a hand. I looked at him questioningly and he said with a big smile, “Well, I was here last week!” I would not have recognized him. “Yes, yes,” he laughed, “today I am courageous. No devil. You guys gave me so much help last week. I spoke to my mother, everything is all right again. I’m going to move in with her. This church is really something special. Thanks.” And he said goodbye.

Here we had a dark-skinned man from Trinidad and a white German, who had come together in an American church, rejoicing in their joint spiritual brotherhood. It made me think of Paul’s declaration: “There is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11 ).

What a powerful contribution to world peace each one of us can make by respecting Christ as all and in all—as illustrating our individual true oneness with God. Yes, world peace is possible. And looking at our divine connection it’s fair to say: It’s unavoidable.