( Excerpt from the Non-Violent action: A report commissioned for the United Reformed Church) (a) The Hebrew word Shalom (peace) comes from the root meaning ‘wholeness’ and indicates a total state of well-being. It is not just absence of war or strife. It is positive, not negative (b) Peace is a gift of God (e.g. Gen. 15.15; Jer. 29.11; and often) in the New Testament a gift of Christ (John 14:27; 16.33), a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5.22). It comes from a way of life submitted to God. (c) Peace does not exist where there is social unrighteousness (e.g. Isa. 48.18-22; Jer. 614; 8.11). (d) The Messiah, the Christ, is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9.6), and peace is one of the blessings of the messianic kingdom. For the Christian, this is fulfilled in the coming of Christ. He is our peace (Eph. 2.14). (e) Christ has broken through the barriers which held apart people of different races, nations, and classes (Eph. 2.14-22; Gal. 3.28; Col. 3.11). (f) When Ju...
Stories of peace, faith and memory from Kenya and beyond