LIVING WITH UNDERSTANDING

The "peace sign" seems to be making quite a renaissance. Most people wear it and use it without any conscious thought of its meaning and origins - they just assume it is an innocent symbol that communicates a universally accepted longing for peace. This reminds me that many of us fail to live on purpose. We just go along and get along without asking deeper questions and without thinking through life.

For the follower of Jesus Christ, we have a higher calling, a holy calling. We are called to do everything for the glory of God. We are to live with the Holy Spirit directing our hearts, minds, desires, the words of our mouth and the mediation of our hearts. As has been said many times, "the unexamined life is not worth living." So, we are to examine everything and pursue what is good and glorifying to our Lord and a blessing to others.

The "peace symbol" is an ancient sign that was originally a very anti-Christian symbol from the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero - Jerusalem was destroyed under his reign, Christians were burned and impaled by him for sport, and Peter was crucified on an upside down cross in this time period. The broken, upside down cross became a symbol in opposition to the Christian church. The symbol was later used as an occult symbol and made its way into the images of pagan tribes in northern Europe. Hitler and a Nazi Panzer division used the symbol.

A famous athiest thinker (aggressively anti-Christian) of the last century, Bertrand Russell, was active in the "peace movement." A fellow peace activist (they worked closely together on the Direct Action Committee for Nuclear Disarmament), Gerald Holtom, was commissioned to come up with a new peace symbol. The upside down, broken cross was chosen. The explanation at the time was that it represented the naval codes for N and D (semaphore code), representing "nuclear disarmament," but the clear anti-Christian history of the symbol lingered in the background and Bertrand Russell's strong anti-Christian sentiments certainly affected his support of this symbol. Even the "Church of Satan" adopted the symbol for its altar. Most of this history is discussed and supported at the Teach Peace website, http://www.teachpeace.com/peacesymbolhistory.htm.

The question for followers of Jesus Christ is whether to use or accept a symbol with such a clearly anti-Christian past. Jesus said that "blessed are the peacemakers." We clearly want to pursue and encourage godly peace - the kind of peace that passes all understanding. Should we do this using a symbol that has traditionally represented opposition to Jesus Christ? When we stand before the Lord some day, will this be an issue?

May you live with wisdom and truth and peace that is permeated by grace. May everything that you do be done for the glory of our God.