Make Peace
“On earth peace, good will toward men.” A fine blessing for the season. But whose peace are we seeking?
On one of the final Sundays of advent, our pastor drew an interesting distinction between different types of peace that existed at the time of Jesus’ birth. The chapter linked above opens on a Roman proclamation, one that demanded every resident of the empire return to their home town so a census could be taken. This kind of mass migration was only possible thanks to the Pax Romana—Rome’s ability to maintain relative safety and order throughout the majority of their territory. This “Roman Peace” contrasts with the declaration of the angel, whose invocation hinges not on worldly authority, but on the glory of God.
Predictably, we find the Pax Romana lacking when compared to the peace promised in the Kingdom of God. After all, Rome’s peace was only possible through the aggressive, punitive application of military force. Rome knew peace because any who defied that status quo invited bloody vengeance. This peace was only peaceful for those willing to accept Roman rule; for all others it was a constant threat of violence. Likely shocking no one, a worldly power was not capable of creating true, lasting peace.
Americans should learn from this example.
We have, after all, troublingly sought to follow in Rome’s footsteps. After World War II, many argue the world entered the Pax Americana—a period in which American military, economic, and diplomatic influence prevented global conflicts. However, some now argue that peace has largely ended. Like Rome, America’s peace proved ultimately fleeting.
Despite this potential failure, America has not abandoned her efforts to promote greater peace in the world. Even the Trump administration deserves credit for its continued efforts to defuse some international violence. To be clear, more peace is always good. As the people of God we should always rejoice in the world becoming even one small bit more like Jesus’ coming Kingdom, regardless of how we feel about who gets the credit.
We also need to remember who truly deserves the credit for this peace.
As the angel proclaimed to the shepherds: God deserves the glory for any peace that we experience in this world. A more careful study of the Scripture shows this to be true. When considered in more depth, what the King James Version simply declared as “on earth peace” more accurately reads:
“‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”
Rather than a generic declaration of peace and goodwill—something a worldly nation could theoretically accomplish—this heavenly messenger sought to focus our attention where it should be: on God. It is his will—his favor—that determines whether we should expect to know peace, not the strength or will of an individual nation.
This thought gives me clarity as I look forward to 2026. As we begin this new year, we should think on how we can do everything we can to make our world more like God’s Kingdom. The point of this—like the point of the angel’s declaration—is not merely that we might have peace in this world. In other words, we should not do good just so our lives might be better. It is so that God might be glorified more through the actions of his people.
In 2026 may we first seek God’s Kingdom and his righteousness, rather than merely seeking to make things better for ourselves.