Written by Dave Hunt in “Beyond Seduction: A Return to Biblical Christianity”

The early Christians went forth “preaching peace by Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:36), not crusading against weapons or demonstrating for a humanistic “peace.” Their message was that we have “Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1) because He “made peace through the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:20). This simple gospel that brings peace with God into individual hearts is the only hope for peace among nations; yet many well-meaning Christians have relegated it to second place in their zeal to join in activist programs to promote world peace – something unknown to Christ or the apostles.

Social activism has become “the larger mission of the church” and is expected to bring peace, love, and brotherhood to a world that is still at war with God. It is like offering an aspirin when open heart surgery is required. We dare not join in the world’s clamor for peace on a humanistic basis. Instead, like Jeremiah we ought to rebuke the false prophets who cry, “Peace, peace, where there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14;8:11).

We must beware not to encourage the deadly delusion that there is any hope for peace except through transformation of the human heart through Christ. Indeed, if the world were seemingly able to solve all of its problems without embracing the true gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, that would be the greatest of all deceptions and precisely what Satan will seek to do through the Antichrist, whose world government will be a counterfeit of God’s kingdom. Although they may not realize it, those who join, no matter how sincerely, in humanistic efforts to unite the world in a false peace are not furthering the cause of Christ but in the long run the cause of Antichrist.

If we are to be biblical Christians, God’s Word must be our guide in all we say and do, no matter how unpopular that makes us. We dare not compromise the message which Christ called us to proclaim. Only His truth can set men free, and it is this truth which the world does not want to hear that it desperately needs. The gospel was not designed to liberate men from the corrupt Roman Empire but from the far worse bondage of sin and its eternal penalty.

Israel misunderstood the mission of the Messiah, thinking that He would free them from the yoke of Rome, when in fact, their real enemy was within their own hearts, the self that had to be denied. It is no less erroneous to imagine that one’s Christian mission is to set up God’s kingdom by taking over the world for Christ, when in fact we are to call disciples (out of a world that is doomed by God’s judgment) to become citizens of heaven.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.
Matthew 6:19,20