What Happened to Peace on Earth: An Answer to Willie Nelson

Singer/Songwriter Willie Nelson is set to release a new war protest song. He said that he looked around on Christmas and saw there was no good news and then asked the question, “Whatever Happened to Peace on Earth?”

One could ask what bad news Nelson is referring to, other than the Orange alert brought about by Al Queda’s terrorist threats, there seemed to be little bad news around Christmas. If the Orange Alert was the bad news, he could have written an anti-Al Queda ballad. This, however would make far too much sense for a leftist.

The phrase, “Peace on Earth” is taken from scripture and Nelson claims not to be a member of either party but simply a Christian and cites the sixth commandment in arguing against war. Like many liberal Christians, Nelson shops for his own meaning from the scriptures rather than interpreting scripture properly.

If you read the Bible, it tells us peace will not come to the whole Earth until Christ returns. Jesus said bluntly: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to `set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” (Matt. 10:34)

Jesus had no pretensions that everyone would follow him. He knew there would be division and strife, and that man while in this sinful world would have wars: both just and unjust. He didn’t want His followers to believe that he’d come to set up an Earthly utopia in there lifetime. He did bring peace to individuals, peace to those who turned to him. He said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) The only lasting peace on Earth is the one that individuals can experience through Christ.

Nelson’s use of the sixth commandment “thou shalt not kill” is equally tortured. The same Bible that says, “Thou Shalt not Kill” says, “Blessed be the LORD my strength, who teacheth my hands to war and my fingers to fight;” (Psalms 144:1) The fact is that most of the Old Testament heroes were war heroes. They fought and protected their country against the invaders and stood up against the wicked.

There’s a clear difference between individuals taking actions against their own enemies and government actions to protect society. Paul tells us that a ruler “is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid, for he beareth not the sword in vain; for he is the minister of God, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” (Romans 13:4)

George W. Bush is our ruler and he does not bear the sword in vain as the Taliban and Saddam Hussein both learned. Following this scripture, Bush is doing exactly what he should be, as he is a terror to evil doers the world over.

Nelson sings about “babies dying” referring to the conflict in Iraq. Here, he shows great hypocrisy. As tragic as the deaths of our soldiers are, as awful as the collateral damage is, if you take all the deaths in this war and add them up, you will come up with less people than our killed in two days in this country by abortion.

Where, oh great highway theologian is your song about that? Where’s the mourning over 45 million children killed? Tell me why are you singing this song in protest of a few thousand deaths at a concert to support Dennis Kucinich, a man who favors allowing the slaughter of millions?

In addition, how many babies died and how many mothers cried because of the regime of Saddam Hussein. How many more would have died and cried if Kucinich had his way and Hussein remained in power?

These questions will remain unanswered by Nelson. It’s easy to take a few scriptures out of context and write a song. It’s another to think clearly through your position, something that the left has never done.

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