Merry Christmas (War Is Over)

As an adolescent one of my favorite songs was John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” I liked the tune, but even more I loved the idea of no more war. We were still at war in Vietnam and on our college campuses. I knew that in a few years I would be drafted to fight in a war that seemed senseless. Lennon’s children sang “War is over. If you want it, war is over now.” A sweet sentiment. Of course, many people wanted it, but the war dragged on. So much for sentiment.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we could end any war that we decided to quit fighting? The good news is that because of Christmas we hold the power to do just that. Here’s the rationale: It takes two “yeses” to make a marriage, but only one “no” to cause divorce. Similarly, it takes only one “no” to create war. Peace comes by “yesses” from both sides. In war there is usually a hostile invasion and a resistance, but not always. My father-in-law aided the Dutch resistance during World War II by forging documents. In Amsterdam there is a Museum keeping alive the memory of the resistance. Holland was small and weak. Resistance was wiser than an open fight. But resistance can go too far as we will see in a bit.

As a child I read the Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Genesis 9:13 says, “I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” I grew up thinking that “bow” was a pretty, poetic term for “rainbow”; somewhat like tying up a bow on a package. Lois Tverberg disagrees. She says the Hebrew word, keshet, which many today translate as “rainbow” really means “bow” in the military sense. Everywhere else in the Bible it is used that way.

So, God, after trying to solve the sin problem by declaring war on human life, decided to quit fighting. He set down His bow in the clouds “even though every inclination of [man’s] heart is [still] evil from childhood” (Gen 8:21, NIV). He knew the war was not over, but He quit fighting. The flood proves that we live only because of the self-restraint of God. If He were still at war with us, no power on earth could resist Him. We cannot resist His aggression, but we can resist His coaching.

At Christmas Immanuel ushered in the age of being coached. He taught, then He sent us the Counselor. We are so petty that we interpret the invitation to change as an act of war. And that is why the war continues today. God is done fighting, but we are not. Our little fists are clenched. Our little feet stomp the dust. When will we wear ourselves out and simply lay down our bows? When will we accept His coaching and allow our lives to be turned around? When will we will the war to cease? Maybe at Christmas? “If you want it, war is over now.”