Global Peace and Security

Were you aware of the Global Peace Index? It’s openly available from the Vision of Humanity organization in .PDF form. Their “About us” page begins:

Vision of Humanity - the home of peace.

Vision of Humanity is a guide to global peace and development for people who want to see change take place. We publish intelligent data-based insight, anchored in a broad worldview.
The crises currently engulfing the world are truly global in nature. Without peace we will be unable to achieve the levels of cooperation, inclusiveness and social equity required to begin solving these challenges, let alone empower the international institutions needed to regulate them. Our coverage of these global crises is anchored by peace, conflict and development data and research created by the Institute of Economics & Peace.

This is connected to  Economists for Peace and Security, which describes itself as:

. . . an international network of economists, set up to establish economics of peace and security as a fundamental part of the academic discipline of economics. EPS has paved the way to the fulfillment of this aim by setting up academic chairs, a peer-reviewed academic journal and by promoting economic analysis on conflict and security. Our economists provide expertise for social scientists, citizens, journalists and policy-makers worldwide.

In some ways, the above sounded good –but I read Daniel this past week and highlighted:

And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand. (Daniel 8:23-25 KJV)

Many men have strategized and implemented plans to control the world. Some were fairly successful, as empires ebbed and flowed. Jesus explained to His disciples that this is going to continue:

And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (Matthew 24:6 KJV)

We have seen borders expand - and many contract - but not all have gone away. They have changed, but I cannot imagine what it will be like without borders anywhere. There have been religions since the beginning of mankind. While some things have changed, many have retained doctrine for thousands of years because people believe God exists. Mankind has had laws, too, and many of those originally written remain in effect today by citizen's votes.

Does it sound reasonable to do away with religion? Does it sound reasonable to do away with borders? There was a song writer who did imagine what it would be like:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace, you

I cannot imagine giving up the ability to make choices to rely only on the hope that the "international institutions needed to regulate" "the levels of cooperation, inclusiveness and social equity required" are able to provide peace. My mind tells me those same institutions are working for new rules, new enforcement.

It has been – and remains – my belief in God that allows me to understand that He provides peace:

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 KJV)

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:6-7 KJV)

My Bible also tells me the bottom line of what my God requires:

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8 KJV)