Romans 14:19 “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”
This passage illustrates why true Christianity is essential to our Country. It is human nature to promote one’s self through contention, strife, and even fighting. Freedom in democracy depends upon faithful Children of God behaving in a godly manner. In authoritarian countries, the national morality and goodness depends upon the morality and goodness of the few who run the country. But, in our form of government, morality and goodness rises from the people, who through the electoral process, work their morality and goodness upward by the leaders they choose. Paul exhorted the Church in Rome to “follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”; that is, do not focus upon our different opinions and how to promote ourselves; but, focus our hearts and efforts upon those blessed “things” that we have in common and “things” that build up and encourage one another. When the Lord’s Church strives to “follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”, that same mindset and effort is extended into our communities, into business, into education, into the military, into law enforcement, into the medical profession, into government, etc. It is true that there are points of Doctrine and Practice that divide Churches; but, the common “things” are what “make for peace” and binds us together as a national brotherhood. Now is the time for the Children of God in our Country to “eschew evil, and do good” and “seek peace, and ensue it” (I Peter 3:11); it starts in homes and Churches and then extends to our communities and then into every part of our Country. The problem is that for many years, there has been a vile effort to remove God and godliness from our Country and all its institutions and parts, and today we see the effects of it in our streets. We are in difficult times, but we must not become discouraged, we must “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” (I Corinthians 16:13); that is, “be strong” in faithfulness to our Lord and in the goodness and peacefulness taught in His Commandments. It is true that there are exceedingly wicked people in this world, people “that … have not the love of God in” them (John 5:42); thus, they hate “peace” and it seems that the only thing that will control their wickedness is force. But even the wicked are brought under control when the Children of God earnestly pray, striving “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.” (Titus 3:2); which means that even the force to control the wicked is applied humanely. Now is the time for humble Children of God to live “in simplicity and godly sincerity” (II Corinthians 1:12) and to show their faith by their works (James 2:18) and to uncompromisingly “hold fast that which is good” (I Thessalonians 5:21)! Let us never forget our Lord’s parting words, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23)!