Prayers For Peace At Assisi

Last November, on the initiative of Pope John Paul II, there was an extraordinary gathering at Assisi in Central Italy. This location was chosen because the famed Francis of Assisi was felt to personify the longing for peace which today has such universal appeal. The objective of the gathering was that representatives of the religions of the world should pray for peace. The Pope had also appealed for a ceasefire that same day in the war zones of the world, and in a few areas this was respected.

A remarkable assortment of religious leaders gathered at Assisi. They included a Greek Orthodox Archbishop, robed in black; the Archbishop of Canterbury in purple and the Pope in white. The Dalai Lama, whom many Buddhists revere as a 'living deity", was swathed in purple and yellow. Other Buddhists and several Moslem leaders were present in a variety of distinctive garments. Jewish rabbis were identified by their yarmulkas. North American Indians, representing the animist beliefs, attended in beaded leather attire and feathered head-dress.

The day was spent in prayer and fasting. Because of the vast differences in religious understanding there was no attempt at corporate prayer or "worship". As the Pope put it: "We cannot pray together, namely to make a common prayer, but we can be present while others pray". So different groups conducted their respective prayer approaches. An animist North American Indian, smoking a pipe of peace, prayed like this: "0 Great Spirit, I raise my pipe to you, to your messengers, the four winds, and to mother earth, who provides for your children ... I pray that you bring peace to all my brothers and sisters of this world".

The whole emphasis of the occasion was to project an image that all religions were united in their common desire to promote world peace. "Our meeting attests only this", the Pope said, "and this is its real significance for the people of our time, that in the great battle for peace, humanity, in its great diversity, must draw from its deepest and most vivifying sources, where its conscience is formed and upon which is founded the moral actions of all people".

Concern for world peace is of course in itself highly commendable, and the sincerity of those who participated in the ceremony at Assisi is not

in question. Nevertheless in the light of certain truths in Scripture the exercise calls for comment. For God's word is emphatic that world peace is vested in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ; without His personal intervention enduring peace will not be achieved. Verses 5 - 7 of Isaiah ch9 illustrate the point:

"For all the armour of the armed man in the tumult, and the garments rolled in blood, shall even be for burning, for fuel of fire. 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, Mighty God, Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end... to uphold it with judgement and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts shall perform this".

It seems so entirely out of character with this great Bible truth to enlist in furtherance of peace representatives of religions which deny the Lord Jesus Christ His unique status. At Assisi one Muslim leader said: "Perhaps we can't have peace without God's will. I know better than most people how important peace is, and how bad nuclear war can be". True enough, but God's will has

been revealed in Scripture that in all things the Lord Jesus should have preeminence; for it was the good pleasure of the Father that in Him should all the fulness dwell (Col. 1:18,19). A religion which reveres a later prophet as having precedence over the Christ of God, and indeed denies the deity of the Lord Jesus, is working against the will of God. However well intentioned, an exercise to promote world peace by religious groups so diverse in their attitude to Christ is scripturally indefensible.

From another standpoint the gathering at Assisi may well be scripturally significant. For many students of prophecy take the view that at the time of the end there will emerge a universal religious system, incorporating all world religions, and closely integrated with the political order of that day. The method used by the Pope to organize the day of fasting and prayer for peace at Assisi was to attract leaders of such diverse religions by concentration on a great ideal they had in common. As we anticipate the end-time in the light of Scripture, and remember that members of the Church which is the Body of Christ will have been removed at the Lord's coming to the air, we can appreciate that even more readily than at present diverse world religions may then be influenced to find a basis of universal affiliation.

unknown | Jul 1987
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