Editorial: As we celebrate Christmas, let us follow Savior’s words and seek peace on Earth

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone. … For a child is born to us, a son is given us, upon his shoulder dominion rests. … His dominion is vast, and forever peaceful ….”

On Christmas his followers celebrate the birth of the man they believe came to save the world, the savior who would lead them to God’s kingdom; as Isaiah prophesied in the words above, our guiding light.

Such predictions promised a peaceful kingdom, and Christ himself was a man of peace, always advising his followers to love one another, to forgive people who wronged them, to refrain from judging others but instead try to guide them to the path of grace.

It’s common to hear Jesus Christ referred in such terms; he is the Prince of Peace, the person who will build a peaceful kingdom for those who believe in him.

Unfortunately, such statements belie the anger and turmoil we see every day, much of it committed in Jesus’ own name. People who claim to be Christians hold judgment over others, and proclaim condemnation even though Christ warned his followers that they were not to judge, lest they be judged with the same lack of tolerance they showed others. Many cite their religious beliefs to try to codify into our laws mandates on public behavior and the kinds of judgments their religion actually prohibits — as does our Constitution, which seeks to protect the rights of the people against such acts of tyranny, and which forbids the injection of religion into our laws for that very reason.

Jesus knew this would happen. “Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. … (A) father will be divided against his son and a son against his father ….”

Christ’s message, then is clear: Each person is responsible for his own behavior, and is not qualified to judge others. “Judge not, and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned,” he said. “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you. … Why do you notice a splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye?”

The pursuit of peace follows the recognition that just as each of us has the right to determine our own destiny, everyone else has that same right, and we must respect that.

People who seek such peace likely will find that once they stop worrying about how other people behave, the source of their general dissatisfaction will disappear.

America’s founders, in their wisdom, sought to keep the influence of religion to a minimum — not because they lacked faith, as our founding documents are filled with references to a divine creator who gave every person equal rights — but because they likely recognized the temptation of some people to justify intolerance on religious grounds.

As we reflect on the Savior whose birth we celebrate this weekend, let us strive to better understand his message that true peace is not something we find, but rather something we grow, by giving it to others.

We wish everyone a holy and peaceful Christmas.

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