Page 15 - February 2018 | Catalyst Magazine

Iam a Jesus pusher!!! “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:8). In 1968 a major newspaper reported that there had been to that date 14,553 known wars since thirty-six years before Jesus. Since 1945 there have been over seventy wars and nearly two hundred internationally signi - cant outbreaks of violence. While peace is promoted as desirable, the heroes of our world are warriors. Men of peace are con- sidered weak and compromising. Our fa- vorite sports are those of violence, and the video games supplanting the time of our youth are lled with the opposite of peace. “Peace” is heard in the background of battle noise, strife, and quarreling. Television does not promote peace.Where is the source of this constant clamorof strife and battle? Is it not the root or be- ing of sin? It is self-centered carnality. I am determined to have my own way. I am will- ing to compromise only when it bene ts my greater self-centered desires. When con ict is found, sel shness is present. e prominent, dominating philosophy of our world is to put self rst. It is blaringly promoted in television advertisements and strongly recommended by many psycholo- gists and counselors. When self is rst, peace is last. Self-centered carnality is the fuel for strife, division, hatred, resentment, and war. It is the core of all sin; it is the opposite of a pure heart from which peace comes. Our only chance for a pure heart is Jesus. When “self ” is lord of my life, there is con ict; when Jesus is Lord of my life, there is peace. I am a Jesus pusher!!!february 2018CityLight.org 15