Consider This

Can We Ever Beat Our Swords Into Plowshares?

The irony was hard to miss, even for nonreligious Most chillingly, General Bradley said, “If we continue to people. Here was a militaristic, atheistic global develop our technology without wisdom or prudence, our power bringing to the world a peace gift inspired servant may prove to be our executioner.” by—of all things—the Bible. You might keep close at hand for future reference

It was 1959 when the Soviet Union presented the United the lead article in this issue—“How to Overcome Fear”— Nations with a bronze statue of a brawny man wielding a because Bradley and MacArthur are right. The world hammer. With it, he was reshaping a weapon representing is bringing on itself a frightful time ahead, but God war and destruction, a sword, into a tool suggesting peace promises that bright days lie beyond! and goodness, a plow.

Russia’s gesture rang hollow, coming from a regime The biggest battle right now that disdained the Bible, persecuted the religious and had The UN just celebrated its 75th year, and Discern recently slaughtered millions of its own citizens. But the magazine just completed its seventh. We both yearn for words on this famous statue, “Let Us Beat Swords Into the same thing—the cover article of our maiden January/ Plowshares,” strongly resonated in the hearts of people February 2014 issue was “Neither Shall They Learn War around the world, as they do to this day. Anymore”—but we see a totally different path to that end.

When accepting this gift, Secretary-General Dag The “Consider This” column in that first issue explained Hammarskjöld declared that “the ancient dream of that different path and our purpose for being: mankind, reflected in the words of Isaiah” was the same “We believe humanity’s track record proves it’s dream that had inspired the creation of the UN. impossible to comprehend these matters apart from God,

The statue, regrettably, does not cite Isaiah’s exact words. the God who billions of people claim to know but who, But in a park across the street from the UN stands the in reality, remains largely ignored, misrepresented, and “Isaiah Wall,” inscribed with more of the prophet’s quote: irrelevant in daily life. “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their “‘My thoughts are not your thoughts,’ God says. But spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword He assures us that we can learn to think His way, ‘if against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for (Isaiah 2:4, King James Version). understanding.’ Nuclear giants and ethical infants the minds and hearts of every single person. And, yes,

It’s remarkable how some of the most astute into this confusing clamor of ideas Discern now adds its observations about peace have come from men whose voice. This inaugural issue gives you a little taste of what’s lifelong profession was lifting up the sword. General to come, a fresh view for Douglas MacArthur’s profound appraisal appears in the examining the issues of life article “Pursuing Peace: UN 75th Anniversary Assessment.” in the light of God and the Witnessing war’s ravages undoubtedly pushes some timeless principles of people to deeply ponder these matters. His Word.”

Another veteran of World War II, General Omar Bradley, Seven years down the offered these thoughts: road, we hope your thinking

“We have many men of science; too few men of God. continues to be challenged We have grasped the mystery of the atom and rejected and enlightened, and your the Sermon on the Mount . . . The world has achieved life changed, by the power brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. to discern. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants. We Clyde Kilough know more about war than we know about peace, more Editor about killing than we know about living.” “Yes, the biggest battle in the world right now is for