On Peace, Cat Stevens, Islam, and the Worldviews of Songs

This afternoon, driving home from the morning meeting of the church, I was listening to the car radio. The classical music station I usually listen to went to commercial, so I turned to different stations. At one "classic rock" station, I heard a song beginning that had a "catchy" tune and rhythm, so I lingered to listen to the entire song.

It was "Peace Train" by Cat Stevens, or the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens, now "Yusuf Islam," because the artist changed his name upon his conversion to Islam.

This is the same man who had a hit with the Christian hymn "Morning Has Broken."

Here are the lyrics of "Peace Train" (from allspirit.co.uk):

Now I've been happy lately,
thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be,
something good has begun

Oh I've been smiling lately,
dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be,
some day it's going to come

Cause out on the edge of darkness,
there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country,
come take me home again

Now I've been smiling lately,
thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be,
something good has begun

Oh peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Come on now peace train
Yes, peace train holy roller

Everyone jump upon the peace train
Come on now peace train

Get your bags together,
go bring your good friends too
Cause it's getting nearer,
it soon will be with you

Now come and join the living,
it's not so far from you
And it's getting nearer,
soon it will all be true

Now I've been crying lately,
thinking about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating,
why can't we live in bliss

Cause out on the edge of darkness,
there rides a peace train
Oh peace train take this country,
come take me home again

In Christianity, "peace" means forgiveness, unity (in Christ), and salvation (safe dwelling) in Christ, for God is the author and merciful giver of peace. It is a free offer to all who would believe in Christ for the sake of His atonement for their sin in death and His perfect life lived for their salvation.

In Islam, "peace" means a submission established by violence and with violence as a principle and way of life. It means, "surrender and you will be safe from our violence," or "surrender or you will face death at our hands." There is no forgiveness of sin, no atonement for sin, no peace with God and fellow men.

Under Islam, "the world as one" comes by force/external compulsion. To get on Islam's "peace train," will be to join the perishing in "darkness," not the "living."

"Why must we go on hating"? Because we are born wicked sinners, with wicked hearts, every one of us (James 4:1-3). Each of us needs to be given a new heart by the Holy Spirit, and our sin to be dealt with by One Who will act on our behalf, because we are poor and needy, helpless to atone for our own sin. "Bliss" is a gift that only the God of peace can bestow, and he does so freely:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. (Mt. 7:8)

Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (Jn. 6:24)

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. (Lk. 6:20)

Jesus, the Christ, the Ark of God, the Prince of Peace, the King of Salem, the peace offering of God for man, and "peace train" for sinners, is the One Who gives His peace to all who believe on His name. Peace can only come from Him.

The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. (Ex. 14:14)

And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will. (Lev. 19:5)

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. (Ps. 4:8)

Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts. (Ps. 28:3)

The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace. (Ps. 29:11)

I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps. (Ps. 85:8-13)

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, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. (Is. 9:6)

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee...LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. (Is. 26:3,12)

And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. (Is.32:17)

O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea...There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. (Is. 48:18,22)

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (Is. 52:7)

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Is. 53:5)

For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. (Is. 54:10-14)

Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. (Luke 1:78-79)

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:14)

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (Jn. 14:27)

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (Jn. 16:33)

The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) (Acts. 10:36)

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom. 1:7)

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Rom. 5:1-2)

And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Rom. 10:15)

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Rom. 15:3)

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. (1 Cor. 14:33)

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. (2 Cor. 13:11)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Eph. 2:8-25, emphasis added)

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7)

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Col. 1:20)

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thess. 3:16)

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Heb. 13:20-21)

Listen to Kevin Swanson's radio show with guest James Jacobson of Christian Freedom International:

Persecution at the Hands of the "Religion of Peace" on SermonAudio or on Mr. Swanson's web site