How did the peace sign originate?

Fall Culture

TL;DR:

The peace sign most likely started as a protest symbol against nuclear armament. While the sign is not a Christian symbol, Christians are called to be peacemakers in all times and situations.

The Bible teaches that only through God can we have true peace. In the Old Testament, sin separated us from God (Genesis 3). But even then, God had a plan to restore us to peace with Him: His Son (Genesis 3:15). Jesus is our true source of peace with God and with others (Romans 5:1; Colossians 1:19-20). Christians are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9; Romans 12:18). In the Beatitudes, Jesus said the peacemakers are blessed and to be called sons of God (Matthew 5:9). Paul tells Roman believers to be at peace with all people (Romans 12:18, 14:19). But, again, this peace comes only through the work of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Jesus also cautions His followers not to sacrifice truth for peace (Matthew 10:34-37). Peace is not about a symbol or human works (Colossians 2:20-23) but about hearts changed through the power of Christ. It is a work of the Lord.

from the old testament

Proverbs shows that peace gives us life and health: “A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot (Proverbs 14:30).
The ultimate source of peace is God: “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you”(Isaiah 26:3).
Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace” in Isaiah’s prophecy (Isaiah 9:6).

from the new testament

The writer of Hebrews refers to God as “the God of peace”. (Hebrews 13:20-21).
In the Beatitudes, Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matthew 5:9).
Sin separated us from God, but God provides a way for us to have peace with Him through His Son: “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).
The peace sign is more of a political statement, not a Christian symbol. But Christians are called to live at peace with those around us, as much as is possible without compromising the truth (Romans 12:18).
But truth should never be sacrificed for peace with others. Jesus is the only Way to peace with God, but we shouldn’t be surprised if adherence to Him causes conflict with other people—Jesus warned us it would: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matthew 10:34-37). We must always choose Christ, even when it brings conflict into our lives.

implications for today

The peace sign, sometimes called the upside-down broken cross, probably originated in the late 1950s as a protest against nuclear armament. The Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War employed the symbol on buttons and banners in its 1958 Easter weekend march from London to Aldermaston, where nuclear weapons were manufactured. From England, use of the symbol spread to the United States, being used by Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War protestors. Whether peace can be achieved through disarmament is a political debate that continues, but the human desire for peace remains. The Bible reveals, though, that our human efforts can never bring true, lasting peace. We live in a world marred by sin and filled with unrest, injustice, and death. While it is laudable to work toward cultural change that results in broader peace, we must understand that true and lasting peace comes only from Christ. Jesus is our only true source of peace with God, ourselves, and others.

understand

The peace sign began as a symbol to protest nuclear armament in the 1950s.
True, lasting peace with God and others comes only through faith in Christ.
Christians are called to be peacemakers and share God as the source of ultimate peace.

reflect

How does your faith in Christ help you to put the problems of the world (e.g., war, poverty, political conflict, etc.) in perspective?
What are some ways you seek to be a peacemaker even with those who may consider you an enemy?
What are some circumstances in which your stand for Christ put you in conflict with others?

engage

How involved should Christians be in political issues?
Should Christians embrace political symbols like the peace sign? Why or why not?
How can Christians engage in social or political issues without compromising the peace and truth found in Christ?

More Resources

New Testament

What does it mean that 'blessed are the peacemakers'?

A peacemaker actively works toward peace. Peacemakers will find joy in the experience of seeing people reconciled to one another and to God.

Old Testament

How is Jesus the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)?

Jesus is the Prince of Peace because the Father has given Him authority as our Lord and Savior. Christ’s sacrifice enables us to have peace from the wrath of the Father, inner peace, peace with others, and upon His second coming, peace on earth.

Christian Life

In what way is peace a fruit of the Holy Spirit?

Peace is listed as a fruit of the Spirit. Through God believers can have peace, knowing we have God’s presence through His Spirit.

Judaism

Is the Star of David in the Bible? What is the Star of David?

The Star of David is a widely recognized symbol of Judaism and the Jewish people, but it does not appear in the Bible. The Star of David can remind us of King David and the messianic line that led to Jesus, pointing beyond the symbol to the ultimate hope in Christ.