Build daily habits that keep you steady—getting enough rest, practicing prayer or meditation, journaling, spending time outdoors, and limiting endless scrolling—so that you can respond thoughtfully instead of impulsively. Pursuing peace in a turbulent world begins with nurturing inner calm and a positive mindset. Choose relationships wisely: invest in connections rooted in honesty and repair, set boundaries with those who thrive on conflict, and take small steps of courage and kindness where they can truly make a difference.
But as one grows in knowledge and understanding, peace is not passive; it requires the discipline of not letting fear or resentment steer your actions. Externally, seek peace through open dialogue, fairness, and nonviolent solutions. When conflicts arise, separate people from problems, ask questions in order to understand, recognize truths from the other side, and work toward outcomes that protect dignity and safety—including a willingness to change, where possible.
Support institutions and leaders who value accountability and restraint, and get involved locally—help resolve disputes, volunteer, and strengthen the community—instead of waiting for sweeping changes. Remember that peace and justice are fragile. Justice without mercy turns into revenge, while lasting peace blends both, one genuine conversation and one meaningful act of repair at a time. The apostle Peter reminds us to be proactive and trustworthy in making peace.
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” (1 Peter 3:9–13)
Understanding what it means to do evil is the starting point. Many people work hard believing they are doing the right thing, yet end up becoming enemies of peace. There are two opposing ways to tell whether someone is pursuing righteousness or evil: altruism and self-centeredness. To varying degrees, all actions fall into one of these two categories. An altruistic person draws from the spirit of Love, whose source is God, while a self-centered person draws from the spirit of hatred, whose source is Satan.
The term Satan simply means an adversary or opponent, but what is truly right does not need opposition. In a distorted environment, someone pursuing what is correct can be labeled an enemy, while those engaging in wrongdoing may be embraced as pursuing what is right. Knowing about such dichotomies helps one distinguish between good and evil. What motivates someone to plan and carry out an activity?
Even criminals take time to strategize before acting on an idea to rob a bank, aiming to succeed by getting cash without being caught. Understanding people’s motivations in life can be tricky, except through communication. Those devoted to altruism value connecting with others and are often extroverts, enjoying listening and reasoning to foster peace and understanding. When Jesus said, “You are the light of the world,” He was speaking to His disciples, encouraging them to communicate effectively.
Promoting peace requires strong communication skills and is not meddling, despite what some believe. Our world needs healing, and communicators are best suited for healing. True Christians take an interest in others’ lives, intending to improve their conditions, driven by love and the sharing of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Such a behavior contrasts with those who prefer to mind their own business and avoid concern for their neighbors.
Criminals often come from communities where such indifference is the norm. Introverts might not be seen as bank robbers themselves, but they can become complicit with those involved in such crimes. They could have made a difference had they communicated with the criminals before the robbery took place. The term introvert refers to someone more thoughtful than social, with an inwardly focused personality, often preferring time in non-social settings.
Introverts, though often seen as dignified in their introversion, should engage in activities that address humanity’s challenges. For example, writers of uplifting works may be introverts, yet their creations offer comfort to a troubled world. However, introversion focused solely on oneself can be as harmful as the actions of a bank robber.
Extroverts, on the other hand, are known for being true to themselves, and their predictability makes them easier to communicate with. Jesus made a notable impact by speaking with an adulterous Samaritan woman, a conversation that sparked a powerful ministry in her community. Christians deceive themselves if they believe God values their introversion while they live self-centered lives steeped in sin.
No one is born a criminal; such individuals are ordinary people who justify wrongdoing as a means of survival amid life’s struggles. They can only be helped by those who have truthful information—the gospel. Someone who cares only about their own survival is as morally corrupt as any criminal. True Christians are not called to self-focused introversion; they aim to bring order to their surroundings, actively reaching out to others with the gospel.
They persist tirelessly, because communication is the reason God grants them continued life, enabling them to add value to others. Life has meaning when we reach out to influence others to do what is right. The apostles walked or traveled long distances to meet people, but modern technology has made communication easier. WhatsApp group chats can be just as effective in guiding others to access God’s word.
Some groups choose to control what is shared, feeling comfortable only with those who think like them. Such people are often introverts. Such introversion offers nothing good, except enabling us to keep our environment toxic, while assume being peaceful. If they are as good as they believe, why hide their light under a bushel? They see minding one’s own business as godly, yet this mindset mirrors the way criminals operate, focusing solely on themselves.
Criminology students know that criminals often embrace introversion before committing crimes, which is why many offenses happen at night. Some people can indeed be abrasive on social media, but that is how others learn their character. Avoiding interaction out of fear is cowardice, while good people shine as a light among them. We are all our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. Ignore false Christian ideas that say being good means avoiding controversial individuals.
True Christians do not fool themselves into thinking they are special or better than others. Tough encounters with difficult people can strengthen a believer’s resolve. Jesus taught that we should rejoice when persecuted for doing what is right (Matthew 5:10–12), a challenge some introverts might struggle with. There are introverted Christians who appear to follow Jesus, but without genuine interest in others—engaging and listening—they risk becoming hypocrites.
Others find comfort in so-called “Great men of God,” yet Christ warned about such deceivers (Matthew 24:5). The true test of Christianity lies in the willingness to meet all kinds of people, aiming to impact their lives instead of focusing on one’s own secluded survival. Jesus spent time with notorious sinners, using those moments to minister to them.
The Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law despised Him deeply, yet He never shied away from them. Some religious zealots believe Christians should remain isolated to avoid trouble, forgetting that Jesus never shied away from it. If you are uncomfortable around certain people, claiming to be Christian could be pointless. True believers are ready to face anything, even suffering for doing good. They are not afraid of demonic forces, for they can cast them out.
“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name, they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well” (Mark 16:16–18 NIV).
The Scripture makes it clear that a Christian is not someone who avoids engaging with others. There are many theories about speaking in tongues, but all should aim to add value to humanity. It is a mistake to think Christianity is about introversion and only praying for personal success without caring about others. It should involve connecting with diverse people in the world.
A true Christian reaches out to help those in desperate situations. One cannot claim to pursue righteousness while ignoring evil around them. Sadly, some church groups promote the idea that Christianity is only about giving tithes to the pastor. These deceitful pastors then warn their misguided followers to avoid interacting with so-called “rebels” on social media.
The bottom line is to keep people loyal so they can be exploited for their hard-earned income. For some reason, idolatry seems more appealing to many than God’s truth. If someone can perform a miracle—whether breathing fire or speaking in tongues—they are treated like a god, even without showing genuine love in their actions. Idolaters shut off their reasoning abilities, relying only on the so-called “Man of God.”
Some Christian churches are so proud that they claim to be the only ones who know the truth. Instead of confronting those they accuse of spreading lies, they withdraw, preferring seclusion. They find comfort in statements like, “Let the Satanists spread their garbage. God will deal with them on Judgment Day. We are God’s chosen ones,” while cherry-picking Scriptures they misinterpret to mislead their followers, such as the one below:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Peter 2:9–10 NIV).
The Scripture in question can be misused to imply avoiding other people, while fooling oneself into thinking one is special. Many passages are often misinterpreted and used to protect leaders from criticism while keeping a devoted membership that accepts only their pastor’s teachings. Jesus warned about wolves in sheep’s clothing, referring to pastors who block God’s truth for their own gain. One of life’s greatest rewards is dedicating oneself to helping others, especially against deceitful teachings, as Jesus warned against (Matthew 7:13-16).
In churches with questionable leaders, pastors’ duties may be limited to delivering sermons and praying for members’ health and prosperity. Congregants would then be expected to pay tithes faithfully and ensure the pastor’s comfort. Such pastors fail to recognize that life is too short to focus on amassing wealth. A truly good person is measured by how much others benefit from their presence. Sadly, some Christians find satisfaction in persecuting those who pursue goodness, causing well-meaning individuals to retreat from pursuing righteousness.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for, in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:10–12).
True Christians value their neighbors above themselves, seeking peace by helping others solve their problems, regardless of denominational background. This is especially important when it comes to sharing practical information that can improve living conditions. Survival becomes possible when such knowledge is shared widely, as everyone wants to remain alive.
Those who experienced Zimbabwe’s 2008 product scarcity remember how vital information sharing was. Without networking, finding essentials like fuel or sugar was nearly impossible. The greatest source of survival wisdom remains Jesus Christ, whose purpose is to offer guidance for eternal life. It all begins with choosing outward-facing engagement over self-focused isolation—what this article calls choosing extroversion over introversion. Righteousness is about looking outward, focusing on the well-being of others rather than oneself.
It is not about religious piety, but about actively helping people with their problems—like guiding a foreigner to their destination. A Christian’s calling is to be present among people of all backgrounds, because God loves everyone equally. True Christians, committed to their Father’s work, show love and kindness to anyone they encounter, whether by offering food to the hungry, communicating effectively to meet needs, or providing warm clothing to someone in cold weather.
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God” (1 John 3:16–21 NIV).
Successful businesses focus on the well-being of humanity and on meeting others’ needs, while also meeting their own. Jesus valued helping humanity, saying that unlike a thief who comes to steal, He came so people could have life in abundance (John 10:10). Yet many tend to prefer things that are anti-survival rather than pro-survival. The source of survival is God, whose righteousness primarily involves caring for others’ needs.
Not everything that supports survival is seen as desirable; drugs and tobacco, though profitable, harm health and lives. True righteousness benefits others, but wealth can be gained even through harmful means. Someone might think they are enjoying life by accumulating wealth to feed their ego, yet selling harmful products only damages themselves. Whether one eats a hearty breakfast or simple sadza and matemba, everyone faces life’s dangers.
Ask any wealthy person why they seek riches, and the reasons may reveal much. Prestige might be the only reason given, but if someone is not willing to care for others, they risk ending up in trouble. True satisfaction comes from the joy of helping others. That is why comedians, athletes, and singers often seem happy—they bring joy to those around them. Everyone has something to offer, especially if they are outgoing and able to provide something valuable to others.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilisation, which lays out standards for lifting Zimbabwe out of its current economic depression and into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, offering relief to those who have witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book to be a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99