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Conflict – the key word to describe the world, and the United States, as 2023 comes to a close.

Armed conflicts: The annual Armed Conflict Survey published by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London identified 183 armed conflicts in 2023. Russia continued its merciless aggression into the Ukraine sparking NATO build-ups in Eastern Europe. Israel waged war on Hamas, invading Gaza. Civil wars and insurgencies raged across the bulk of Africa and much of Southeast Asia. Civil war continued in Yemen leading to attacks on commerce in the Red Sea. China, India, and Pakistan skirmished along their common borders. Iran backed forces led attacks in Iraq, Lebanon, and the West Bank. Turkey continued its attacks against Kurdish areas in Syria. Gang violence surged in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, and El Salvador. Columbia continued to struggle with insurgencies.

Looming armed conflicts: China upped its aggression in the South China Sea impacting the Philippines as well as Taiwan. Armenia and Azerbaijan deployed troops as tensions tightened. Finland closed its border with Russia for land-crossings. North Korea deployed new strategic missiles that can reach the United States as friction increased with South Korea.

Major protests: The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace reported new protests erupted in 83 countries in 2023.

The United States is actively engaged in many of the international conflicts while struggling with intensifying conflicts at home. “Some scholars claim that Americans are so polarized they are on the brink of civil war,” reads a Carnegie Endowment article, while others argue such general “polarization is an illusion.” However, “American politicians are highly ideologically polarized.”

Against this backdrop of conflict we are now to celebrate the birth of the “Prince of Peace.” At his birth in Bethlehem angels proclaimed “peace on earth to men of goodwill.”

How perturbing, then, is this report: “BETHLEHEM, West Bank (AP) — Officials in Bethlehem said Christmas celebrations will be canceled in Jesus’ traditional birthplace due to the Israel-Hamas war.”

Oh, if Jesus’ birth, his teachings, and his sacrifice had sparked and sustained worldwide peace…or at least brought lasting harmony to Christian leaning nations like the United States. Perhaps if most of us had lived up to “you shall love your neighbor as yourself?”

Alas, Jesus told us that would not happen. “In me you may have peace,” he said in John 16:33. “In the world you will have tribulation.”

This Christmas we must be content with his final words in that verse. “But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Bill Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.