Do a lot of Christians misinterpret the meaning of peace? I think they do.

Here is why I believe it.  Take a look at these verses.

Isaiah 9:6(NKJV)

    For unto us a Child is born,      Unto us a Son is given;     And the government will be upon His shoulder.     And His name will be called     Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Romans 10:15(NKJV)

And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:      “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,     Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 

Ephesians 6:14-15(NKJV)

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 

and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 

The Isaiah verse is the only verse in the whole Bible that refers to Jesus as the Prince of Peace.

The other two verses are the only two verses in the whole Bible that refer to Gospel as the "Gospel of Peace".  They are both written by Paul.

Now consider the words of Jesus.

Matthew 10:34-39(NKJV)

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 

For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 

and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’  

He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 

And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 

He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Jesus specifically says He didn't come to bring peace (the absence of violence kind of peace) but to bring a sword.  Jesus says He came to cause conflict.  Jesus came to force people to decide if they are for Him or if they are declaring themselves enemies of God.

Here is where I am going with this.  I think many people interpret "peace" in the first three examples as absence of war and fighting and persecution.  I think that these verses in large part contribute to the vision of Kumbaya Jesus.  I believe that is an incorrect interpretation.  

In the first place it would make Jesus a liar in the Matthew verses above and I don't believe that Jesus is a liar. 

The second reason is that the Gospel has many verses with Jesus telling of the persecution and suffering that will be endured for His name.  So for me at least, this dispels the "absence of violence and persecution" view. 

So what is meant by "Prince of Peace" and "Gospel of Peace".  I think it is referring to metaphysical peace.  The feeling of being at peace in your heart or at peace with the world.  And more to the point, at peace with God!  Make sense?