The TV drama I was watching subtly sold the idea that the ‘bad’ guys can only be vanquished with more muscles, more willingness to use violence, and guns! As the villain appeared to be winning, I found myself cheering on the ‘hero’ who bent the law and left a trail of blood and death to gain the upper hand. Sure, it was ‘just a story’ but it is a sub-text in the larger world in which we live, isn’t it? So many voices insist that violence must be met with violence; that power is the ultimate way to influence others.
Is it really?
Are the best ways to settle a dispute with another person to use our fists or
words to crush them, to silence them?
Humans build more bombs and bigger guns (both literally and figuratively) when they feel a threat. Just look at the world in which we live. We are surrounded by a culture of fear and that fear causes us to spend $billions on security agencies and armies. On a personal level how often do we choose to respond to a threat with some sort of power play?
Let’s step back from the debate about ‘just war’ to think about our own relationships, how we individually, as followers of Jesus, manage conflict and deal with perceived threats to ourselves.
Jesus leads us in a way that is the polar opposite of dominant
power! His words are often ridiculed or
rejected as idealistic and unworkable, but they are His direction for us. “You
have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I
tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek,
turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take
your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone
forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.” (Matthew 5)
That way of life is not a choice offered from weakness. To willingly endure
evil without reciprocity demands great faith, a certainty of God’s ultimate
justice, and a deep trust in His power.
One of the ongoing tragedies of Christianity are those so-called “Bullies for Jesus” who like to use select passages from the Bible to bludgeon those with whom they disagree, who turn differences over principle or doctrine into personal wars. From the Crusades of the medieval ages to the modern church ‘wars’ our choice to adopt the ways of our world disgraced our Lord and ignored His message.
Paul, the founding pastor of the church in Corinth, moved on
to other ministry and the leaders who followed him in that local church attacked
his ministry and his character. “He’s nobody, no good, and his message is
flawed,” they said. Christians were confused, torn by division, and became caught
up in superficial spirituality.
Did Paul return with allies to hammer that church back into submission to the
Gospel and to himself? Did he threaten
them if they failed to get in line?
No, he just told them the truth and he prayed for them. He explained his actions saying that he was
not afraid, nor was he retreating from the conflict. Rather, he was trusting
God. He then writes these amazing words
that should shape our responses. "For though we live in the world, we
do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the
weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish
strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up
against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it
obedient to Christ." (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, NIV)
Christian friend, as we enter this holy season of Lent, walking through a time of reflection before we finally come to the celebration of the Resurrection, let us take up the challenge to live as the meek in a world that admires power. Let us step back from harsh rhetoric that condemns those with whom we have difference. Let us pray for faith to ‘lay down the sword’ and take to our knees in prayer.
Jesus’ greatest work was done at the Cross, a symbol of utter defeat. As He hung there, naked, bleeding, suffering, dying – the elites mocked Him, considering Him to be ‘despised and rejected’ but His willingness to give His life, led to the defeat of sin and Satan and opened the way to eternal life to a sin-filled world.
I make it my prayer to be like Him! Oh that I would lower my fists and open my arms, that I would seek to defeat evil with love, even if that choices comes with great cost to me. How about you?
Here’s the word from the Word. "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. … the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness." (James 3:13, 17-18, NIV)
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