I’ve heard it said: Christians need to be more aggressive, standing up for the truth, fighting for it. I’ve heard it said: the only way to change things is through violence. Attack the enemy, with words or guns or legislation. Don’t back down. An eye for an eye. I’ve heard it said: It’s okay to put yourself first. Put your own interests and comfort and freedom before that of others. This is the American way. This is our birthright. This is our privilege.
When I hear this, everything within me screams, “No!” This isn’t the way of Jesus. This isn’t the way of God. Look at Matthew 5, where Jesus continually says, “You’ve heard it said….but I say…” Listen to these words. Listen to His words. Really listen.
Love your enemies.
Do good to those who hate you.
Pray for those who are cruel to you.
If you love only people who love you, what praise should you get? Even sinners do that.
Is violence ever justifiable?
Put your sword back!
Don’t respond to violence with violence.
Don’t kill.
Don’t cause harm to others.
Don’t threaten others.
Don’t try to stop violence with violence,
And eye for an eye and the whole world is blind.
Do to others what you would have them do to you.
Jesus said, “Put your sword back!”
What is the freedom God wants to give?
Is it American freedom or something very different?
Freedom from selfishness.
Freedom from being stuck in the world’s system.
Freedom from seeking our own pleasure, our own comfort, our own rights.
Freedom to live in God’s economy: that of sharing and giving and not holding on tight.
Freedom allows me to let go of living to advance myself,
So that I can embrace living to alleviate the suffering of others.
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Does violence redeem?
Does violence save?
Some say it does.
I believe it only destroys.
It is incapable of anything else.
Suffering redeems.
Suffering saves.
Pain transforms.
Look at the cross.
Hold the pain until it does its work in you.
Don’t pass that pain on to others.
“Father, forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing.”
Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good.
Love comes from God.
And love is patient and kind.
Love is not rude or selfish or angry.
Love does not remember wrongs done against it.
Love never gives up on people,
never stops trusting,
never loses hope,
never quits.
“Father, forgive them, because they don’t know what they are doing.”
Let all that you do be done in love.
Love always.
Love much.
Love all.
“You’ve heard it said….but I say…”
(Words taken from Matthew 5 & 7 & 26, Luke 6 & 23, John 18, Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 13 & 16, 1 John 4, and Gandhi)
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