A friend came and preached at our church this Sunday. It was a sparkling message, as is always the case when he preaches..... which is about ever couple of years.
Anyhoo, he also writes a blog, and this was his entry for this week:
Before riding into Jerusalem, Jesus lamented the fact that its inhabitants did not understand "the things that make for peace". That is to say that, though they were oppressed and treated unjustly by the Roman juggernaut, they ignorantly believed that turning the tables on their unjust oppressors would bring peace. But in 70 CE, it brought them only destruction, and they watched their beloved city, Temple and way of life go up in smoke. Their unwillingness to forgive and lay down their swords brought the swords of the Romans down on their necks. Hence the sorrow Jesus felt upon observing their ignorance.
As I scan through my various social media newsfeeds, I see the same mindset. Everybody and their brother seems convinced that oppression and injustice is answered by oppressing the unjust, but nothing could be further from the truth. We still, 2,000 years later, do not understand the things that make for peace. From animal rights, to racial issues, to political debates, to religious matters, and everything in between, everyone seems to be calling for the heads of their opponents. Has history taught us nothing? Do we not realize that turning our "Cains" into "Abels" does nothing but keep the system of oppression, hatred and violence alive? This doesn't mean we ignore issues. Of course not! Where there's injustice, inequality and oppression of any sort, we need to respond. The question is are we responding in ways that "make for peace", or in ways that keep the system alive by forcing the oppressed and the oppressor to switch places for a season?
There is nothing holy, just or ethical in calling for oppressors to become the oppressed or for victimizers to become victims. No, the Gospel introduces us to an alternative reality in which we battle systems of injustice by giving our lives in subversive service, even to those who do us wrong. Peace has never been achieved through angry rhetoric and Molotov cocktails. Only a commitment to others-centeredness, enemy love and a self-giving lifestyle can do that.
If we think for a moment that Jesus is ever behind violence, vengeance or eye for an eye attempts at resolving our issues, we're sadly mistaken and know not the Gospel.
Peace.
Anyhoo, he also writes a blog, and this was his entry for this week:
Before riding into Jerusalem, Jesus lamented the fact that its inhabitants did not understand "the things that make for peace". That is to say that, though they were oppressed and treated unjustly by the Roman juggernaut, they ignorantly believed that turning the tables on their unjust oppressors would bring peace. But in 70 CE, it brought them only destruction, and they watched their beloved city, Temple and way of life go up in smoke. Their unwillingness to forgive and lay down their swords brought the swords of the Romans down on their necks. Hence the sorrow Jesus felt upon observing their ignorance.
As I scan through my various social media newsfeeds, I see the same mindset. Everybody and their brother seems convinced that oppression and injustice is answered by oppressing the unjust, but nothing could be further from the truth. We still, 2,000 years later, do not understand the things that make for peace. From animal rights, to racial issues, to political debates, to religious matters, and everything in between, everyone seems to be calling for the heads of their opponents. Has history taught us nothing? Do we not realize that turning our "Cains" into "Abels" does nothing but keep the system of oppression, hatred and violence alive? This doesn't mean we ignore issues. Of course not! Where there's injustice, inequality and oppression of any sort, we need to respond. The question is are we responding in ways that "make for peace", or in ways that keep the system alive by forcing the oppressed and the oppressor to switch places for a season?
There is nothing holy, just or ethical in calling for oppressors to become the oppressed or for victimizers to become victims. No, the Gospel introduces us to an alternative reality in which we battle systems of injustice by giving our lives in subversive service, even to those who do us wrong. Peace has never been achieved through angry rhetoric and Molotov cocktails. Only a commitment to others-centeredness, enemy love and a self-giving lifestyle can do that.
If we think for a moment that Jesus is ever behind violence, vengeance or eye for an eye attempts at resolving our issues, we're sadly mistaken and know not the Gospel.
Peace.
