nonviolence, part 2
Jesus points to another way. Something beyond retaliation, fighting, or violence. Jesus proclaimed a gospel that was nonviolent. We see it in his teaching, throughout his entire life, and, above all, the way he faced his death. He saw nonviolence as connected to the nature of God and the new reality emerging into the world from God.
The perfect display of this was when Jesus was going to his death. One of his disciples cuts off the ear of the servant of the high priest with a sword. Jesus tells him to put the sword away. Jesus puts down the sword and picks up the cross.
It is interesting to note is that Jesus demands the same thing of those who follow him when he calls his disciples to take up their cross. His call is about living a life of sacrifice. His call is about putting down the sword, giving up entitlement, and having the same attitude of Christ Jesus.
This idea was embraced by the early Christians who refused to pick up the sword. Those who were a part of the early Church refused to fight under the Banner of any nation. They recognized that the banner of Jesus was the banner of peace, love, and nonviolence.
Throughout history there are many examples of men and women who have resisted evil, in all forms, in nonviolent fashion. Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. He led a movement that was rooted in nonviolence, and he led a movement that changed the course of a nation.
More recently the Velvet Revolution overcame oppression and a communist regime in Czechoslovakia. The movement was started by students who staged a peaceful demonstration. Through diplomacy they led a movement that caused the collapse of a rigme. Ghandi faced down the British Empire without a shot being fired. Sister Milar Rocco faced down Philippine soldiers with sandwiches, kindness, and conversation.
The question of nonviolence asks, “What is the preferred outcome in conflict?” Our knee jerk response is often to want to win. If we are honest, our desire is not just to win, but to vanquish our opponent and send them into oblivion. This is the voice of violence that is within us. But Jesus calls us to another way.
The preferred outcome of nonviolence is the peace, redemption, and wholeness of everyone involved. It is not the easy way – in fact it is the way of greater strength. It is easy, even normal, for a person to retaliate when another acts against them with violence. It takes great strength to turn the other cheek. It takes great strength to put down the sword and pick up the cross.
Years ago in Auburn New York, white supremacists organized a Neo-Nazi rally. As one would expect there was vitriolic rhetoric, hateful slogans on banners, racism everywhere, and hundreds of men and women bent on violence. One would think that the situation could not have gotten any uglier, until a crowd of about 2,000 began a protest of the Neo-Nazi rally.
The protest and the protest of the protest quickly turned violent. The crowds began to chase down the white supremacists who were fleeing the scene. Stones, bricks, bottles, and other objects were thrown at them as they sped away in their cars. One woman who was a skinhead was struck in the face by one of these objects, and the crowd closed in on her and began to kick, stomp and beat her.
There is this skinhead. A woman who believes that Whites are the supreme race. A woman whose life is defined by violence. There she lay bloodied and beaten. In the midst of the melee an elderly Jewish man fought his way through the crowd to get to her. When he finally got to her, he did not act violently. Rather he threw himself on top of her, and took the kicks for her.
Jesus taught that God loves everyone, even those who make themselves God's enemies. Jesus even says that we are to bless our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Paul says if our enemy is hungry, we should feed him; if he is thirsty, we should give him something to drink.
The Kingdom of Heaven is a realm in which violence, so common to our world, is superseded. The Kingdom calls its citizens to put down the sword and pick up the cross. Nonviolence is a quality of the Kingdom.
For more on nonviolence I suggest the following articles/books:
Beyond Just War and Pacifism: Jesus' Nonviolent Way
The Myth of Redemptive Violence
The Power of Nonviolence
Nonviolence: The History of a Dangerous Idea
The perfect display of this was when Jesus was going to his death. One of his disciples cuts off the ear of the servant of the high priest with a sword. Jesus tells him to put the sword away. Jesus puts down the sword and picks up the cross.
It is interesting to note is that Jesus demands the same thing of those who follow him when he calls his disciples to take up their cross. His call is about living a life of sacrifice. His call is about putting down the sword, giving up entitlement, and having the same attitude of Christ Jesus.
This idea was embraced by the early Christians who refused to pick up the sword. Those who were a part of the early Church refused to fight under the Banner of any nation. They recognized that the banner of Jesus was the banner of peace, love, and nonviolence.
Throughout history there are many examples of men and women who have resisted evil, in all forms, in nonviolent fashion. Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. He led a movement that was rooted in nonviolence, and he led a movement that changed the course of a nation.
More recently the Velvet Revolution overcame oppression and a communist regime in Czechoslovakia. The movement was started by students who staged a peaceful demonstration. Through diplomacy they led a movement that caused the collapse of a rigme. Ghandi faced down the British Empire without a shot being fired. Sister Milar Rocco faced down Philippine soldiers with sandwiches, kindness, and conversation.
The question of nonviolence asks, “What is the preferred outcome in conflict?” Our knee jerk response is often to want to win. If we are honest, our desire is not just to win, but to vanquish our opponent and send them into oblivion. This is the voice of violence that is within us. But Jesus calls us to another way.
The preferred outcome of nonviolence is the peace, redemption, and wholeness of everyone involved. It is not the easy way – in fact it is the way of greater strength. It is easy, even normal, for a person to retaliate when another acts against them with violence. It takes great strength to turn the other cheek. It takes great strength to put down the sword and pick up the cross.
Years ago in Auburn New York, white supremacists organized a Neo-Nazi rally. As one would expect there was vitriolic rhetoric, hateful slogans on banners, racism everywhere, and hundreds of men and women bent on violence. One would think that the situation could not have gotten any uglier, until a crowd of about 2,000 began a protest of the Neo-Nazi rally.
The protest and the protest of the protest quickly turned violent. The crowds began to chase down the white supremacists who were fleeing the scene. Stones, bricks, bottles, and other objects were thrown at them as they sped away in their cars. One woman who was a skinhead was struck in the face by one of these objects, and the crowd closed in on her and began to kick, stomp and beat her.
There is this skinhead. A woman who believes that Whites are the supreme race. A woman whose life is defined by violence. There she lay bloodied and beaten. In the midst of the melee an elderly Jewish man fought his way through the crowd to get to her. When he finally got to her, he did not act violently. Rather he threw himself on top of her, and took the kicks for her.
Jesus taught that God loves everyone, even those who make themselves God's enemies. Jesus even says that we are to bless our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Paul says if our enemy is hungry, we should feed him; if he is thirsty, we should give him something to drink.
The Kingdom of Heaven is a realm in which violence, so common to our world, is superseded. The Kingdom calls its citizens to put down the sword and pick up the cross. Nonviolence is a quality of the Kingdom.
For more on nonviolence I suggest the following articles/books:
Beyond Just War and Pacifism: Jesus' Nonviolent Way
The Myth of Redemptive Violence
The Power of Nonviolence
Nonviolence: The History of a Dangerous Idea