Violence Makes Losers of Us All
There was a song by the Cranberries ... yes, the Cranberries, remember them? It is a lyric from their song "War Child" that has stuck with me ever since I first heard it. They sing,
At times of war we're all the losers / There's no victory.
How true those words are. Some find them hard to believe, for we have been fooled into believing that violence is a respectable solution for problems in our world. What we fail to see is the many problems that violence brings with it. Violence brings more violence, hurt, fear, anger, a desire for revenge, death and enmity.We don’t like to think about all this, so we sanitize violence.
Television is filled with violent images that seem normal. Characters on the TV shoes encounter it without flinching. However, if we encountered the death and carnage that we see on TV in our real world we would need years of therapy just to cope.
If any of this becomes to much to bear in our thinking, we reassure ourselves by saying that we are the “good guys” fighting an “evil foe.” We convince ourselves that our use of violence is justified, and our enemy’s use of violence is evil. But we never can seem to remember that everyone who fights does so because they think they are the “good guys.”
And so our violence, as good as we think it is, is believed to be evil by the other. Their desire to stop our evil is just as strong as ours, and violence only increases. It will never bring peace. Violence is itself a great evil. This is why Scripture always speaks of violent people and violence as something undesirable. It will always lead to a path of destruction, for both the victim and the perpetrator of violence.
This can be seen most clearly in the recent events in Afghanistan. On Sunday, an unnamed U.S. Soldier murdered sixteen Afghan civilians – including children (read the story here). On the American side questions are rising due to the fact that this is not the first soldier from his base to commit atrocities. Congress wants an investigation, rightfully so, and the world is outraged.
This is what violence does. I cannot imagine what it would be like to live, like this soldier, each day ready to kill or be killed in a world of violence. Stationed in a foreign land in a war that began in retaliation for crimes committed against us when evil men flew planes into buildings in our country.
So we invaded their country, and have killed many of their people. This one particular soldier, seemingly unable to handle it all, snapped and did some killing of his own. Now, the Taliban has vowed revenge, and why wouldn’t they? Violence begets violence.
As I read these articles there was one picture that summed it up for me. 
It is a picture of a man pointing to the bodies of those murdered by this American soldier. His eyes are filled with tears that speak of fear, outrage, suffering, and pain. This is the only thing that violence can bring.
Which causes me to ask another question, “If someone were to come into your neighborhood and murder sixteen of your friends and family, what would you want to do?”
While some will no doubt condemn the Taliban for the revenge they will exact, my hope is that they will only be able to see their reflection. For one thing that violence can teach us is: When we participate in violence and revenge we become more like our enemy than we’d ever like to admit.
My hope is that the people of God will find common ground, not in violence, but in weeping with the troubled man in this photograph. For violence never produces winners, but makes us all losers.
Learning More about Politics
This STOP sign is so small it feels like more of a suggestion than something I have to actually obey. #shrunkinthewash
Don't Stop "Stop Kony"
I’ve heard a lot about the Kony 2012 Campaign. It was introduced by a thirty-minute film narrated by Jason Russel and produced by Invisible Children (click here to watch the film). In just a few short days it has received more than 50 million hits. It has been trending on Twitter for days, and it doesn't appear to be going away anytime soon.
Joseph Kony is the leader of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), which has been responsible for the abduction, torture, rape and brainwashing of more than 30,000 children. Due to his crimes Kony tops the International Criminal Court's list of most wanted criminals.
The Stop Kony film documents the plight of children who are or have been in danger of abduction by Kony, and highlights just who Joseph Kony is. The film concludes by suggesting a way to stop Kony. The attempt is to make him famous.
So famous that he, and his crimes, will become common knowledge in the minds of Americans. The filmmakers believe this will put pressure on the American government to continue to pursue Kony with the hopes of catching him and ending the brutal legacy of the LRA.
This campaign then seems to be an attempt to raise awareness in America of a problem that has gone on far too long. One would think this would be applauded and cheered on by everyone. Except it hasn’t. It’s generated a tremendous amount of criticism.
Many have raised valid concerns over the campaign. Michael Wilkerson who wrote an guest post on the Foreign Policy Blog titled “Joseph Kony is Not in Uganda (and Other Complicated Things).” Many others have raised their voices in criticism of the campaign. Rachel Held Evans has compiled Some resources on the Invisible Children controversy.
While many have been quick to critique the movement, few (if any) are giving solid alternatives for helping in any way. Perhaps a better response would be to spend less energy on criticism, and put more energy into leveraging the energy, will and enthusiasm of millions of people. Whether you agree or disagree with Invisible Children and the premise of the film is not the point.
While I do not know Jason Russell and all those at Invisible Children, they have done an unbelievable job at raising awareness. The overwhelming response to this film goes to show the willingness and desire of many to respond to global issues.
Rather than abandon the entire campaign there is a great opportunity here to do much more. If you are a faith leader, blogger, activist or someone with a lot of passion about global issues - the Stop Kony Campaign has served up an opportunity. With this in mind, here are some thoughts that move beyond criticism:
Leverage It
Everyone that I have asked about the campaign today has heard about it. It has taken off, catching the attention of millions of people who are ready and willing to do something. Rather than discourage their enthusiasm through criticism, we ought to leverage it. Don’t let people stop with just the Kony 2012 Campaign. There is more they can do and will do. Right now their energy and passion is high and eager, so invite now them to learn more, do more and serve more.
Education
This is crucial. Many, in their eagerness to address issues as glaring as extreme poverty rush right in to help. Their eagerness flows from their compassion, but without education it can do more harm than good. So where do you start? This is a good and challenging question. One needs education just to know what education exists. Here are a few places that you can go to learn more, not only about Uganda, but about issues related to global poverty. Beyond this, there are educators who are willing to speak, share, teach, and educate large groups.
Empower and Mobilize
No great movement happens with a few leading the many. It is always about the many, being empowered and mobilized to lead the few. Nearly every time I speak with someone they ask me “What can I do?” From leading your own campaign, to raising awareness, to educating others, to traveling and serving the opportunities are endless. Here are a few organizations that you can join with to help.
No doubt, you have more suggestions on how to get involved. So I ask, please email me with more ideas. Together we can leverage, educate, empower, and mobilize one another and see real, lasting, healing change come to our world.
Civil Political Discourse
Civil political discourse is hard to find these days. For the most part people only want to be heard. In our overly politicized culture, nearly every issue is quickly divided down partisan lines. If there is a problem one side blames the other, and rarely admits they have any fault in the matter.
The clamor and vitriol increase as Election Day draws closer. This is why I have enjoyed the approach of Relevant Magazine. They have featured several Op-Ed pieces in which people speak about why they hold the political views they do.
For once it is not a diatribe against another party or candidate, nor is it another article where someone speaks about what they are against. These five pieces are from authors who simply state why they are Libertarian, Democrat, Republican, Non-Voter, or Independent.
It is refreshing to read these various viewpoints that communicate what these writers are for. While you may not agree with all (or any) these articles, they are worth the read. If only to serve as a rare example of civil political discourse.
+Continue Reading: Libertarian, Republican, Democrat, Non-Voter, and Independent.
The Agony and Freedom of Forgiveness
“I think forgiveness is a great idea, until you have someone to forgive,” and so begins the fifth film of the series of short films with Ed Dobson titled “Ed’s Story.”
On March 18 at Denver Community Church, we will explore this idea more deeply. Together discovering that forgiveness is painful and agonizing. In fact, it is experiencing a loss. Yet, as bad as it seems it is the practice of liberating yourself.
The only thing worse than giving forgiveness is asking for it. By doing so you place yourself into a position of absolute powerlessness. However, like giving forgivenss, asking forgiveness is also to set yourself free.
Take some time to watch the trailer, and maybe watch all of Ed’s film on forgiveness. Prepare yourself for the agony and freedom that await us all when we forgive.
Becoming Those We Hate
Late last week Rush Limbaugh made awful, derogatory comments about Georgetown law student Sandra Fluke. Since then, it is has been a top story on all the major news outlets. Limbaugh’s comments have drawn the ire of many, and several companies have chosen to no longer advertise on his show.
People have quickly taken sides on this ugly situation, which has only made things uglier. It’s been fascinating to see how things continue to devolve. The irony is that those who are shouting the loudest on both sides are the same ones becoming like those they are criticizing.
Those who are angry with Limbaugh have wasted no time calling him names. What they fail to realize is that as soon as they make a derogatory comment about Limbaugh, they have in that moment become like him. It’s hard to believe this, but it is true.
Anytime, anyone slanders another or rips her apart using hateful words it is wrong. While it can feel good to destroy Limbaugh with our words, they must remember that he is deeply loved by God as one who is fearfully and wonderfully made.
If they are to be upset about anything, it should be his words. When it comes to Limbaugh himself he is to be loved. When it comes to a heart that is capable of speaking about another the way he has done, they should have sorrow for him that produces compassion.
Many who are for Limbaugh immediately began to praise him for standing his moral ground. They have supported him, his show, and condoned his behavior. They believe that all is fair in love and war. Since many have convinced themselves that they are in a war for their religious rights, using slurs against a young woman is well within the bounds of fairness.
What they fail to see is that fear-based, hateful rhetoric directed toward another person is not from God. The God that these people claim to worship “is Love.” The same God who deeply loves Limbaugh also sees Fluke as his valuable, cherished daughter crafted in his image and likeness.
If they are to be worried about anything it should not be legislation that is taking placeoutside of the Church, but the embrace of fear and hate that is taking place inside the Church. It is not a war against the Church that will destroy it. It is the response of those who are a part of the Church that will. When Jesus was met with hatred and opposition he wept. When those who hated him killed him, he asked his Father to forgive them.
Any time the Church is confronted by something that is perceived as a threat, the best response is to imitate Jesus in our embrace and radical love of those who pose the threat. When the Church responds with hate and attacks they are only becoming like those who they believe are attacking them.
No doubt, this saga is far from over. As it continues, every time a person from one side throws out angry, hateful words they only become more like those they are against. In the end, it may just be near impossible to tell them apart.
