Today in honor of the catastrophe that took place at Pearl Harbor, a Christian Church I attended took a - and I quote - "detour from our missions moment" to read about war and the honor that it is for young men to learn to shoot a gun and unite against a "common enemy", to protect the USA.
I sat there in disbelief. Are we not citizens of the Kingdom of God? Was Jesus just not clear enough about what that Kingdom is about? As I listened to the message that followed I was glad to hear an acknowledgment that the ways of the Kingdom of God are not that of our culture many times. The message addressed issues of disbelief, faith and doubt. Are we so sure that we can preserve our way of life, comfort and freedom better than Jesus? Do we not believe that God will lead us, teach us and do what is best for us? Or are we just afraid of what God would allow to happen to us if we simply obeyed, followed Jesus in His way and lived by the ways of the Kingdom of God rather than of this world. I think we all realize that there are many who do and don't live through it.
A life of faith is not one that guarantees safety and freedom or comfort or popularity. It does not promise acceptance, it doesn't even promise food on the table. Regardless of what happens, a life of faith is about following Jesus (a homeless man, living below the poverty line, outcast by religious leaders, killed by his country for his teachings, claiming to be the Son of God - living and dying so that we could learn a better way) no matter what.
I am honestly baffled many times by the things that are embraced by the Body of Christ. I am looking to be part of a community of believers who are open to conform to the ways of the Kingdom of God, even if it means challenging those things that we have always thought to be o.k. - even if it means standing alone, against the masses and proclaiming the Good News.
Following Jesus, we are promised glory and the presence and peace of God. Often this means just staying on course, not taking detours that are presented to us as a better way.
Here are some things said by mentors of mine on the issue of peace.:
We have placed such idolatrous faith in our ability to protect ourselves that we call it more courageous to die killing than to die loving. - Shane Claiborn, The Irresistible Revolution, 286
It’s even more scandalous to think of killing someone who kills, for they, more than anyone in the world, need to hear that they are created for something better than that. - Shane Claiborn, Jesus for President, 205
So even as we see the horror of death, may we be reminded that in the end, love wins. Mercy triumphs. Life is more powerful than death. And even those who have committed great violence can have the image of God come to life again within them as they hear the whisper of love. May the whisper of love grow louder than the thunder of violence. May we love loudly. – Jesus for President, 205
Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for those who live by the sword, die by the sword." Matt 26:52.
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth... Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy... Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Matt 5:5-9.
"But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same." Luke 6:27-32
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