Resorting to Violence

“But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”

Matthew 5:44

Dear Friends,

Last week on the news, we heard of the killing of Charlie Kirk, an American, right-wing, political activist, author, and media personality. This has ignited (or renewed) a conversation about the role of violence in society. I am encouraged that most political leaders (both conservative and liberal) have come out denouncing this murder and reaffirming that it has no place in a civilized society and in “political discourse.” As Christians, however, what lens or framework do we use to understand and guide our individual behaviour regarding violence?

If one reads the Bible, one finds many accounts where violence (including murder and slaughter) was done in the name of God. I find this one of the more troubling aspects of many of the stories in the Old Testament where God is credited with killing or destroying multitudes of people (e.g. the Great Flood, the Passover, the conquest of Canaan, and almost every military “victory” achieved by the tribes of Israel or the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. If biblical justification is sought to kill one’s enemies “in the name of God,” there are ample Old Testament texts which can be cited. In the OT, one also finds the admonition “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” as a guideline for an appropriate response (i.e. payback or revenge) to violence that has been perpetrated. (I think it was Mahatma Gandhi who said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and the whole world becomes blind and toothless.”).

As Christians, however, our understanding of God’s intent and desire for humanity is not solely informed by the Old Testament. In the gospels and the rest of the New Testament, we find the story of Jesus whom we believe to be the incarnation, embodiment, and truest revelation of the heart of God. This Jesus never resorts to violence and invites—not forces--people to participate in the kingdom of God whose primary dynamic is love: compassion, empathy, forgiveness, caring, service, humility, community, peace, joy, hope (and the list goes on). Of course, the clearest example of Jesus’ new way is Jesus’ choice to be arrested, tortured and killed on the cross instead of using his power to overthrow the religious and secular leaders who were perpetrating this violence. Some say that his death was needed to somehow appease a wrathful God who needed a “perfect victim” to keep God from executing “justice” on all of us sinful people. Instead, I see Jesus’ willingness to die as the revelation of the depth of God’s love for us. Period.

As I try to bring this conversation home to us here at FLC in Calgary, I return to the list of Faith Practices which are the verbs that describe the Christian life: WORSHIP, PRAY, SERVE, STUDY, GIVE, INVITE, and ENCOURAGE. In this conversation, encourage is the practice that applies. To encourage is to give heart to, to build up, to seek the well-being of the other. We usually think of it as saying encouraging words. This means instead of saying words that tear down, destroy, discredit, dishonor, humiliate, shame or in some other way diminish someone else, the practice is to learn how to speak the truth in love so that the other person is honored, respected, and invited to a more loving way of being. Whew! That is not easy. It takes practice. It means learning not to say things out of anger, hatred, revenge or hurt, but—through the power of the Holy Spirit—saying things that seek justice and love. It means not resorting to violence in what we say! When we practice encouragement and love with what we say, it equips us to live lives of encouragement and love in what we do!

I’m counting on none of you to go out and murder someone you don’t agree with. I also invite you to not murder people with what you say. Every day, every moment, every encounter with someone else is an opportunity to put a little more love, encouragement, goodwill into our society and this world.

What do you say?

Peace,

Pastor Phil