Tag Archives: peace

When the fighting will stop

1 Reply

“He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.”

That’s the first part of Isaiah 2:4, the verse I quoted from yesterday. It’s interesting to me that even in this view of the Messiah’s kingdom, there will be disputes between people and a need to mediate between nations. I don’t know that Isaiah is literally saying that people will continue to find reasons to fight in the realized kingdom, but it does show how deeply ingrained in the human psyche is the desire to fight.

I’m frankly pessimistic about the possibility of human beings to eliminate wars, particularly disputes over territory. There are few places left on earth that don’t have multiple groups that can claim historic rights to that territory. Texas boasts of having existed under six different flags (though that’s only because the Native Americans didn’t use flags!). If you think about it, any of those groups can say, “This land used to belong to us; it is still rightfully ours.” (Well, I don’t know that the Confederacy would do that) That happens time and again in our world, with war being the result in most cases.

Those who have what they want insist that the status quo should be preserved. Those that have lost territory ask that historic ownership rights be preserved. And I don’t see any end to this.

Until one day, when the Lord will judge between the nations and settle disputes for many peoples.

Photo from Wikimedia

Plowshares and pruning hooks

3 Replies

“They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.”

(Isaiah 2:4)

Aren’t those beautiful images?
We’re followers of the Prince of Peace. That’s what we’re supposed to be working for in this world.

A House Divided

4 Replies

In the last post, we explored a bit the concept of the Kingdom of God as an actual nation. I want to continue to discuss this idea. In a recent post, Patrick Mead discussed some of the implications of rebellion and Christians taking part in such. He wrote: “I cannot imagine a situation in which it would be right for me to call upon my congregation to take up arms and fire upon our own soldiers or policemen.”

As some who commented on the last post pointed out, this same reasoning needs to be applied to our Christian nation. Isn’t it even more inconceivable that members of the same family, the same body, the same holy nation should take up arms against one another? “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another…” unless you find it necessary to shoot one another. Really? Is that what we really believe?

If we understand the fact that we Christians form a single nation, the idea of us taking up arms against one another becomes unthinkable. A house divided against itself cannot stand. We cannot demonstrate love for one another while attempting to kill one another.

Our highest allegiance must be to our true citizenship, to the heavenly nation that we form a part of. The world will never see that as long as we place earthly nationalism above heavenly loyalty. Christians must refuse to place themselves in a situation where they could be called upon to attack fellow Christians.

Honoring Those Who Refused To Serve

2 Replies
Conscientious Objector Memorial in London

Conscientious Objector Memorial in London

Once containing a relatively large nonviolence faction, Churches of Christ are now more conflicted. Contemporary Churches of Christ, especially those that hold with the teachings of David Lipscomb, tend toward pacifist views. This means that they believe that the use of coercion and/or force may be acceptable for purposes of personal self defense but that resorting to warfare is not an option open to Christians.

(From the Wikipedia article on “Peace Churches“)

Not to question a reputable source like Wikipedia, but I think their description leaves the idea that a large percentage of churches of Christ have pacifist tendencies. While this was true up until World War II, since then pacifism has not been popular in mainstream churches of Christ. (Some of the smaller movements in our brotherhood have held to this tradition, particularly among the non-institutional brethren)

With yesterday being Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor those who served, I think that we Christians would be negligent not to honor a courageous group among us: those who chose not to serve because of their faith. As I said, this was more common in churches of Christ  before World War II. Still, the number of men from churches of Christ who have chosen imprisonment, work camps, etc. because of their faith numbers in the hundreds if not thousands.

At some point, we in the church should stand up and honor these men as heroes of the faith. These are the ones that said, “I’m willing to suffer for what I believe.” They were ridiculed. They were imprisoned. They were treated harshly. Dare we call it persecution? I’m sure that some of them suffered the effects of that decision for the rest of their lives.

As I have written before, we live in a militarized society. It seems normal to us. If we do not teach our children that there is another option, that there is a different path that men of faith have chosen, they won’t even know to ask the questions that need to be asked.

We can’t wait for our government to honor such men. It’s not going to happen. We shouldn’t wait for society as a whole to embrace those who have taken a stand for their faith. It’s up to us. Not surprisingly, it will require us to go against the norms of our culture. I think our church will only be stronger if we recognize those that have had the courage to take a stand for their faith.

Memorial Day

3 Replies

 

gravestoneI have lots of questions about the wisdom of Christians participating in the military. Some of those I’ve voiced here in the Kitchen, others I haven’t.

At the same time, I have nothing but respect for the people who have served in the military (and serve, I should add). I may not agree with their decision, but I respect it and admire them for their courage. Few of them have done so out of selfish motives; many did so out of a sense of duty and real desire to protect the things that they value.

Lots of friends and family members have served in the military, both here and in other countries. I lost an uncle in World War II. The toll that took on my family, especially my grandmother, was enormous. My grandmother had 6 sons in the military. She bore a tremendous burden.

Today is not a day to argue the rights and wrongs of military service. Today is a day to remember those who have paid the terrible cost of losing a loved one in war. May our prayers surround them.

My Father and my God, I thank you for your Son who paid the price for our freedom. Today, as so many remember those who have died in the wars of this world, I pray for those around the globe who have lost loved ones to that horror. Surround them with your comfort. Father, please bring peace to our world. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

 

{photo by Daniel Wildman, sxc.hu}