Religious Convictions and Peace

I think this'll be my last blog entry—my readership is waning. I’ll probably go back to devotional guides.

But write this blog I must because last Sunday’s sermon was a bit controversial and needs some clarification.

For starters, I don’t really believe in the simplistic statement that religion causes violence. Violent people will use religion and often religious imagery to further inflame misplaced passion. Nonetheless, religion is still implicated; there are religious leaders who misuse religious language to justify and further inflame the violence they desire. Last Sunday, I forgot to change the disagree/agree statement. I used that statement to get you to think and to help us understand that religion, at times, has not been a force for peace and well-being in our world. In fact “being right” is often used to justify the use of might, unfortunately.

Isaiah has a different vision. He believes that when the knowledge of God is at work in our world there will be peace. Whereas many people are inspired by their religious conviction to commit acts of atrocity, Isaiah believes that knowledge—true knowledge of the creator God—is transforming: instruments of war are changed into farming implements.

And I believe we are called to witness to this vision. Remember, its upon us, the church, that “the end of the ages has come” (1 Cor. 10.11). We can’t bring this vision to its completion, that’s God’s job. But we do serve the Prince of Peace who said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be children of God” (Matthew 5.9, NRSV). Our savior did not come into Jerusalem on a painted war horse but on a donkey. He embraced the way of suffering love and calls his disciples to do the same. Let me put it like this: There’s something more important than being right—being reconciled! Oh, if only the church would embrace that statement. I’m not saying we throw truth out the window. Far from it. But in the midst of searching for the truth, we must be reconciling agents in our church and in our world.

Now, one more point of clarification. At this point in my life, I’m not against the use force, period. We might have to conclude that the use of force in a given situation is necessary, perhaps a necessary evil in this broken world. That aside, I want every Christian to embrace the way of peace. Then, when a path of force is being considered, I want all Christians to argue from the stance of peace, i.e., illustrate why love of enemy must be not be followed in this situation. That’s a tall order, but one we must obey. For we were enemies of God, but he made peace with us through the shed blood of his Son. “All of this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5.18, NRSV)

One more thought: we can always disagree and still be brothers and sisters in Christ. Peace!