When the World Isn't Safe Our own sense of self-preservation tells us: If we don't fight to protect our lives and our way of life, evil is going to win. If the fight comes to us, we have no choice but to fight back. What should we do if the fragile shell of peace that we enjoy here fails? Jesus tells us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek. Is that really what Jesus expects of us? Love and Nonresistance God’s Community of Peace Believers believe that God in Christ reconciles people to Himself and to one another, making peace through the cross. The church is a fellowship of redeemed people living by love. Our bond with other believers of Jesus transcends all racial, social, and national barriers. Christian Peacemaking We seek to be agents of reconciliation in all relationships, to practice love of enemies as taught by Christ, to be peacemakers in all situations. We view violence in its many different forms as contradictory to the new nature of the Christian. We believe that the evil and inhumane nature of violence is contrary to the gospel of love and peace. In times of national conscription or war, we believe we are called to give alternative service where possible. Alleviating suffering, reducing strife, and promoting justice are ways This position is surprising. Many people will wrestle with this. “I think this sounds like Jesus—but does this sound like Christians?” The Backstory First three centuries- The vast majority of Christian teaching about war and violence was: Christians do not take lives. God is the giver of life. Fighting violence with violence seems at odds with Jesus' commands. Fourth century- Christianity became legal, and Christians could participate in government like never before. The tension: Jesus commands his followers not to retaliate with violence. Government is instituted by God to restrain evil. Government is justified in using force to do so. Romans 13:4 — authorities are God's servants, sent to punish wrongdoers. How do we navigate this ethical challenge? Just War Theory Christianity developed Just War Theory as an attempt to limit violence: Just cause Right intention Last resort Proportionality Probability of success But in practice: What we thought was a “just cause” may have been driven by another agenda. “Right intention” is difficult to define. “Proportionality” breaks down in a fight. How do we know when we've reached “last resort”? Are we discounting non-violent movements? Are we discounting the possibility that oppressive regimes can be divided and fragile? “Just War was designed to limit war, but too often, it's used to justify it.” So what's the alternative? Pacifism: No killing under any circumstance. No violence under any circumstance. Even if it means: you go to jail your property is taken your family is taken your life is taken The kingdom of God isn't advanced through force. Jesus lived in: tremendous injustice tremendous violence Roman occupation A popular expectation of a Messiah who would lead an army But: Jesus refused to be that kind of Messiah. Peter cuts off the guard's ear. Jesus rebukes Peter. Jesus heals the guard. Jesus tells Pilate: “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it was, my followers would fight.” - John 18:36 Jesus chose the way of suffering. His kingdom doesn't rely on the sword. It doesn't advance through the sword. It is a long game dependent on the gospel and the Holy Spirit turning enemies into family. But does this actually work? Jesus' own people thought this was impractical. Jesus was nailed to a cross. It looked like decisive proof that this way of living doesn't work. If evil isn't resisted, evil wins. “The only thing necessary for the triumph of Evil is that good men do nothing.” - Edmund Burke Jesus' body was sealed in the tomb. But Jesus rose. Evil had done its worst. Jesus triumphed. Roman soldiers became followers. Pharisees became evangelists. Enemies became brothers and sisters. The gospel—not wars—has advanced the reign of Jesus and brought peace between peoples. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. Ephesians 3:14-16, NLT The challenges with pacifism: Being passive can be complicity in evil We are accountable for what we do not do. If harm is coming to our neighbour and we do nothing, we are complicit. Pacifism can become a position of convenience Mennonite history during WWII. Japanese Canadians were interned. Some Mennonite families benefited economically from their suffering. Others sent their sons to war and never saw them return. Alternative service allowed Mennonite boys to come home. Pacifism could look like opportunism rather than principle. Pacifism can become legalism, self-righteousness and idolatry Many Mennonites did serve in times of war. Some served to protect others from injustice. Others served out of patriotism and ethnic nationalism. Churches sometimes failed to distinguish between these motivations. Legitimate use of force by the state can become conflated with violence. Even protest can become spiritually dangerous: healthy protest speaks to justice unhealthy protest becomes a war of words shaming and demonizing people The biggest danger: Pacifism can become the gospel. Our righteousness becomes grounded in commitment to the cause. Jesus becomes merely an example. Christianity becomes a tool for our “Cause.” C.S. Lewis warns against allowing Patriotism or Pacifism to become the most important part of our religion. So where does this leave us? Pacifism is good in theory but can become perverted. Just War Theory is good in theory but can become perverted. Neither should become our gospel. Menno Simons His brother went into battle believing he was serving the cause of Jesus Christ. He was killed by others who believed they were doing the same. This profoundly affected Menno. Menno saw in Jesus' teaching a different way: Love your enemies. Pray for them. Suffer if necessary. Don't contribute to the suffering. Three things: 1. A call to costly peacemaking Going to battle for your country takes tremendous courage. Many pay the ultimate price. If we're going to be peacemakers, we have to be no less courageous and no less willing to pay the price. Desmond Doss Conscientious objector. Saved 75 men. Never fired a shot. Never even carried a gun. Jesus The ultimate example of costly peacemaking. He went to war with evil. He paid the ultimate price. We're not perfect. But we're called to grow into the character of Christ. If we're followers, we should follow. 2. A call for wisdom Pacifism can seem attractive because it is an all-or-nothing solution. But we cannot be passive or complicit when evil is being done. Government has a legitimate role in restraining and punishing evil. Distinguish: violence driven by hate force established to restrain evil Legitimate force can easily become hateful violence. Therefore: devotion to the Word sensitivity to the Spirit persistence in prayer support of the church community godly wisdom As a church: We want to be a peacemaking church. We don't shun people who serve in uniform. We honour them. We pray that God would use them to restrain evil. 3. A call to walk in faith Much war and violence happens to protect the future. The fear: If we don't act, evil will win. If we don't strike first, we will lose. But we know how the story ends. Evil doesn't win. Justice will be done. God reigns above the nations. Nations rise and fall at his command. Psalm 46:8–11 (NLT) Come, see the glorious works of the Lord: See how he brings destruction upon the world. He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; He is our fortress. God is our fortress. That changes the calculus. Fear can't factor into our decisions in the same way. If Jesus is: risen from the dead ascended to heaven seated at the right hand of the Father coming to judge the living and the dead our future is secure. Jesus is our true hope—not our country or its weapons. Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:17, NLT The hope If conflict comes, may we choose costly and faithful peacemaking. But peacemaking isn't only for times of war. It is something we practice: every day in ordinary interactions with ordinary people. It may be costly. Following Jesus means being brave. Following Jesus means doing hard things. Following Jesus means trusting. We know how the story ends. God wins. Peace will come. Future Self My future self is at perfect peace before the throne of the Lamb. Creation restored. No pain. No sorrow. No death. What would that future self say to us now? Be still and know that the Lord is really God. When the world isn, safe, remember that he is risen. He is with you. He is your fortress. In his power, you will rise. The Prayer of Francis of Assisi: Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek To be consoled as to console, To be understood as to understand, To be loved as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; It is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Discussion & Reflection What was your immediate reaction to Jesus' command to “love your enemies” and “turn the other cheek”? What makes those words difficult for you? The sermon begins with the statement, “The world isn't safe.” What fears or concerns make Jesus' teaching about non-resistance difficult to accept? “I think this sounds like Jesus—but does this sound like Christians?” Why do you think there can be such a difference between Jesus' teaching and the way Christians are perceived? What do you find compelling about the argument that Jesus' kingdom doesn't rely on the sword to exist or advance The sermon says, “But Jesus rose.” How does the resurrection change the apparent failure of Jesus' way of suffering and non-resistance? The sermon identifies three dangers of pacifism: complicity, convenience, and legalism/self-righteousness. Which of these challenges you most? Why? What is the difference between being a peacemaker and being passive in the face of evil? The sermon calls us to costly peacemaking, wisdom, and faith. Which of these three do you find most challenging? What does “peacemaking” look like in ordinary interactions with ordinary people in your life right now? The sermon repeatedly says, “We know how the story ends.” How might greater confidence in God's ultimate victory change the way you respond to fear, conflict, injustice, or your enemies?