Peace & Non-Violence
I will never forget watching the anti-war demonstrators go down the Main Street of my city that afternoon, holding signs filled with such hate and disgust for the President and his administration while at the same time demanding peace in the war-torn middle east. Unjust wars or not, how is it possible for us to call for true peace in our world while still harboring hate in our heart?
The truth is: We can't.
The Way of Peace
To live in the way of peace means we have to start from the inside, out. It starts within us where we check out heart and our motives. We align ourselves to Jesus and root ourselves in love of God, ourselves, our neighbors and the world around us."God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9 (NLT ©2007)
"...and with your feet fitted with the readiness
that comes from the gospel of peace."
Ephesians 6:15
Jesus, the King of Peace
Jesus is the servant king, who builds his kingdom by serving others and commands his disciples to do likewise. War and violence, forced capitulation through physical domination, is the antithesis of Jesus' ministry. Jesus teaches us to love our enemies (Matt 5:43-44), to forgive those who sin against us (Matt 18:21-22), and to deny ourselves, carry our cross, and follow him. (Matt 10:37-38). To follow Jesus is to follow a path of servanthood, rather than domination.But let us remember, while we turn the other cheek, this does not mean inaction.
A Different Kind of Battle
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:10-12
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:10-12
We fight for peace and live a life of non-violence while at the same time we never lose site of the unseen around us that wages itself against us. It is here, in prayer and intercession, that we put our angst and frustration. Our prayer is our protest for peace, non-violence and reconciliation.
Resources
» Sojourners Magazine» Jesus For President
» Christian Peacemaker Teams
» Christians for Peace in El Salvador
» Christian Peace Witness
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