Violence, Violence Everywhere!

I had the privilege this past weekend of actually attending a Youth Annual Conference where there was some substantive offerings for our young people (something I hadn't witnessed in the past). The first workshop I attended was on violence. This got me thinking even more about some swirlings I already had in my head - mainly regarding the war in Iraq. In doing some quick research tonight, I've discovered that XBox's Halo 3 is being tested by our soldiers in Iraq as "recreation." Of course, this is a whole other blog entry, so I won't digress...

Back to task: I have recently found myself still receiving what is, essentially pro-war messages packaged in a different way (but surprisingly still involving country musicians). It seems to me the strategy has changed. I no longer see a direct buffet of support for the war (such as the case was 4 years ago with songs such as Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue). Instead I'm seeing a sentimental use of our soldiers to support the war effort in Iraq. In a popular and prominent e-mail video (I've received it four different sources!) entitled, If I Die Before You Wake, there are images from Iraq as the song progresses. The images the song can conjure up are swept away while the viewer is spoon fed images of troops doing their jobs, a Muslim woman offering the Peace Sign, young faces of Iraqi children and soldiers mourning the loss of fellow soldiers. Let's take a closer look at the song. "I heard about all them folks protestin'/As if I really want this war/But that don't stop me from believin'/There's just some things worth fightin' for." In this instance, the country singer - NOT an American soldier (as it propagates) - seems to ignore the fact that 1) more and more protesters are those family members of soldiers and 2) many protesters are protesting the very fact this war is an unfair, unjust and abusive play of power that, in the end, is using soldiers and, worse, taking their lives. A lot of protesting revolves around the very fact that the protesters care about the soldiers so deeply that it is their desire to end the war before any more young women or men are injured or killed. As for "there's just some things worth fightin' for," what are those things exactly? The song goes on, "...A good look at what God's given us/That we could only understand,/everything is in his hands/All we need is a little faith and trust." Perhaps, this particular country singer should leave his theology where it belongs - on his armchair.

Bad decisions too frequently arise out of fear - fear for our families, for ourselves, for our property. When we are fearful, we are ripe for manipulation by those who promise that, if only we will trust them, they will keep us safe. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, changes our lives. As is often the case, the fear created by these attacks led us to accept policies that offered to reverse our newfound vulnerability. It is essential, however, that as Christians we take a step back from our fear, remembering who it is we ultimately trust, and ask the harder questions aimed at getting to the roots of terrorism. That will help us offer a better response than those that spring only from fear.

History teaches us that few things are more dangerous than the potent combination of religious fervor and nationalistic zeal. The temptation to appeal to God to further our own interest is a blatant misuse of religion. Yet such appeals are too often made from all sides of the political spectrum. Our fears cloud our judgment, and we become ensnared in the civil religion that arises from the marriage of God with national interests and agendas. We are vulnerable to embracing actions and policies that we normally would never consider. As British historian Lord Acton observed, "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely." That observation seems to hold true for countries as well as individuals. Being the world's only "superpower" seems to have had a negative effect on the United States' ability to conduct foreign policy in an ethical manner consistent with international law.

Things aren't about to end in the Middle East. The tension is arising between Iran and the United States. As I type this, many U.S. religious leaders are preparing a delegation to begin the peace talks. For more information on this delegation, which includes The United Methodist Church, and how you can get involved click here. This type of effort gives me great hope and faith. It is too often the case that people don't begin to ask questions about peacemaking until a crisis point is reached - or worse, until after soldiers start to fall. Genuine peacemaking, however, recognizes that conflict can occur any time there is a human encounter (and isn't that hard to avoid?) and it seeks proactively to sow the seeds of peace prior to crisis.

Now, Christ....Jesus the Christ is a fairly well-known guy -- at least he should be in Christian circles and yet, sometimes, it's the last place we find him! Jesus, for some strange reason, is not very well known for his loving presence in spite of war and conflict (so many churches have used Christ as an excuse for war). We are taught from an early age that Jesus died on the cross for everybody. We are also taught that Jesus never attacked a person and didn't encourage his followers to be violent. And now take a hard look at us...

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:43-45) The battle against "evil" in our world sounds good to our ears, but it's not Christlike. He proclaims a revolutionary message, "Love your enemies..." War always says that the enemy is evil, but Jesus takes the reason away, when he says that we should do good to evil ones.

So what is our Christianity? Who is our Christ? How shall we be Christians? What is violence? Who is our God?

In closing, here are some words from another country/folk singer: "Through the ages I have watched all your Holy Wars, your Jihads, your Crusades. I have been used as inspiration; I've been used as an excuse for the murder and the misery you've made. I thought I made it clear in the Bible, in the Torah and in the Qu'ran: what is it in my teaching about loving your enemies that you people don't understand?" (Not In My Name)

A Reflection on Lent

February brings a busy time this year with the season of Lent. However, not everyone knows what Lent is and what its purpose is to accomplish.

Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. Lent originated in the very earliest days of the Church as a preparatory time for Easter, when the faithful rededicated themselves and when converts were instructed in the faith and prepared for baptism. By observing the forty days of Lent, the individual Christian imitates Jesus’ withdrawal into the wilderness for forty days.

What are the “forty” days? Because Sunday is the day of the Resurrection, we skip over Sundays when we calculate the length of Lent. Therefore, in the Western Church, Lent always begins on Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter. In many countries, the last day before Lent (called Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Carnival, or Fasching) has become a last fling before the solemnity of Lent. For centuries, it was customary to fast by abstaining from meat during Lent, which is why some people call the festival “Carnival,” which is Latin for farewell to meat.

Enough explaining the details. What’s the purpose of Lent? What should the Christian feel and how should the Christian respond? We avoid Lent and Holy Week because it isn’t a happy and uplifting time – but to be honest, neither is most of life. Sometimes we come to church all scrubbed up, dressed nicely, with smiles on our faces, and when people ask how we are, we reply that everything is fine and we even boast how wonderful things are – but it’s not truthful at times. Life is not always uplifting, or wonderful, or pleasant, or joyous – but we have been taught the lie that for spiritual people like us, it must be so. So we become play actors. In a sense, we’re hypocrites.

But in this we miss the whole point of the incarnation! God became flesh in Jesus Christ. Jesus faced temptation, he suffered hunger and thirst, and he suffered the agony of crucifixion. Jesus our God did not face these things so that we would be exempt from them. He faced these things so that we would have dignity in them.

The people of this world believe in the power of positive thinking and in happiness, and in believing these things, they are very shrewd. For people of this world have only the present moment, and if they are unhappy in it, they have lost something. But we who are Christians can endure unhappiness and sadness and loneliness and backstabbing and betrayal and friendlessness and poverty and hunger and thirst; we can face mourning and grief and even death, because Jesus faced all those things. As Christians, we know that Jesus’ suffering was his way to glory, and his Crucifixion was the door to his Resurrection. We know that he ascended on high and sits, alive and well, at the right hand of his Father, where he rules over all things. We can face our own crucifixions in life, because we know that we will share in his Resurrection on the Last Day!

On Palm Sunday, there were crowds who cheered Jesus as the King, but where were all those fair-weather friends when Jesus prayed in agony on Gethsemane, and where were they when he hung upon the cross?

Therefore, let us show that we as Christians are not just Jesus’ groupies, we are his friends. Let us be bold to join him, fasting in the wilderness for forty days during Lent. Let us be bold to pray with him in the garden on Maundy Thursday. Let us fearlessly stand at the foot of his cross on Good Friday, so that we may witness his Resurrection and his Ascension, and join in his triumphant reign. And on that Last Day, when Jesus brushes away the groupies, let us be among his true friends, whom he welcomes into his glory.