After studying the texts of the Bible intensively (and personally testing its various teachings radically) for the past eleven+ years of my life, at least one Truth has remained constant — folks (Christian & non-Christian alike) can pretty much use the Bible to justify whatever behaviors they want to justify.

*On the one hand, the verses in the Bible can be used (and many times HAVE been used) to justify or accept (or sometimes even openly encourage) the following quite wicked behaviors: murder (Deuteronomy 13:6-10 et al) … sex slavery (Exodus 21:1-11) … animal cruelty (Genesis 1:26) … human sacrifice (Judges 19:22-29) … child abuse (Judges 11:29-40) … rape (Deuteronomy 22:28 et al) … infanticide (Hosea 13:16) … polygamy (Genesis 4:19 et al) … human slavery (Leviticus 25:44-46 & Ephesians 6:5 et al) … homophobic bigotry (Leviticus 20:13) … antisemitism (Matthew 27:7 & 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16) … racism (Deuteronomy 23:3 & Nehemiah 13:3) … the denigration of women (Genesis 3:16 & 1 Corinthians 14:33-35 et al) — and, most poignant to today — Memorial Day, the violent & even genocidal destruction of our enemies (Deuteronomy 2:32-35, Numbers 31:7-18, Joshua 6:20-21, 1 Samuel 27:8-9 et al).

*And on the other hand (or on the other Heart, I should say), there is The Way of Jesus Christ — a clarion call for us to show radical Love in the face of great fear, and a sacred summons for us to show radical nonviolence in the face of great anger … And the verses that champion this dramatically Peace-full alternative are not exclusively announced by Jesus Christ. “Vengeance is mine, saieth the Lord” comes from the Old Testament in Deuteronomy 32:35 … “Bless those who persecute you … Beloved, never avenge yourselves … If your enemies are hungry, feed them … Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with Good” comes from the writings of Paul in Romans 12:14-21 … and “Judgment will be without mercy for those who show know mercy; for mercy triumphs over judgment” comes from James in James 2:13.

And yet when it comes to announcing The Peaceful Way in the texts of the Bible, Jesus is undoubtedly a Master of no equal — speaking with the greatest passion of a Way of dealing with conflict and enmity & evil that is as mind-blowing as it is Soul-opening. It is a Way where the suns shines on the wicked just as much as the good (Matthew 5:45), a Way where all trespassers are forgiven “seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:22), a Way where those who live by the sword die by the sword (Matthew 26:52), a Way where we are all to “become again as children” (Matthew 18:3), a Way where we are to have the courage to deeply & actively be Kind to our enemies (Matthew 5:40-48), a Way where as such, it is the makers of peace who are blessed (Matthew 5:9).

Now I could bring forth dozens — even hundreds — more of these “proofs” for both of these very different schools of thought on Love & war, and yet more than enough contrasting verses have been provided to at the very least prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that there clearly are two very different dogmas with the Bible’s pages — one that champions judgment & condemnation & violence (what some sometimes thinly veil as “self-defense” or “just warfare”), and the other that champions unconditional forgiveness & humble acceptance while encouraging selfless compassion & courageous self-sacrifice & active non-violence.

And how ironic it is that so many conservative Christians who call themselves “literalists” choose to blatantly ignore (or reinterpret or excuse) Jesus’ summons for us to show radical Peace to our enemies in order to support their own lusts for retaliation against them … And how ironic as well that so many progressive Christians (& even so many non-Christians) are actually walking Jesus’ Peace-full Way far more literally than their evangelical counterparts.

As most of you are aware, by far the majority of Americans profess to at least officially believe in the contents of the Bible, and as I have pointed out above, its verses are diverse enough to provide room for just about everybody — from the most aggressive war-hawk to the most selfless pacifist.

And yet when I look at this incredible diversity of belief within the pages of the Bible itself, I am left to wonder — not whether Christians CAN abandon Jesus’ call to become agents of Peace-full nonviolence in this world and choose to support of war and retribution and “self-defense” instead … but rather WHY they choose to do so … And, seeing as how violence only begets violence & enmity only begets enmity & force only begets force — and seeing as how I do so long for a world where others choose to Forgive instead of fracture and show Acceptance instead of aggression — I am also left to wonder: What can I do to get them to choose the Peaceful Way?

Rest assured, if there is such a thing, I will do it.

“But I say to you that listen: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on one cheek, turn for them the other; and from anyone who takes away your coat, give them your shirt as well … Be merciful, just as my Father is merciful.” ~ Jesus Christ (Luke 6:27-36)

Filed under: The War on WAR by Scaughdt