VII. “Put your sword back in its
place…” Matthew 26:52
From the Law:
“Anyone who kills a human being shall be put
to death.” Leviticus 24:17
“Anyone
who maims another shall suffer the same injury in return: fracture for fracture,
eye for eye, tooth for tooth; the injury inflicted is the injury to be
suffered.”
Leviticus 24:19, 20
“Vengeance
is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; because the day
of their calamity is at hand, their doom comes swiftly.” Deuteronomy 32:35
From
the Prophets:
“He
shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they
shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war
anymore.” Isaiah
2:4
Jesus always took the Law to a new level. Jesus fulfilled the Law under the New
Covenant of Agape Love and Grace. So,
the Old Covenant Laws were either negated by the New Law or they were enhanced
by it. Murder was never acceptable to
God (see Cain and Abel). Violence is
never advocated by Jesus:
“You
have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder,’;
and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a
brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother
or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you
will be liable to the hell of fire.” Matthew
5:21-26
and
“You
have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist an
evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on
the right cheek, turn the other also…”
Matthew
5:38-42
Even under the oppression of empire, Jesus
calls for resistance instead of violence.
If we value
the New Covenant Law of Agape and Grace, we
will live Agape and Grace even in conflict.
We will take steps to re-establish relationships, forgive sins and renew
our unity in the body of Christ.
Violence does not heal divisions.
It broadens them. If violence
done to anyone is wrong, then violence done to ANYONE is wrong. It is never the answer. As Doctor King said, “Returning hate for
hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of
stars. Darkness cannot drive out
darkness; only light can do that. Hate
cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” And a mentor of Dr. King, Mahatma Gandhi is
widely reported as saying, “An eye for an eye ends up making the whole world
blind.” We are either people of the
Old Covenant or the Old one, followers of Jesus or not followers of Jesus.
Jesus also commanded His disciples, “And
the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one,” still, when it
came to using the sword, even in His own defense, Jesus condemned it (Luke
22:36 and then 22:47-53. Jesus’
hyperbolic statement about selling the useful and valuable cloak to obtain a sword
was symbolic of the urgency of crisis they were about to face, and the
dangerous nature of it. But when it came
down to it, Jesus rebuked those who geared up for a fight like a mob, and those
who pulled their swords to defend Him, and warned, “for all who take the
sword will perish by the sword,” and then informing that God’s power could
do violence if that was God’s Will, and rebuking those who came out geared up
for a violent clash to unjustly arrest Him.
(please read Matthew 26:47-56) Gearing
up for a fight and inciting a fight are not Kingdom values.
Given that, those who gear up to oppress and
force their will on others are not living Jesus’ Kingdom values. Certainly, those who build up arms to impose
their will on others are not. Having a
weapon for defense of one’s person or household is one thing. Stocking up arms to attack others in their
homes, cars or on public streets is another.
It is never justified.
Jesus, after gathering His army in the face of
Rome in one day, even outnumbering the Centurions who controlled the area, did
not hand out weapons as they gathered in their battle groups of Centuries and
Half Centuries, but instead gave out the Good News and food. (please read Mark 6:30- 44) In the face of oppressive force, it is much
more powerful to restore to the people what has been taken away. Rome weaponized sustenance. Jesus restored it. Empire takes away from those exploited and
oppressed under it. As we have learned
from Jesus and the First Century believers who followed Him, the Black
Panthers, Dr. King and other resistance fighters and groups, arming the people
with wisdom, understanding, daily provisions of food and healthcare, establishing
community and focusing on a common cause is much more powerful toward the
restoration of justice than is the retaliation of violence for violence. Oppressed people becoming like their
oppressors toward the end of taking their place does not end oppression; it
promotes it.
Paul advocated on behalf of fellow slaves
being transported, who escaped because of the shipwreck they all survived. When the Centurions would have killed them,
which was their sworn duty under empire, a Centurion influenced by Paul kept
them from doing it and thus spared the lives of all those on board. Even when it is one’s duty to take a life
under the rules of empire, it goes against the Law of the New Covenant of Agape
and Grace. (Acts 27)
This same Paul would write to the believers in
Rome, the center of empire and its values, “Do not repay anyone evil for
evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends upon
you, live peaceably with all. Beloved,
never avenge yourselves but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written,
‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them;
if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will
heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do
not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:17-21)
Violence is not warranted for those who would
be followers of Jesus, who aspire to live what Jesus taught, commanded and
modeled for us. We cannot be violent AND
be following Jesus. With due respect to
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Malcolm X and others who by whatever means possible sought
to end the horrendous violence done by oppressors in the world, and
acknowledging that I would most probably even be persuaded to follow suit under
certain circumstances, I believe that active, non-violent resistance is still
the better way for those who would resist the evils of empire, its ruthless and
vicious oppression over children of God in the world. Joining in the evil activity does not end it,
but rather perpetuates it in the world in which we live. “If it is possible, so far as it depends
on you, live peaceably with all.”
This is Good News for a world weary of
bloodshed. It is Good News for those who
struggle within themselves with the questions of whether or not to pick up a
sword or gun. It is Good News for those
who have been victims of violence and who have seen, firsthand, what horrible
cost it exacts from so many, especially to the souls of those who perpetrate
it. If violence is off the table, then
we are forced as people of faith and integrity in our faith to look at
alternative avenues for the restoration of peace. We must “sit at the table, prepared by God in
the presence of our enemies.” We are commanded
by God to work toward the things that make for Shalom and the peace that comes
from all people having it. We are forced
to value all people having Shalom (completeness, wholeness and
well-being.) We are forced to “make
justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” We are also called to be advocates for
justice on behalf of others around us in the world. We are forced to heed God’s Will for us that
there be peace and Shalom for ALL. If we
want peace, we must strive for justice and the things that make for peace.” That could be Good News indeed! We are given the parameters that are
acceptable to God! We need only commit to
them and live within God’s Will for us in conflicts and, indeed, every other
part of life. We need only be witness to
them in the world around us and be the salt that flavors that world and light
that illumines that world to the way of peace!
Then, as Jesus promised in His first sermon ever recorded for us, we
peacemakers will be blessed.
This is also Good News for us as stewards of
God’s gifts! The implements of war, the
instruments of violent death have swallowed up the resources of this nation for
a few generations, despite the warnings of Eisenhower and others. We cannot find funding for the equal
education of every child in our nation, for healthcare for all, for food and
clothing and shelter for all, for a living wage for all workers and for so many
other things necessary for all of God’s children to have Shalom, but we always
find trillions of dollars to spend on wars and the implements of war, tax
breaks for billionaires and “incentives” for corporations. These do not make for Shalom for all, but
rather deepen the divides that destroy it and push us toward more violence with
one another in the world. War chosen,
even provoked by any nation instead of developed diplomatic efforts has no
value in the Kingdom of God. Weaponized
Police, informal militias and weapons of mass destruction that can shoot
thirty-three people in as many seconds are not of God. Any corporation or nation that promotes the
creation of such things and puts them in the hands of people on the streets is
not of God. But isn’t it the Good News
for children of God to know that we must do the work to put away war, violence
to individuals and groups and the implements of violence, and use our resources
to instead restore lives of Shalom to all of God’s children? I know it is not good news for those who give
lip service to God but their devotion to empire for their own gain under it,
but it is Good News for all who look for guidance on how to be faithful to
God! We have God’s Will! It is clear!
In order to be in alignment with God’s Will, we must put away violence
and the implements of violence, because violence lies outside the Kingdom of
God, even this part of it, here and now!
The tools of violence are not acceptable in the Kingdom of God, even
this part of it, here and now! God’s
Kingdom is come, God’s Will is to be done in “swords into plowshares and
spears into pruning hooks!” The
resources of violence and death must be repurposed into the things that sustain
life because we live in the Kingdom of God!
Ain’t that Good News, though?
“The time is fulfilled. The Kingdom of God has come near; repent, and
believe in the Good News.” “Put your
sword back in its place.”
