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    Feb 05, 2017

    Being a Christian Witness in Violent Time

    Passage: Matthew 5:43-48

    Speaker: Rev. Dr. David Highfield

    Category: Current Events

    Christians are followers of Jesus and people of the Bible. We work to beat swords into iron plows so "Nation will not take up sword against nation; they will no longer learn how to make war." (Isaiah 2:4). We are people of peace and non-violence who work to bring justice, healing and wholeness to a sometimes violent world. God relies on us to be peacemakers.

    Scripture Texts:  Isaiah 53:1-9; Ephesians 2:14-16; Matthew 5:43-48

    1. Teach children and youth non violence in our homes.
    Jesus had a preference for those on the margins. Jesus and children in Luke 18. I think of it as the children of the world, who, according to Jesus, represent the Kingdom of God. Be a Christian, wise, and kind teacher of nonviolence for your children. Invite children to learn about role models for peace - Jesus, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Desmond Tutu.

    Mom and Dad fighting in the home. This teaches that violence is OK. Do not buy violent war games, videos, toys, or movies. Violent video games, violent media desensitizes and can cause children and youth to become aggressive. What are your children watching? The need for boundaries as well as praise and attention.
    Teach non-violent conflict resolution - talking and negotiating, using a third party to help resolve the conflict, walking away, and so forth. The biblical model for this is in Matthew 18:15-17 where Jesus teaches us how to proceed if a brother or sister sins against you.

    Early experiences mold us into adulthood. [My home environment] What Christian morals and values were you taught by word and action? Teach them to your children, by talking about them when you are sitting around your house and when you are out and about, when you are lying down and when you are getting up. (Deut. 11:19)
    Speaking of our homes - guns. Princeton University research publication: Each year 20,000 children and youth under the age of 20 are killed or injured by firearms in the United States. Most of these guns were in or from the home.

    Violence begins with thoughts, with words, with hate, then with violent behavior. Sometimes weapons are involved. Although they are not the cause of violence, it makes sense to me to have guns in the home locked and inaccessible to our children and youth.

    Some observe that, in terms of behavior, Christians are no different than anyone else. One way we can make a difference is by teaching and showing nonviolent lives in our homes and raising our children to love God and love others in their words and actions, nonviolently, because they and we are followers of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
    From the musical South Pacific...
    You've got to be taught to hate and fear
    You've got to be taught from year to year
    It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear
    You've got to be carefully taught

    You've got to be taught to be afraid
    Of people whose eyes are oddly made
    And people whose skin is a diff'rent shade
    You've got to be carefully taught

    You've got to be taught before it's too late
    Before you are six or seven or eight
    To hate all the people your relatives hate
    You've got to be carefully taught

    My lyrics:
    You've got to be taught to love and relate
    You've got to be taught before it's too late
    To follow the Master and get rid of hate
    You've got to be carefully taught.

    2. Forgive and heal divisions
    A vital path to nonviolence for Christians is forgiveness because choosing forgiveness rather than retaliation or revenge is the way of Jesus and forgiving makes us stronger, freer persons. Forgiveness does not subvert justice. Forgiveness may not be easy, but it is a nonviolent response in the spirit of Jesus who forgave Peter who denied him, who forgave the thief on the cross next to him, and who forgave whose who crucified him.
    Matthew 5:23-24 "First make things right with your brother or sister, then come and worship."

    2015 Charleston SC massacre of Christians participating in a bible study. " I acknowledge that I am very angry,” said the sister of DePayne Middleton-Doctor who was among those killed. “But one thing that DePayne always enjoined in our family … is she taught me that we are the family that love built. We have no room for hating, so we have to forgive.”

    Concrete, practical suggestions for being a Christian witness in violent times:
    +Prayer
    +Forgiving
    +Avoid hateful language and hateful name calling. Civil discourse, respect, politeness, humility.
    +I find it helpful to limit my exposure to negative news, negative political commentary and negative social-media interactions. [I made the mistake of watching a 6pm Baltimore TV newscast.]
    +Humor, carefully applied, can sometimes defuse situations that might turn violent. Keeping our sense of humor can also help sustain our desire as Christians to live non-violently and not become discouraged, fearful or depressed.

    Building relationships. Small groups. Table fellowship, especially with those who are different than me. Communion today. The Ephesians reading focuses on reconciliation.

    I believe those who follow Jesus can live without defensive violence and without retaliation.
    Refer to Isaiah reading - punishment, wounds, oppressed, torment, suffering... "though he had done no violence."

    As Martin Luther King Jr. reminded us, nonviolence is not a method for cowards. It does not seek to defeat or humiliate, but to win friendship and understanding. Nonviolence refuses to hate but desires to love in sacrifice, in action, in community.

    I am a follower of the God of Jesus, a God of sacrificial love, of grace and forgiveness.

    3. Be active peacemakers
    A Reading from the Gospel: John 13:34-35 “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. 35 This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.”
    [My Quaker background. ]

    We are to live the way Jesus did and taught - as a sign of the approaching reign of God. We are the church of Jesus Christ, people of non violence. Our Christian love is rooted deeply in Jesus, who gave himself on the cross, suffering a violent death at the hands of those who feared the way of Jesus, yet never returned violence with violence. Then came resurrection. The powers of death, violence, and evil were overcome and can be overcome again. We are people of faith, partners with the living God, followers of the resurrected Christ!

    1 John 5:3-5 "3 This is the love of God: we keep God’s commandments. God’s commandments are not difficult, 4 because everyone who is born from God defeats the world. And this is the victory that has defeated the world: our faith. 5 Who defeats the world? Isn’t it the one who believes that Jesus is God’s Son?"

    We're talking about the Kingdom of God, a new way of life, a new way of nonviolence and peace, announced and lived out by Jesus... A kingdom where God's will is done, where oppression, evil, and violence will be overcome, and all of humanity will be reconciled to God. World peace.

    Street violence. Prison violence. War. Domestic abuse. Bullying, Sandy Hook, Syria, Chicago, Baltimore, Quebec City.

    There has never been a more important time for the people of God to counter violence in all forms by actively living nonviolent, peaceful, compassionate, loving, lives and encouraging others to do the same.
    Jesus' sermon on the mount is meant for the people of God that live out the kingdom way of life. "Happy are people who are humble; happy are people who show mercy; happy are people who make peace; you are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world; be sure to make friends quickly with your opponents; you must not oppose those who want to hurt you; love your enemies and pray for those who harass you." I challenge you to read Matthew 5-7 for the first time again.
    Christians are followers of Jesus and people of the Bible. We work to beat swords into iron plows so "Nation will not take up sword against nation; they will no longer learn how to make war." (Isaiah 2:4). We are people of peace and non-violence who work to bring justice, healing and wholeness to a sometimes violent world. God relies on us to be peacemakers. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said, “Put the sword back into its place. All those who use the sword will die by the sword. (Matthew 26:52) And Jesus was led off to trial, humiliation, abuse, and death. There were tears in God's eyes. But then came resurrection and the living Christ with the words, "Peace be with you."
    Against the status quo. Remember, Jesus as the Prince of Peace, was also a revolutionary and trouble maker! This is our Christian witness.

    This is the Kingdom of God. Live out the Gospel more fully. Nonviolence means discipleship, following Jesus. Intentional Christian community! Radical Christianity!

    I believe that nonviolence is the spiritual life. Along with serving the least of these, it is the highest expression of the Christian faith. It is also the work of a lifetime.

    Conclusion
    Offering our Christian witness as nonviolent followers of Jesus is not always easy. But we can be confident that God is with us, through the temptations, through the valleys, through the discouragements.
    David Thomas anthem "You Are Mine" (Isaiah 43) : "Fear not, I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine. Fear not, you are mine. When you walk through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire, you shall not be burned, and flames shall not consume you. Fear not, you are mine."

    The world into which you will walk as you exit this building is overcome by occasional evil and violence. This is the world that is so much in need of the witness of this congregation, the people of God, followers of Jesus the Christ, Christian people who live nonviolently, peacefully, in love with God and your neighbor. Nonviolence is a way of life to be lived. Violence erupts in moments of hatred but peace is created in long years of love. Don't be afraid but be determined to teach children and youth, to forgive and heal relationships, to be peacemakers. Don't be discouraged but be strong in the Spirit.

    John 16:33
    I’ve said these things to you so that you will have peace in me. In the world you have distress. But be encouraged! I have conquered the world.”