'Christian' Militia in the News
Most of us, by now, have heard of the bumper sticker going around which reads: "Pray for Obama - Psalm 109:8”. It’s may be a trivial example of how ugly some of us Christians have become in recent years – but it’s also a horrific example. The full passage, which is supposed to elicit satisfying chuckles from us when we look it up, reads “May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow." As my friend likes to say, “yeah, funny… but not in a HA-HA way.”
Unfortunately, Christians are still killing others in the name of Jesus, sometimes with guns (like the eight "patriotic Christians" arrested in Michigan yesterday), sometimes with words (as in the bumper sticker mentioned above). As Eugene Peterson writes, "Do we forget so easily that Jesus equated word-killing and sword-killing?" Jesus' rebuke still holds. It has yet to be rescinded.
The group of “Christian zealots” that was arrested in Michigan were similar to groups all over the place in Jesus’ day. Everywhere you looked there was some group of zealots plotting some kind of violent act. The first followers of Jesus, however, were conspicuously different. Without one exception, they didn’t kill, didn’t use violence, and, as far as we can tell, they didn’t even enter into word-killing or hating people with their speech. The fact that they didn’t kill was all the more remarkable because “in the religious atmosphere of the day it was the most natural thing in the world to do. Why didn’t they?
The simple answer is that they were following the resurrected Jesus, and the Jesus who was now living in them wasn’t killing anyone” (Peterson). I would add, the Jesus who was living in them wasn’t killing anyone with swords or words. That’s what’s so remarkably depressing about hearing these words come out of fellow Christians.
Is it OK to disagree with the political decisions of governmental leaders? Of course. Disagree. Debate. Write. Voice your opinion if you like. Vote the person out of office next election if you want. But there’s no place for hate or for violent words. No place for a Christian to pray for someone’s death - to pray that “his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.” How did we descend to such a depth of depravity? All in the name of God and country? I thought the resurrected Jesus that now lives in us came to bring life, to save, to love, and to bless. I thought his attitude towards his enemies was, “forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” I thought he commanded us to love our enemies. I didn’t know it was just an optional suggestion. I thought that at the very core of the Christian faith was “ENEMY LOVE.” I thought that was a big part of the cross of Christ – part of the main point.
Am I missing something?
Brad, a sincere thank you for the response. i welcome the conviction that comes with it.
to say that i struggle with people using scripture to, in effect, curse individuals, is an understatement.
but i confess the judgement and bitterness i experience in my heart over it is no better.
we all are in utter need of every thing that He offers.
Posted by: jan | April 01, 2010 at 02:50 PM
Dear Jan,
I think you are on to something important. In the name of Christian propriety, sometimes I pretend no one is my enemy and my denial only serves to let contempt, resentment, fear, and hatred fester and leak out in subtle forms.
Sometimes I need to clarify that someone is my enemy (for myself) so that I can clarify exactly what Christ requires of me (love). My list is longer and broader than I had hoped to discover. It also corresponds to the length and breadth of my need for forgiveness in judging them and living in unforgiveness, pride, and bitterness.
Ugh.
Posted by: Brad | April 01, 2010 at 11:03 AM
you are right, it is remarkably depressing, and outrageous.
you make me wonder also ~ who is our enemy? what exactly is enemy criteria?
maybe the only reason we need to define that is so that we can be sure to love them as commanded.
in the end, did He not lay His life down for all?
Posted by: jan | March 31, 2010 at 06:02 PM