Christ, Justice, and Warfare

On Saturday, November 7th at LLG’s weekly service, I preached a message called “Let Your Eyes Adjust – The Christian Response to Violence”.  The message was prompted by the violent events of this past week (The shootings at Ft. Hood and the capture of the serial murderer in Cleveland), and the passage we have arrived at in our study of Matthew–Mt. 12:15-21.  The passage reads as follows: ¹⁵Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, ¹⁶warning them not to tell who he was. ¹⁷This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
¹⁸“Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
¹⁹He will not quarrel or cry out;
no one will hear his voice in the streets.
²⁰A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he leads justice to victory.
²¹In his name the nations will put their hope.”

In my anger, sadness, and anguish, I found myself asking the question, “Why, God?” yet again.  I am certainly not alone.

The passage invites us to examine the nature of Christ.  A messianic passage from Isaiah is quoted describing the character and nature of the Messiah.  I found five attributes in the passage.  Here they are:

1.  Jesus gives justice

2. Jesus does not bicker, quarrel, or fight

3. Jesus speaks truth and wisdom-quietly

4. Jesus is gentle and compassionate

5. Jesus leads us in hope

In yesterday’s sermon, I addressed the first two alone.  In the first scenario (of Jesus giving justice), we looked at what justice is (equalization) and how Jesus brings justice to all people (including the powerless and marginalized).  He lifts them up (as in the case of the homeless) and corrects all wrongs.

In the second scenario (of Jesus not bickering, quarreling, or fighting), we saw that Jesus withdrew from conflicts with his enemies, prays that we would escape the final armed conflict, and teaches us to fight with spiritual weapons (the Word of God) instead of physical ones.

We ended with a reading that declared the institutional church has often preferred the “Barabbas” version of Messiah to the “Jesus” view of Messiah when it comes to resisting enemies.  We would prefer to take up arms than to lay them down.

In looking solely at Jesus’ response to physical conflicts, we would have to agree that Jesus was more pacifist than militarist.  However, you and I have numerous layers of responsibilities.  Some of us are married and have children; all of us are citizens of a country (mostly the USA), and both of these commitments bring rights, privileges, and responsibilities.  Paul, for instance, parlayed his Roman citizenship into “Kingdom” opportunities to travel extensively, to preach to Kings and Governors, and to be rescued from violence.  Yesterday’s was a pacifist-type of teaching, no doubt about it.  But I think we need to distinguish between what Jesus did as the Lamb of God and what he expects from us.

So, does the message make me a pacifist?  I can’t agree to that because I am not finished wrestling with these matters myself.  Ultimately, it is important that we not shy away from the difficult teachings of scripture.  We have to wrestle with them, no matter how uncomfortable they make us feel.  In my opinion, Matthew 5:38-42 is the toughest passage in the New Testament.  I have wrestled with it and invite you to wrestle with it as well.  These passages, I believe, are what make the Bible so exciting!