A tank, a grenade, machine guns, bullets...these are a few of my favorite things...NOT!!! Seriously...I mean, come on people...this kind of stuff will never ultimately feed the world's poorest children, bring lasting peace and security in the world's most war-torn places, or restore ecosystems that we have already destroyed. What the war machine will do is bring further devestation to humanity and the world, even unto our demise. In the long run violence begets violence in a downward sprial of hate and vengence. What we so desperately need is non-violent, Christ-like ways to help solve the massive problems of humanity in the 21st century. Better yet, non-violent Christ-like ways of living are the most powerful signposts of God's fully restored kingdom on earth. What we do not need is more 20th century militarism that proved such an abysmal failure (need I remind the reader that the 20th century was the bloodiest in human history!).
The good news...the kingdom of God is at hand and it's time to live out the new creation reality! It's time for Christ's church, Christ's body to show the world the way of love, peace, hope, new creation. If we are the new people of God, let's live out the way of God's new humantiy. This is our mission, this is our call, this is our destiny. Our holy vocation: pray, work, study, advocate, befriend, love those who hate you, suffer with those who suffer, pick up your cross and be willing to lay down your life for the Good, for the promise of the God of resurrection is that he will raise us up on the last day.
Mark 8.34-38:
Then Jesus called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."
Matthew 5.1-10
"Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Colossians 1.13-23:
"God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation — if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven."
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