Article: Peace,Justice, and Non-Resistance.

Joseph Kindon

What We Believe • Sermon • Submitted 6 months ago • Presented 6 months ago

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Welcome/Prayer/Scripture

Good Morning Church , I am so glad we can come together and worship the risen Lord this morning, Lets pray and present ourselves before God for what He has for us this Morning.

In the last segment in our series we looked at Article 9: The Church of Jesus Christ. We talked about the church through the metaphor of a mirror, our image has changed over time, but we also have a role to reflect Christ to everyone.

This isnt just a series on What we believe, but how we believe it. These articles aren't just about Dogma or Doctrine but how we DO our faith.

The Metaphor: Peace and Nonresistance is a Journey kind of like a Hike.

My Story: This concept of Peace and justice was a foreign concept. Like a place that you have never been. I grew up thinking war and violence as not just reality, but a God ordained reality as we see in parts of the Old Testament. Things changed drastically when I came to Messiah and was introduced to Anabaptism.

We all have our own journey and starting point with these ideas of Peace Theology and Non-Resistance. We all start our journey at different places. This morning is not about convincing you of peace and non-resistance is the way, but rather show you God’s approach to violence and peace.

I want to compare it to my hike over the summer from Jenny Lake to Up Cascade Canyon.

The Starting Point: Cain and Abel (Base of Jenny Lake).

Summary: Cain was Jealous of Abels offering. God warned him that sin was crouching at his door desiring to have him.

Cain was overcome by sin and killed his brother. God sends him away with a Mark.

I always thought that the mark was a punishment from God but it was actually a form of protection to limit violence.

Despite these protections violence still increased with Lamech who murderedmany humans

Violence increased to the national level when God’s people were in Egypt. There was slavery, domination, and mass killing of hebrew boys in the Nile.

This is the starting point. We seee the problem before us and God’s response.

When God’s people left Egypt, He gave them a glimpse of his heart toward peace for his people! We see the next step in the journey for God’s people toward peace and non resistince.

The Law: A Limit on Cultural Practices of the Time (The Falls)

Background on the Law: Most scholars believe that the laws that Yahweh gives his people at Mt. Siani, are adaptations of the Laws that the people would have been familar with. Some specific laws can be traced to the Code of Hamarabi.

We get a glimpse of God’s intention for humans, we get a get a sneak peak of the bigger picture kind of like our stop on the the hike at the falls where we were part way up but we didnt get to see the whole view! (Slide)

Transition: Lets take a look at the laws around violence that God gave his people.

Exodus 21:22–25 (NIV)

“If people are fighting and hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. (Slide)

This law was set in place to limit vilionce to say, if injury happens only repay what was done, dont go overboard.

In many ways this stopped people from “seeing red” and letting sin overcome them the same way that Cain did.

These laws of repayment and exact restitution even applied to the servants and animals of the Israelites.

Exodus 21:26–36 NIV

“An owner who hits a male or female slave in the eye and destroys it must let the slave go free to compensate for the eye. And an owner who knocks out the tooth of a male or female slave must let the slave go free to compensate for the tooth. “If a bull gores a man or woman to death, the bull is to be stoned to death, and its meat must not be eaten. But the owner of the bull will not be held responsible. If, however, the bull has had the habit of goring and the owner has been warned but has not kept it penned up and it kills a man or woman, the bull is to be stoned and its owner also is to be put to death. However, if payment is demanded, the owner may redeem his life by the payment of whatever is demanded. This law also applies if the bull gores a son or daughter. If the bull gores a male or female slave, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave, and the bull is to be stoned to death. “If anyone uncovers a pit or digs one and fails to cover it and an ox or a donkey falls into it, the one who opened the pit must pay the owner for the loss and take the dead animal in exchange. “If anyone’s bull injures someone else’s bull and it dies, the two parties are to sell the live one and divide both the money and the dead animal equally. However, if it was known that the bull had the habit of goring, yet the owner did not keep it penned up, the owner must pay, animal for animal, and take the dead animal in exchange.

Lets talk about Murder.

In Exodus 21:12 its a similar pattern,.

Exodus 21:12 NIV

“Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.

But its not entirely black and white as we take a deeper look into Numbers.

Numbers 35:10–12 NIV

“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly.

Someone who kills someone can run to refuge and stand before trial to detirmine the situation. Only after can the person be put to death by a single person, the blood avenger. Even so God continues to put boundaries around this defining further what falls into this category.

Let me read straight from the law about this please turn with me to Numbers 35 with me starting at verse 16.

Numbers 35:16–33 NIV

“ ‘If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. Or if anyone is holding a wooden object and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death. If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet. “ ‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil. “ ‘But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which they fled and the avenger of blood finds them outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property. “ ‘This is to have the force of law for you throughout the generations to come, wherever you live. “ ‘Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. “ ‘Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. They are to be put to death. “ ‘Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest. “ ‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.

In essence, God is against Murder. It defiles not only us, but defiles the Land. This all points to God desiring a certain kind of life for his people. But that is not the end of God’s word on the subject!

Jesus: The Final Word on Violence and Nonresistance.

In the Person of Jesus, We get the whole, picture we reach the point in the journey where we see the clearest picture of God’s will for his people when it comes to peace, For me Jesus is like the overlook we came to on our hike (slide)

In many ways the sermon on the mount is called the second giving of the law. Jesus himself says he is fufillment of the Law.

Here is what Jesus says about violence quite clearly,

Matthew 5:21–22 NIV

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Jesus is getting at the heart of every follower. He says that if there is anger and hate in your heart, it as the same as murder because that is the starting point.

Here is what Jesus says about non-resistance

Matthew 5:38–42 NIV

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

These examples are not just passive acceptance of violence, but an subversive confrontation of the root of violence.

if anyone slaps you turn the other cheek, this has to do with the mechanics and culture of the day. Backhand was a disrespect, other cheek they would have to rethink and use the inside of the hand.

shirt and cloak, causes the person to really reflect on what theyre taking from someone and a poor person might die without both shirt and cloak.

Go two miles, this had to do with roman conscription, a roman could require a citizen to carry a mile, but carrying a second mile could get the roman in trouble and cause shame for the solider by looking weak.

This is why we believe: The peace God intends for humanity and creation was revealed most fully in Jesus Christ. A joyous song of peace announced Jesus’ birth.4 Jesus taught love of enemies, forgave wrongdoers, and called for right relationships.5 When threatened, he chose not to resist, but gave his life freely.6 By his death and resurrection, he has removed the dominion of death and given us peace with God.7 Thus he has reconciled us to God and has entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation.8

Even in Jesus’ death he exposed humanities violence, the cross did not demonstrate a violent God actions toward humanity, but humanities violent actions toward a loving God. Its because Jesus suffered a violent death he broke the cycle of violence, so that we could be set free from sin, even violence!.

The Journey is not over: There are many miles left to Go!

This is the top of cascade Canyon its called Lake Solitude. Jess dean and I did not make it to this point. In the same way, on the journey toward peace and nonresistance even if we adhere to Jesus’ teaching and lifestyle there is always room to grow.

Where do we need to continue on our journey toward peace?

are we physically violent toward others? Are we verbally violent? Have we harbored hate and anger in our heart? Do we use passive agressive tactics to “fight”? are we violent in the way we do and say things?

I wrote this creed my senior year at Messiah on Peace: (Slide)

Peace starts with an individual allegiance to following[1]Jesus Christ[2]the Prince of Peace[3]. Peace is a commitment to non-violence[4]and a humble[5]non-dominating[6]approach to conflict. Therefore, a disciple must live in peace with one another[7]and everyone we encounter[8]. As peacemakers, we should not advocate[9]or succumb[10]to any use of violence[11]or justify war Through the peace in our hearts[12]and the peace we have in Christ, we live in hope of God’s Kingdom of eternal peace[13].

There are areas of this very creed that I still need to grow in. My journey is not over. In many ways it has just begun.

Id like to close with the following reflection questions:

Where are you at on your journey toward peace and nonresistance in following Jesus?

Where is God calling you to walk further and go deeper in this journey?

What is one area that you can commit to working toward peace and non resistance this week? (Thoughts, words, deeds, attitude)