05-28-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
May 28, 2024
A friend and colleague, Rev. Rebecca Littlejohn, recently posted a quote from Walter Wink: “The dominant Religion on the planet is not Christianity, Islam, Hinduism or Judaism but the pervasive faith in violence.” Dr. Wink was a Biblical scholar and theologian, often challenging commonly held beliefs about Jesus, faith, and the social order in which we live. He died more than a decade ago, though his writings remain challenging today and probably will be for decades to come. Jesus said, Turn the other cheek, and the Apostle Paul said, Do not repay evil for evil, but live peacefully with all. Our core teachings are pretty clear about violence, yet it appears that we worship at the altar of war more than we’d like to admit. I don’t necessarily have an answer to the question I will ask, but I do wonder how we break the cycle. Who will be willing to take the first step, even if it means their own demise?

We follow your gift, O God, the one who lived into the title: Prince of Peace. Continue to encourage us as we strive to be students of the ways of peace, even when it demands something of us. Amen.