Resurrected Together

Time slipping through my fingers

Is it November 28th already? Has another year come and gone? Am I really 26? Will I actually be 30 when the college freshman from my church back home graduate? To my disbelief the answer to all of these questions is yes. The world looks pretty different than the one into which I was born. In 1980, the Internet simply did not exist. In 1980, giant cell phones were just beginning the test phase. In 1980, vinyl and cassette tapes represented the only music media. In 1980, cable TV consisted of no more than 30 channels. I often wonder how even more intimidating 2006 must be for people like my parents who were born in 1955 in a world of "party-line" telephones and manual typewriters.

25 was a great year. I was able to meet many famous historical actors. I met James Armstrong Sr. who filed suit for his sons to integrate Birmingham public schools. I met his son, Dwight Armstrong, who actually integrated Graymont Elementary in September 1963 at the age of 11. I also met Dr. Ceric who is the grand Muslim mufti of Bosnia. Over the summer I met Marjorie Nelson who was held captive during the Vietnam War and Fred Shuttlesworth who inspired and led the civil rights movement in Alabama. Then just last week I met some of the actual Freedom Riders who tried to integrate interstate travel, but one of the buses was bombed in Aniston, Alabama. 25 also witnessed the wedding of my brother, Marcus and my new sister-in-law, Adrienne. I also returned to Shiloh as counselor for my 7th straight teen session.

What does the future hold for 26? I plan to have completed my M.A. in History. I hope to have moved back to Cincinnati temporarily or back to NYC for good. I plan to teach high school via a fellowship that will pay for my certification, which it might mean I stay with hotel work for a year until application deadlines come back around. I'm fairly confident that I will not be married nor engaged over the next year. Whatever comes in the next year I am tired of living in the comfort of the ivory tower. Now at 26, I feel a sense of urgency now more than ever. At 26, I realize that years are only being subtracted from my life. Like sand slipping through my fingers, I begin to feel the years escape my grasp. I'm ready to confront the hate, fear, and violence that threatens to penetrate the hearts of the children who live on Brook Ave. I'm ready for the children of Brook Ave. to experience the full power of nonviolent unconditional love, which is more powerful than death itself. One cannot expect to bind the wounded from the suburbs, but must reside amongst the wounded if he or she is to apply the bandages themselves. This means that my destiny is intertwined with the fate of the children of Brook Ave. No matter what comes, we will live together, laugh together, dream together, and cry together. If for some reason we should die together, then thanks be to God that we will be resurrected together.

CJE

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Die In Order To Live

Are these the only two choices?

It is election time is upon us once again and once again I will not be participating in the sacred ritual of the American civic religion we call voting. This shouldn't be a shock to my friends who have previously discussed the utility of voting. In fact, it was an email discussion amongst friends about voting that inspired the creation of this blog to provide an easier forum to express sound and ridiculous opinions. My perceptions of voting are not absolute as they once were as I continue to listen to others' views that impact my beliefs. One with no allegiances finds voting to be a rather easy and painless act of democratic participation. The one who claims Christ as Lord, however, quickly understands that voting entails an endorsement of men and women who mostly act in complete contradiction to the will of God. What is the Christian to do? I can't speak for others; I can only speak for myself.

Why do I choose not to vote? In recent years I've to come to see voting as increasingly futile in advancing the Christian's vocation to pursue the will of God. The unfolding of the will of God is not contingent on the existence of democratically elected governments. Earthly governments and its representatives can neither advance nor impede the will of God. The will of God will continue to march on despite the attempts of governments and rulers to lag behind. What is the only institution that has the ability to advance the will of God? Simple, the Church. The Church is not a reflection of earthly governments, but a glimpse of the kingdom before it comes in its fullness. Christ, not presidents or dictators, is head of the Church and we are its representatives. As representatives of the Church we are called embody Christ's presence, which compels us to give, forgive, and love unconditionally. Government representatives consumed with power most often seek to steal, avenge, and love only those who vote them into office. Furthermore, the gulf between the will of the nation and the will of God is so vast that it can never be bridged.

But isn't the Civil Rights Movement (which you love so much) an example of the positive power of voting? First, the civil rights movement did not begin by seeking the right to vote. In postwar America, African-Americans initially organized to obtain the rights of home ownership, which was denied them by discriminatory federal housing loans and racist real estate agents. The second battle of the movement was school desegregation, which was being prevented by elected government officials like George Wallace. Voting represented the final important battle of the civil rights movement. The issue of voting in the movement does give me pause and compels me to recognize the need for voting. The movement leads to me to the possibility of voting for issues like school levys that directly impact the community rather than voting for corrupt individuals who only listen to powerful lobbyists. But Chris, isn't it the corrupt individuals that propose the issues and taxes? Yes, but the voting for issues gives me the ability to check their corrupt nature.

I do, however, also see the civil rights movement as a powerful example of a group of people that for most of their American existence had been denied the rights of citizenship, yet it didn't inhibit their capacity to pursue the will of God for their lives. The Bill of Rights is an amazing document that grants privileges that are unknown to many in the world, but these rights are not essential to the Christian life or sustaining the will of God. As I've said before, the one freedom you will not find in the Bill of Rights is the freedom from death, which is only provided in the amendment of Christ. The choice for the Christian is not as stark as P Diddy (above) would have us believe. Life in Christ is dependent not on the ballot box, but on the cross and empty tomb. In confessing Christ as Lord the Christian had decided not whether to vote or die, but instead chosen to die in order to live.



CJE

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We Are One

Women elders, is it possible?

"11A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15But women[a] will be saved[b] through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety."
- 1 Timothy 2:11-15


Today I did something I had never done before. I voted. Not for corrupt politicians of course, but for elder nominees at the church of christ I attend in Birmingham. Elders at this church are elected by popular vote needing a 2/3 majority and serve their post for six years, upon which they can be reconfirmed by popular vote for another term. The two nominees on the ballot are both women. Many Churches of Christ in recent years have slowly come to make their services gender inclusive by allowing women to pray, read or even speak from the pulpit. The eldership, however, continues to be exclusively male.

The verse above is the primary scripture used to argue for the exclusion of women from any leadership role including the eldership. Many take this verse to say that woman are subordinate to men because not only were they created second, but they were responsible for bringing sin into the world. From here the debate evolves into what scriptures apply and which verses have no relevance. For instance, scriptures regarding dress are considered by most to be specifically meant for those churches Paul was addressing, yet scriptures pertaining to gender authority apply regardless of time and place. The debate further intensifies when one reads Paul saying the complete opposite as he speaks to the Galatians as he said...

"28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
- Galatians 3:28-29


One also finds evidence of authority residing in females through prophetesses in both in the Old and New Testaments. For example,

"Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading [a] Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided."
Judges 4:4-5

"36There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[e] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem."
Luke 2:36-38

Adam and Eve ushered sin into world by their selfish curiosity. Sin consequently separated God and from his creation, which shattered the covenant relationship he made with his creation. Yet by God's grace, he chose to rescue his creation from isolation andbrokennesss by sacrificing a piece of himself through his only son, Jesus. Whatever barriers Adam and Eve created in eating the fruit, Jesus Christ removed them by dying on the cross. Whatever relationships Adam and Eve broke in hiding in the garden, Jesus Christ mended them by rising from the dead. The war between God and man, God and woman or man and woman is over as Jesus negotiated the peace through his own blood and resurrection.

Furthermore, if the church is to be a glimpse of the kingdom before it comes in its fullness, then gender barriers must be removed. Are we really to believe that women will be given gender specific roles when the kingdom comes in its fullness? Will women truly have assigned seats at the eternal banquet table? Will women ultimately not be permitted to address their creator when they are finally reunited? I think not. I've come to believe women will not only assume an equal role in the kingdom when it is fully revealed, but will be free to sit as close as they can to Jesus while they are uninhibited to speak to the Father as long as they wish.

It is important to recognize, as a current elder did this morning, that women should not be made elders simply because they are women, but because they are qualified. Qualified not by gender nor perfection, but qualified by time and experiences in which they pursued the will of God for their lives in both times of despair and moments of joy. No matter where you fall in the debate, all of us need to recognize what men and women are in sin and what men and women are in Christ. In sin, men and women are despised. In sin, men and women are guilty. In sin, men and women are divided. Yet together in Christ, we are loved. In Christ, we are forgiven. In Christ, we are one.



CJE

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Strangers In Passing

How can dear friends become strangers?

Most times I write to offer opinions and suggestions on how to we can be better imitators of Christ in a violently broken world. Today, however, I am seeking suggestions on to engage the problem of when great friends turn into complete strangers. This is an problem that has consumed my heart and mind for over a month now. Briefly summarized, almost two months ago now I took the opportunity to be vulnerably honest with a dear friend. I was not rude, offensive, nor demeaning. Just completely genuine. I expected my honesty to evoke a number of responses, yet at this moment silence has been the only consequence.

I've tried repeatedly to get in contact with this friend since my moment of truth, but again without success. I'm trying to contact this person to let them know that I am not avoiding them. My question is simply this, does there come a point when one stops contacting a friend who is avoiding you and accept that you've become strangers? Or does one continue to make an occasional attempt to reach your friend in the of hope resurrecting the friendship?

I wish I knew the reason for my friend's silence since it seems really out of their character. The reason I don't know is because this person wont respond. With each passing day I lose a memory of our friendship. What happens when all the memories are gone? Lost will be the friend I once laughed with. Forgotten will be the friend that taught me so much. All there will be left to remember is that the next time we meet it could be as strangers in passing.




CJE

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What Does That Mean?

"What does that mean, “outrages upon human dignity”? That’s a statement that is wide open to interpretation."
-President of the United States, George W. Bush


It's official. Our president is certifiably insane. One cannot express how dangerous of such a statement. Senator Lindsey Graham presents a fantastic explanation of what it means to engage in outrages against human diginity. Do anyone else feel the institution of self-government slipping away? Anyone who addresses the serious flaws in the logic and practice in the war on terror is immediately labled "unAmerican" or "Traitor". Does one really have to apologize for recognizing the humanity in
God's creation? By questioning the intent of "outrages upon human dignity", our president is inherently asking what does it mean to be human. When is someone a human being and when are they just an animal? A human being is a perfect creation made in the image of its creator that brought about its own destruction through selfish curiosity. Yet the creator rescued his creation by sacrificing a piece of himself in his only son so that all of his creation could be spared the torture of death.

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.(Jn 13:34)"- Now, what does that mean?


CJE

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Standing Next To History

Standing next to history

Most of us learn our history from a textbook. Textbooks are necessary because most events happened hundreds of years ago. Rarely do people get the opportunity to shake hands with history. On August 16th, 2006, I was blessed to have such an opportunity. On top is a picture of me and Fred Shuttlesworth. Below is a picture of Shuttlesworth standing next to MLK Jr. and Ralph Abernathy. Fred Shuttlesworth was a primary figure in the Civil Rights movement. He basically started the movement in Alabama by creating the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights since the state of Alabama had made the NAACP an illegal organiztion in 1956.

On Christmas night 1956, Klansmen bombed his house with sticks of dynamite while he and his family were in the house. By the grace of God no one was hurt. The following year in September 1957, Shuttleswoth took his children to Phillips High School in an attempt to integrate the school. Shuttlesworth, however, was greeted at the school by an angry white mob that proceeded to beat him with brass knuckles, bike chains, and bats as the police looked on. Me and my brother brought Mr. Shuttlesworth to come speak at our Wednesday night last class about living in community. The questioned we posed to Shuttlesworth was, how do I live with someone who hates me?

Shuttlesworth's enitre life in Alabama was spent living with those who hated him. The great irony was they hated him for doing what was right not only in the eyes of the Constitution, but in the eyes of God. He told us how he did not expect to see 40 living in Alabama, yet here he was at 84 continuing to stress non-violence and compassion. He has lived long enough to see God bring about great change. The evening with Shuttlesworth left me to ponder, are we ready for change in 2006? I believe all of us are ready for change, but we don't know how to bring change about. Shuttlesworth reminded us of MLK's insistence on not using evil means to bring about good ends because the two are bonded together like a seed is to a tree. Bringing about change through good-nonviolent means forces us to ask, do we believe God is all that he said he was? Well Mr. Shuttlesworth is convinced he is and so am I.


CJE



Coming Soon: Pledging Allegiance to Christ

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Conflicted Existence

How can I be profoundly Christian in a corrupt world?

I am part flesh, part spirit. Part American citizen, part disciple of Christ. The kingdom of God is here, yet I wait to see it in its fullness as I continue to live in this broken world. I am obligated to obey the law of the land, yet I am also called to obey Jesus's commands. These two parts of my existence come into conflict daily. In recent times it has become increasingly difficult to remain faithful to the lordship of Christ in a country that continually acts in contrast to his commands. The Christian is left to ask himself or herself, can I be a loyal American citizen while remaining true to the lordship of Christ? Do I excuse government policies since we live in a broken world and it's all going to burn anyway or do I speak out against ungodly practices? do I conform to American traditions or do I live my life as a stark contrast to socially accepted norms? Over the next few weeks we will discuss topics that become problematic for an American trying to remain faithful to Christ. Among the topics will be the pledge of allegiance, voting, war, taxes, capital punishment, prisons, and many others.

A great friend of mine once preached a sermon from the book of Daniel about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who refused to bow down to worship the image of gold. The key part of the text is found in Daniel 3:4-7 and it reads, "4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." 7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up."

My friend asked his audience the same question I present to us now, do we today fall down at the sound of the horn? Anytime the Christian hears the pledge of allegiance or the drums of war, should he or she simply fall down like everyone else or like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego should he or she dare to stand in opposition to those who deny the lordship of Christ by their actions? So this week I encourage you to prepare your own thoughts as together we begin to better understand our conflicted existence.



CJE




Coming Soon: Pledging Allegiance To Christ

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Losing Each Other

People don't get replaced

Bruce Springsteen is an essential caretaker of the American sound. The characters in his songs reflect the hope, despair and anxiety one feels living the American experience. Springsteen recently performed on VH1 Storytellers where he played old favorites and songs from his album, "Devils and Dust". The performance was so incredible that I had to buy the dvd. The most moving song was from Devils and Dust entitled, "Jesus Was An Only Son." He proceeded to explain the lyrics after first playing the song with only a piano and a harmonica. Towards the end of the song is line, "...there's lost that can never be replaced, a destination that can never be reached. Light you'll never find in another's face, a sea who distance cannot be breached." Springsteen explains this line by saying, "...We lose each other and people don't get replaced."

In recent months many of my friends have family members who are seriously sick with cancer and other diseases. That line, "People don't get replaced," is a harsh truth that my friends will soon have to deal with. It's so hard to know what to pray for. Healing? Mercy? Acceptance? Faith? I believe there is power in prayer, but I also believe no amount of prayer can prevent the death that awaits all of us. Why has death come for my friend's family? Why does cancer leave some and return to others? I have no answers for such questions. But I do know, as Springsteen reminds me, that my friend's loss can never be replaced. Despite time and space, the loss of their family member will always remain. Nothing or nobody will be able to fill the void created by death.

Some say we'll me again in heaven, but sometimes I wonder if that's true. Lately I've come to believe that the coming resurrection will wipe away any piece of this life. I think the new bodies we'll receive will look nothing like our current body. I believe I will not remember my past life. Not even the disciples recognized Jesus after the resurrection. Some might be sad at such an idea, but will it really matter in the eternal presence of God. This belief has me even more grateful of the health of my family and to enjoy every minute I have now because I'm no sure I'll have an opportunity when the kingdom comes in its fullness. This week I encourage you to hold your family closer before there is nobody to hold, sit down to dinner together more often before there is nobody to eat with, and learn to forgive faster before there is nobody to angry with. Make sure to enjoy you the family you've gained before the time comes when we lose each other.


CJE


Coming Soon: Conflicted Existence

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Seven Years

Discovering purpose at 19 years old

Yes, I'm still alive. I apologize for the lack of posts, but it's a busy summer so far. First, my brother's wedding was a week of madness and excitement. It was a incredible event that made him and his wife, Adrienne, feel really special. Second, Me and my brother are teaching a Wednesday night class at church where we bring in guest speakers from different faiths to suggest some ways we might be able to build community instead of ignoring each other. Third, lately I found bloging to be a futile waste of time. You'd be amazed at how much living you miss when you spend alot of time behind a computer. Bloging talks about life experiences, but as you blog who knows how many untold experiences you might be missing.

A week from tomorrow I am traveling to Shiloh to begin my 7th consecutive summer as a counselor at teen session. I will be at Shiloh for teen session only which is a new experience to spend the rest of summer at home for the first time since 1999. At 25, I am a dinosaur in the eyes of the rest of the counselors. A prehistoric fossil who was given two tiny cookies and a cup of juice at his first snack time. An ancient relic from a different age when counselors were made to sleep outside in the dirt with no tent to protect them. Despite my age I wouldn't have it any other way. The opportunity to engage and challenge teens whom I've known since they were small kids is a priceless gift I don't deserve nor could ever purchase.

Returning to Shiloh is not a matter of just going to camp, it's the chance to go home. It's the chance to speak softly to child instead screaming at them. It's the opportunity to love a child unconditionally as I wipe the spit from my face. It's the occasion to put a child's needs before my own. It's the hardest work I've ever done, but the decision to return has been the easiest choice these past seven years.

CJE

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Two Down, Two to Go

Networking with Dr. Ceric, the Muslim Grand Mufti of Bosina.

Well I am officially home for the summer. The semester is finally over after a 25pg paper, 20pg paper and 24pg paper. Overall it was a very interesting year living and working in Birmingham. Some of the highlights were....

1. Hearing and meeting Dr.Ceric, the Muslim Grand Mufti of Bosnia, speak at Jewish synagogue,

2. Meeting James Armstrong Sr., the father who was the first to successfully have his sons integrate white Alabama elementary schools.

3. Meeting Dwight Armstrong, one of James Sr.'s sons who actually attended the first integrated elementary school classes in Alabama.

4. Discovering the Blues while listening to Rev. Slick and the Mississippi Soul Brothers play an amazing free set outside UAB arena.

5. Attending an interfaith dinner where I saw religion actually become a bridge instead of a barrier.

6. Attending a church that is willing to provide whatever its community needs.

7. Meeting Katrina victims and hearing their stories.

Those are just some of interesting experiences I've had in Birmingham over the past year. What does next year hold? I'm not sure right now. Right now I'm glad to be home and ready for a break. As of right now, it's two down and two to go.


CJE


Coming next week: Seven Years

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Living History

Mr. James Armstrong. 80yrs old and still self employed

Today I had the privilege to meet and talk with Mr. James Armstrong. Mr. Armstrong has been a self-employed barber for decades. Mr. Armstrong is the father to first successfully integrate Birmingham Public Schools. He first filed his petition in 1957, but it was not until September, 10, 1963 when his sons Dwight and Floyd entered Graymont Elementary. We talked in his barbershop for over an hour about that day and events that followed. Among the comments that stood out was when he said that numerous people and all his siblings had encouraged him to leave Birmingham, but of those people he was the only one still alive. It was an amazing experience if not life changing. It's not everyday you get the chance to talk with living history.

CJE

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War Before Education Pt.2

The crosses of Columbine

This time last year I wrote a post about the dangerous conquences of the inequality between the Department of Defense budget and the Department of Education budget. Well the proposed 2007 Federal Budget was released two weeks ago and here is the break from the White House itself.

(http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2007/budget.html)

2007 Federal Budget

Department of Defense-----> 439.3 billion
Department of Education---> 64 billion
Department of State-------> 33.9 billion
Department of Justice-----> 19.5 billion

Again, does anyone see a problem??

As in 2005, I will repeat this warning that America needs to reconcile the gulf between Defense and Education. Yes, the Department of Defense is necessary for this country. Yes, their budget will always be larger than most. Yes, money is not the cure-all for education. But it is a factor. All I'm asking is that the numbers to be somewhat close. As it stands right now these two budgets are worlds apart. Paul issues a similar warning in Galatians 6, "7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

If we continue to put war before education, then this country will reap a whirlwind of destruction and decay. If we continue to put war before education, then our children will degenerate into violent militants who believe violence is the only means of achieving progress. The crosses of Columbine are a prophetic reminder of the violence that will descend upon our children if this country continues to make war its first priority. War may be good for business, but it is fatal to education.

So again this week ask yourself what is most important. Our defense should not rely on bullets, bombs, or F-16 Tomcats. Education is our best defense. Only education can defend us against the true enemies who are ignorance, hate and fear. The only way our enemies will succeed is if we continue to put war before education.


CJE


Coming Next Week: The Greatest Christian Inspiration

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The Birmingham Void

democratic America?

This semester I am dedicating a 30pg research paper to the creation of anti-lynching legislation in Alabama. Who was in favor? Who was opposed to anti-lynching legislation? Was anyone prosecuted for lynching? How did lynching occur in democratic America? These are the questions I hope to answer.

I choke just saying the word "lynching". One cannot find a more savage act in 20th century America. This was not Russia under Stalin or Germany under Hitler. This was America under the Bill of Rights. Yet all avenues of justice were cut off to satisfy animalistic desires of supremacy and calm irrational fears of danger. What it is even more disturbing is the notion that those who performed lynchings had the audacity to praise God the next Sunday with blood stained hands. What are the social and psychological consequences of lynching? How deep are the mental and emotional wounds left by lynchings?

W.E.B. DuBois spoke of a veil between the races in The Soul of Black Folks. In 2006 I see the veil being transformed into a void. There is a void in Birmingham today that has created a gulf between those who don't look alike. I see it everywhere as I walk the streets of downtown. While people of different shades pass in silence, yet strangers of similar pigment great each other like close relatives. I don't mean to say Birmingham is alone in creating the void. The void is being created in most cities across America and sadly in many churches. The void prevents fellow human beings from communicating with each other. The lack of communication allows people to mistake irrational assumptions for truth. If we mistake assumption for truth, then we consequently mistake murder for justice. When we mistake murder for justice, then inevitably we will lynch.

How do we bridge the gulf the act of lynching has helped to create? How do we fill the void? Again the answer can be found in the unconditional love of Jesus Christ who was himself the victim of a Roman lynch mob. If fear, vengeance and hate created the void, then we have to fill it with trust, forgiveness and love. Is it possible to fill the void? Absolutely. If the unconditional love of Jesus Christ can fill the void between us and God, then it is through the same unconditional love that we may one day soon fill the Birmingham void.


CJE


Coming Next Week: War Before Education Pt. 2

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The History of Christ

The history of Christ

"The reason I cannot be a pacifist is because of my long-time study of history and especially German history. I saw what the likes of Hitler, Himmler, and Heydrich and others did when gentle souls "turned the other cheek." Instead of modifying their behavior, they took such actions as signs of weakness and increased the level of their atrocities. Nevertheless, I admire the Quakers greatly and I see a firm place for them in this turbulent world."
- Dr. Tent




It's hard to believe it's been over a month since my last post. My post on Ira has taken on extreme importance for me in light of Ira's return to the hospital. I felt obligated to keep Ira's story front and center so people wouldn't forget. I hope to post more often, but to be honest my thoughts and hope are with Ira's slow and intense recovery.

Today's post is inspired by the quote above by my graduate professor last semester. The quote comes from the end of his critique of my oral presentation on the pacifist Quaker organization, AFSC, which provided relief aid in wartime. On the surface the quote makes a legitimate defense for just-war theory, but the Christian cannot take this quote at face value. While the history of Germany has to be considered, the Christian also has to take into account the history of Christ. The history of Germany teaches us about the awful consequences of blind nationalism,intense racism and extreme violence, but what does the history of Christ have to teach the world?

The history of Christ begins not in a palace, but in a manger. It ends not with a state funeral, but on the cross.He was not surrounded by servants his entire life, but came to serve his entire life. The history of Christ teaches us that there is strength in weakness, power in humility. In Christ's history we learn that his kingdom is not of this world and stands in complete contradiction to the empires of this world. In Christ's history the poor are rich, the fools are wise, the dead are alive.

Most importantly, the history of Christ teaches us how to communicate with our enemies. In Christ's history he taught us not to overcome evil with evil, but overcome evil with good. In Christ's history he instructs the hungry enemy to be fed. Finally, in Christ's history he did not overcome his enemy with brute force, but laid himself low so that even his enemies maybe lifted up and forgiven.

If Jesus Christ wasn't born, then one could accept the lessons of German history and the notion of just-war. BUT Jesus Christ was born. If Jesus Christ didn't die for his enemies, then we could embrace the destruction of other human beings. BUT Jesus Christ did die for all mankind. If Jesus Christ wasn't raised from the dead, then one could discount the power of pacifism. BUT Jesus Christ was raised from the dead.

One cannot ignore the lessons of German history, but neither can one disregard the history of Christ. The history of Germany reveals the destructive potential of man. The history of Christ reveals the powerful unconditional love of God. The history of Christ teaches us that there has always been more power to be found in the unconditional love of God than in a thousand cruel dictators. The unconditional love of God is still the most powerful force on earth, more powerful than death itself. One can see the power of revenge from the history of Germany, but one can also learn about the power of forgiveness from the history of Christ.



CJE


Coming Next Week: The Birmingham Void

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