Living peacefully in a violent world
"What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." Psalm 56:3
The world around us tends toward violence. A follower of Jesus can easily become desensitized as the devil normalizes violence as a way of life. As Satan and his evil spirits promote the "Way of Conflict" in subtle ways, extreme levels of violence may appear to be the only concern against which a follower of Jesus need guard. Allowing our minds to be preoccupied with fears of such violence as a home invasion or a mass shooter may provoke us to wrongly turn to reciprocal violence as a response to calm our fears.
Violence may be narrowly defined as the use of physical force intended to harm, injure, abuse, damage, or destroy. However, Jesus teaches us to think beyond the physical world and be aware of the unseen world. When asked about John the Baptist, he noted that from the days of John the Baptist the kingdom of heaven was suffering violence. This was a spiritual conflict waged primarily by words intended to destroy all that was good. The Apostle John explicitly notes that he who hates his brother is a murderer. The context of his warning covers a spectrum from merely loving a brother less than oneself to detesting him or even feeling outright hatred. In these ways, we see that violence is not only physical but also takes place in the spiritual and emotional realm.
One element that normalizes aberrant behavior is the frequency with which we are exposed. If many people around us drive their vehicles aggressively (violently), we may begin to feel that it is appropriate and necessary to drive aggressively. If the world around us turns to lawsuits as the answer to conflicts, it becomes easier to rationalize Jesus' teaching that we should not resist such assaults against our wellbeing. When the larger Christian community no longer hesitates to swear an oath, we may feel uncomfortable standing on Jesus' words to swear not at all. Is it possible that such rationalization causes violence against the kingdom of heaven, normalizing beliefs contrary to the plain meaning of scripture? Perhaps the most pervasive violence in our time, extreme language against those whose political beliefs differ has normalized harsh rhetoric while characterizing entire groups of people as categorically evil. Such violence is exacerbated by news media and social networks. Not only do they normalize violent actions and words, but they also attract viewers and therefore sell more advertising when they publish the gory details, normalizing horror. The Lord calls us to love our enemies and pray for them.
Although murder and armed attacks have been a reality of life since the dawn of time, few of us have suffered personal attacks or the invasion of our country. Lack of experience with physical violence may paradoxically increase our fear of that remote possibility. Media reports of mass shootings in churches, armed robberies, and home invasions can elevate our anxiety about such possibilities, even though the statistical risk of suffering injury or death from violence is far lower than from many everyday activities. How should we prepare for possible violent events like a home invasion or an attack at church?[1]
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Whether against physical or spiritual violence, the condition of our heart is the primary defense. The natural human response to violence tends to be more violence. If our heart is not prepared, we may respond to perceived attacks with more violence, whether physically, verbally, emotionally, or some other way. Verbal and emotional violence are far more likely than a physical attack. Understanding the impact of violence in daily life can help us prepare our heart to gracefully respond in the peaceful manner of Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, turning the other cheek. If we are living in the peace of Christ in our daily interactions, it lays a solid foundation for an appropriate response in the rare event of a violent attack.
Here is what we can do. Pray to never respond to a verbal attack with a sharp tongue.[2] A Holy Spirit empowered heart avoids violence in conversation and demonstrates the Lord's "Way of Peace" in all interactions. James observed that our tongue is indeed an instrument of violence; "A fire, a world of iniquity; setting on fire the course of nature."[3] Cursing (speaking ill of others) should never come out of our mouths. How can we bless (speak well of) God and curse others? Jesus himself clearly taught that, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh."[4] What is in our heart is what comes out of our mouth. Similarly, our actions clarify what we really believe. If we truly believe that our kingdom is not of this world, then we will not use violence to defend ourselves or our faith. We will use gentle words guided by the Holy Spirit.
If we truly believe that vengeance belongs to the Lord and that he sets up governments as it pleases him, then we will leave violent actions to the Lord and to his designated government. If we embrace the Lord's instruction to, "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell," then we will have a peaceful heart that can rest on God's ability to provide all we need, whether we live or die.[5] Many martyrs have demonstrated the beauty of facing senseless death at the hands of evil men with courage, faith, and genuine love for their enemies.
We may spend a lot of time, money, and energy preparing for risks that will never happen. But there is one risk that is certain for all of us. Satan seeks to deceive us into sin. Do we spend as much time and effort teaching our children the truths of God’s word, praying for them, and involving them in godly activities? Do we spend as much time putting our hearts, by faith, in a place of calm confidence in the Lord to watch over and protect us, certain that he will provide for our survivors in the case of some catastrophe? As Christians, we have powerful ways of coming to terms with the unavoidable risks of living in the world. The Bible calms our souls by reminding us that our lives rest in God’s hands. No matter where we go, “Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”[6] Amid tremendous threat, David wrote, “My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies.”[7] Jesus leads us through the valley of the shadow of death such that we fear no evil and Peter encourages us to cast all our care upon God, for he cares for us!
[1] Around the Table episode: How to Handle an Aggressive Intruder
