Today, we are taking our “Military Withdrawal” to the heart of Logan Square as we celebrate the arrival of the “Prince of Peace” this Palm Sunday. If you are in Chicago, we invite you to join our “Occupy Palm Sunday” rally at the Logan Square Eagle Monument (Kedzie and Logan Blvds) starting at 12:30 pm.

Together with the congregations of the Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance, CodePink, the Divest Chicago Coalition and concerned neighbors, we will “Pave the Way for Peace” and support the “Resolution to Divest from the War Machine” that is currently being held in the Chicago City Council Committee on Finance. We will hear from two sponsors of the Resolution, Ward Aldermen Carlos Ramirez-Rosa (#35) and Daniel La Spata (#1) and push the Finance Committee to bring the resolution to a hearing and ultimate passage.

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Weekend Reading

Instead of a Scripture verse, today we are posting two articles on the issue of Biblical violence–and in particular, violence that is commanded by God or is carried out by God. It is important to remember that Christians have been struggling with Biblical violence for almost 2,000 years. Our hope is that these articles, while from very different perspectives, will assist you as you grapple with the questions of violence, war and our faith.

The first article, “A Response to Old Testament Violence” is by Dr. Ted Grimsrud, retired Senior Professor of Peace Studies at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA. He writes from a Christian pacifist perspective.

The second article, “God and Violence in the Old Testament” is by the late Dr. Terence Fretheim, who was the Elva B. Lovell Professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, for many years.

Each day (except Sundays) during Lent, we will post a Scripture for reflection on our theme, “Military Withdrawal.” Together, we will learn to walk in God’s ways of peacemaking and reconciliation. These posts are meant to stimulate conversation and interaction. Please post your thoughts and comments.

Divine Revenge & Pay Back

²³ Your leaders are rebels,
    the companions of thieves.
All of them love bribes
    and demand payoffs,
but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans
    or fight for the rights of widows.

²⁴ Therefore, the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
    the Mighty One of Israel, says,
“I will take revenge on my enemies
    and pay back my foes!

Isaiah 1:23-24

What makes God angry in this passage? With what action does God threaten the perpetrators? Rabbi Abraham Heschel in his book, Prophets, writes, “This is one of the meanings of the anger of God: the end of indifference.” Does this concept change your understanding of divine vengeance? If so how? How is God’s anger related to justice? Love? Liberation?

Each day (except Sundays) during Lent, we will post a Scripture for reflection on our theme, “Military Withdrawal.” Together, we will learn to walk in God’s ways of peacemaking and reconciliation. These posts are meant to stimulate conversation and interaction. Please post your thoughts and comments.

God is a Warrior

15 Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord:

“I will sing to the Lord,
    for he has triumphed gloriously;
he has hurled both horse and rider
    into the sea.
² The Lord is my strength and my song;
    he has given me victory.
This is my God, and I will praise him—
    my father’s God, and I will exalt him!
³ The Lord is a warrior;  Yahweh is his name!
⁴ Pharaoh’s chariots and army he has hurled into the sea.
The finest of Pharaoh’s officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
⁵ The deep waters gushed over them; they sank to the bottom like a stone.

⁶ “Your right hand, O Lord,  is glorious in power.
Your right hand, O Lord,  smashes the enemy.
⁷ In the greatness of your majesty, you overthrow those who rise against you.
You unleash your blazing fury; it consumes them like straw.
⁸ At the blast of your breath, the waters piled up!
The surging waters stood straight like a wall;
    in the heart of the sea the deep waters became hard.

⁹ “The enemy boasted, ‘I will chase them and catch up with them.
I will plunder them and consume them.
I will flash my sword; my powerful hand will destroy them.’
¹⁰ But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead in the mighty waters.

¹¹ “Who is like you among the gods, O Lord—glorious in holiness,
awesome in splendor, performing great wonders?
¹² You raised your right hand, and the earth swallowed our enemies.

Exodus 15:1-12

How do you feel about this depiction of God as a mighty warrior fighting on behalf of the fleeing Israelites? Does it seem consistent or inconsistent with your understanding of God’s love? Does it seem consistent or inconsistent with your understanding of God’s heart for justice? How do you think we can reconcile this image with the life and teachings of Jesus who is the Word made flesh and told us to love our enemies?

The First War in the Bible

Genesis 14 is filled with names of clans and their leaders. One leader in particular, Kedorlaomer of Elam, has formed an alliance with four other clans, but has behaved like a bully for 12 years toward four other groups–including the leaders of Sodom and Gomorrah. Finally, they have had enough and stage a revolt. Kedorlaomer and his allies defeat them in a battle near the Dead Sea, and ransack Sodom and Gommorah, taking everything they want–including people. One of those people was Lot, the nephew of Abraham.

To this point, Abraham has stayed out of the conflict, but when he learns that Lot has been taken captive, he organizes his own army, defeats Kedorloamer and his allies, and recovers all the stolen property–including his nephew.

On his way back from the battle, Abraham is met by another leader – Melchizedek of Salem and a priest/representative of the “Most High God.” This is the first reference to Melchizedek and he has not been involved in the conflict or the alliances. Melchizedek blesses Abraham, and then Abraham gives Melchizedek a tenth of the recovered property.

What, if anything, does this first war story teach us about conflict and involvement in war? The word “Salem” in Hebrew means “Peace.” As the priest/representative of the Most High God, what is Melchizedek’s relationship to the various alliances and the war? Where do you see God in the story? Does God have a role in the war? If so, what is it?

Each day (except Sundays) during Lent, we will post a Scripture for reflection on our theme, “Military Withdrawal.” Together, we will learn to walk in God’s ways of peacemaking and reconciliation. These posts are meant to stimulate conversation and interaction. Please post your thoughts and comments.

Israel and Edom – Part 2

¹⁰ “Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame
    and destroyed forever.
¹¹ When they were invaded, you stood aloof, refusing to help them.
Foreign invaders carried off their wealth and cast lots to divide up Jerusalem,
    but you acted like one of Israel’s enemies.

¹² “You should not have gloated when they exiled your relatives to distant lands.
You should not have rejoiced when the people of Judah suffered such misfortune.
You should not have spoken arrogantly in that terrible time of trouble.
¹³ You should not have plundered the land of Israel when they were suffering such calamity.
You should not have gloated over their destruction when they were suffering such calamity.
You should not have seized their wealth when they were suffering such calamity.
¹⁴ You should not have stood at the crossroads, killing those who tried to escape.
You should not have captured the survivors and handed them over in their terrible time of trouble.

Obadiah 1:10-14 (NLT)

The prophet Obadiah outlines Edomite complicity during the destruction of Jerusalem and the forced displacement of the people of Judah. What makes the complicity especially egregious is that Edom is a “close relative” of Israel and Judah. They refused to aid their sisters and brothers. Obadiah, speaking for God, says that Edom will experience a similar fate as a result.

When you read through the list of things the Edomites “should not have” done, why do you think they acted that way? What do you think God would have wanted them to do instead? Have you ever rejoiced in someone’s suffering? Taken advantage of people when they are down on their luck? Acted more like an enemy that a friend? Can you think of examples when our nation has done what we “should not have” done in times of war? What do you think God would have wanted us to do instead?

Each day (except Sundays) during Lent, we will post a Scripture for reflection on our theme, “Military Withdrawal.” Together, we will learn to walk in God’s ways of peacemaking and reconciliation. These posts are meant to stimulate conversation and interaction. Please post your thoughts and comments.

Israel and Edom – Part 1

¹⁴ While Moses was at Kadesh, he sent ambassadors to the king of Edom with this message: “This is what your relatives, the people of Israel, say: You know all the hardships we have been through. ¹⁵ Our ancestors went down to Egypt, and we lived there a long time, and we and our ancestors were brutally mistreated by the Egyptians. ¹⁶ But when we cried out to the Lord, he heard us and sent an angel who brought us out of Egypt. Now we are camped at Kadesh, a town on the border of your land. ¹⁷ Please let us travel through your land. We will be careful not to go through your fields and vineyards. We won’t even drink water from your wells. We will stay on the king’s road and never leave it until we have passed through your territory.”

¹⁸ But the king of Edom said, “Stay out of my land, or I will meet you with an army!”

Numbers 20:14-18

The Israelites are descendants of Jacob; the Edomites are descendants of Esau. Even though Jacob and Esau were able to restore a brotherly relationship, the following generations took up the old animosity and became enemies. This instance of rejection of the Israelites by the Edomites was the first of many incidents between the two groups. For a time, Israel occupied Edomite land under King David; the Edomites took control of Judah following the Babylonian exile. The primary explanation for their armed conflict was the desire for expansion of territory (ie land). Land continues to be a primary reason for war today.

Have you been impacted by generational conflict? If so, how? Many wars are fought between two related groups with long histories of unresolved conflict. Do you think it is possible to break the cycles of generational mistrust and animosity? If so, how?

Each day (except Sundays) during Lent, we will post a Scripture for reflection on our theme, “Military Withdrawal.” Together, we will learn to walk in God’s ways of peacemaking and reconciliation. These posts are meant to stimulate conversation and interaction. Please post your thoughts and comments.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces over a month ago shouldn’t be a surprise. The two nations share a long and complicated history which has in the past 10 years included armed conflict over the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and with Russian backed separatists in Eastern Ukraine. There are other issues too–like the US-led expansion of NATO into former Warsaw Pact nations after the breakup of the USSR in 1991. Ukraine’s interest in joining NATO has only increased the tension. Here’s one attempt to explain the history to better understand the current crisis.

Today is the first day of the month of Ramadan, a month of fasting, prayer and charity observed by Muslims throughout the world. As part of our Lenten Observance, we encourage you to watch “Waging Peace,” a 60-minute documentary about Christians and Muslims that are working for peace and to bridge a long-standing divide.

Jacob and Esau – Part 3

33 Then Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his 400 men….³ Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. ⁴ Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.

⁵ Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked, “Who are these people with you?”

“These are the children God has graciously given to me, your servant,” Jacob replied. ⁶ Then the servant wives came forward with their children and bowed before him. ⁷ Next came Leah with her children, and they bowed before him. Finally, Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed before him.

⁸ “And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?” Esau asked. Jacob replied, “They are a gift, my lord, to ensure your friendship.” ⁹ “My brother, I have plenty,” Esau answered. “Keep what you have for yourself.”

¹⁰ But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God! ¹¹ Please take this gift I have brought you, for God has been very gracious to me. I have more than enough.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau finally accepted the gift.

Genesis 33:1a, 3-11 (NLT)

Jacob’s encounter with Esau plays out much differently that he expected. Why do you think Esau was able to be so gracious and forgiving of Jacob? Would you have been as kind as Esau? When relationships break down, who do you think is responsible for taking the first step to restore them? What is the role of the perpetrator? What is the role of the victim? What can you learn about peacemaking from the story of Jacob and Esau?

Each day (except Sundays) during Lent, we will post a Scripture for reflection on our theme, “Military Withdrawal.” Together, we will learn to walk in God’s ways of peacemaking and reconciliation. These posts are meant to stimulate conversation and interaction. Please post your thoughts and comments.