Rumours of Grace: In the wake of terror - love?
The terrorists who just struck in Brussels
may or may not have known that their attacks
were carried out during the most important
week of the Christian year. It was the week
when churches all over the planet celebrated
the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Ironically, while Islamic terrorists proclaim the greatness of their god, Allah, true religious faith does not demand the killing of one’s enemies. True religious faith opens the door to the possibility of being a victim, not a killer.
That is one of the key insights to be gained by reflecting on the death of Christ who died, not flinging his enemies to destruction, but accepting the death they procured for him.
The world he entered was much like ours. It might not seem like it because today we have smart phones and great health care while the people of Jesus’ time had no electronics and a life expectancy of about 40 years. But it was much like ours in a more fundamental respect: it was home to powers that energized and shaped the people of the time, powers that were ready to deal death to the deserving.
Jesus would have seen the centres of those powers. He saw the military garrison in Jerusalem that was the basis for the glorified Roman terrorism that passed for government in his time. He saw the influence of wealth and knew where the one per cent lived. He had gone to their dinners and typically offended the host or other guests.
The media of his time consisted of the imperial Roman banners, the Roman edicts posted here and there and the allocation of sites where the Romans regularly crucified rebels and miscreants.
He also on many occasions stood face to face with the Jewish religious authorities; he himself as well as most of the earliest Christians were Jews. They were hostile towards him, believing that he was offering a vision of Judaism which amounted to a betrayal of the faith.
His thousands of Jewish followers disagreed, so much so that just prior to his death his enemies were looking for the first opportunity to draw his blood but had to bide their time. They had to calculate with care because, as the writer Luke puts it, the people hung on Jesus’ words (Luke, end of chapter 19).
Just prior to his death, Jesus came back to Jerusalem knowing that he was entering the dragons’ den. The powers of the city would see to his death by torture. By week’s end, Jesus was hunted, arrested, interrogated, tried, convicted of blasphemy and sedition, sentenced and executed.
This would have all been forgotten except for one thing. Within days of his death, he began making appearances. During the next month and half or so hundreds saw him. We ourselves would understand Jesus as just one of many failed devout Jewish leaders living in brutal times except for the fact of his resurrection from death.
So back to the terrorist bombings. The temptation is to respond with retaliation, hatred and fear. But according to Guardian columnist Bleri Lleshi we must not fight terror with more terror. He mentioned journalist Nicolas Henin, who was once captured by ISIS. But he also does not advocate retaliation. He advocates unity.
These two are not far from the truth. Christ is the most well known teacher of the rule to love even our enemies (Matthew 5). He famously stated that it is no credit to love our friends. Everyone does that. But loving the enemy, that is the real challenge. Yes, it is one that tragically has not always been met by his followers. Nevertheless the command is there, condemning those who violate it, and inspiring those who seek a new way forward.
Jesus taught in the same breath that we should pray for our enemies. Perhaps he suggested this because when someone attacks me it is hard for me act charitably toward them. But I can usually, if grudgingly, pray for the person.
A small start perhaps. But it may change my heart, my words and my actions. And as Jesus said elsewhere, from a tiny seed a great tree can grow.
It is my opinion that Muslims, including those who strap on bombs, accept Jesus as something less than I do, but still, as a prophet. Perhaps it would not hurt for those tempted to commit acts of violence in the name of Allah to give thought to the accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings which predate Mohamed by 600 years.
He was more than a prophet. And what he introduced he presented for all. It is not merely a religion, it is a way of life and the only true path to hope for a breaking world.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Ironically, while Islamic terrorists proclaim the greatness of their god, Allah, true religious faith does not demand the killing of one’s enemies. True religious faith opens the door to the possibility of being a victim, not a killer.
That is one of the key insights to be gained by reflecting on the death of Christ who died, not flinging his enemies to destruction, but accepting the death they procured for him.
The world he entered was much like ours. It might not seem like it because today we have smart phones and great health care while the people of Jesus’ time had no electronics and a life expectancy of about 40 years. But it was much like ours in a more fundamental respect: it was home to powers that energized and shaped the people of the time, powers that were ready to deal death to the deserving.
Jesus would have seen the centres of those powers. He saw the military garrison in Jerusalem that was the basis for the glorified Roman terrorism that passed for government in his time. He saw the influence of wealth and knew where the one per cent lived. He had gone to their dinners and typically offended the host or other guests.
The media of his time consisted of the imperial Roman banners, the Roman edicts posted here and there and the allocation of sites where the Romans regularly crucified rebels and miscreants.
He also on many occasions stood face to face with the Jewish religious authorities; he himself as well as most of the earliest Christians were Jews. They were hostile towards him, believing that he was offering a vision of Judaism which amounted to a betrayal of the faith.
His thousands of Jewish followers disagreed, so much so that just prior to his death his enemies were looking for the first opportunity to draw his blood but had to bide their time. They had to calculate with care because, as the writer Luke puts it, the people hung on Jesus’ words (Luke, end of chapter 19).
Just prior to his death, Jesus came back to Jerusalem knowing that he was entering the dragons’ den. The powers of the city would see to his death by torture. By week’s end, Jesus was hunted, arrested, interrogated, tried, convicted of blasphemy and sedition, sentenced and executed.
This would have all been forgotten except for one thing. Within days of his death, he began making appearances. During the next month and half or so hundreds saw him. We ourselves would understand Jesus as just one of many failed devout Jewish leaders living in brutal times except for the fact of his resurrection from death.
So back to the terrorist bombings. The temptation is to respond with retaliation, hatred and fear. But according to Guardian columnist Bleri Lleshi we must not fight terror with more terror. He mentioned journalist Nicolas Henin, who was once captured by ISIS. But he also does not advocate retaliation. He advocates unity.
These two are not far from the truth. Christ is the most well known teacher of the rule to love even our enemies (Matthew 5). He famously stated that it is no credit to love our friends. Everyone does that. But loving the enemy, that is the real challenge. Yes, it is one that tragically has not always been met by his followers. Nevertheless the command is there, condemning those who violate it, and inspiring those who seek a new way forward.
Jesus taught in the same breath that we should pray for our enemies. Perhaps he suggested this because when someone attacks me it is hard for me act charitably toward them. But I can usually, if grudgingly, pray for the person.
A small start perhaps. But it may change my heart, my words and my actions. And as Jesus said elsewhere, from a tiny seed a great tree can grow.
It is my opinion that Muslims, including those who strap on bombs, accept Jesus as something less than I do, but still, as a prophet. Perhaps it would not hurt for those tempted to commit acts of violence in the name of Allah to give thought to the accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings which predate Mohamed by 600 years.
He was more than a prophet. And what he introduced he presented for all. It is not merely a religion, it is a way of life and the only true path to hope for a breaking world.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
