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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion January 28, 2005 |
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Frontline Devotion for Friday, January 28, 2005 By Mike
Martine
Matthew
5:38-42
One of my writing professors in college once told us a story about how, in the
course of writing, you have to “discover” what drives a character.
My professor proceeded to tell us how, in previous years, he had tried to write
a book for boys about an Amish kid who loved to play baseball. This boy, of
course, stuck out on the team because of his clothes, haircut, and accent. Since
the character was Amish, my professor felt that he needed to live by the words
of Christ: “turn the other cheek.”
But the story, my teacher related, wasn’t going anywhere. Then, as he was
trying to write one day, agonizing about how to make his story come alive, he
heard in his mind the voice of his character saying: “if they strike you, turn
the other cheek. If they hit that cheek, too, beat the hell out of them.”
The story, after that, wrote itself and was heartily welcomed by the publisher.
(Nothing like an Amish kid bloodying noses to sell a few books.)
I laughed that day at that story—some of me still does. I laughed the same way
when I watched the movie “Witness” and Harrison Ford, posing as an Amishman,
beat the stuffing out of some men who more than deserved it for their treatment
of the Amish.
But at the same time, I recognized that violence, no matter how “justified”
is always an inferior way of settling a disagreement. I recognized this because
I’m a lot like that little Amish boy in the story. I’m usually the last
person to start an argument. But, if things get ugly, and if people start
slapping the “cheek” offered in peace, I’m likely the one who will finish
it. (By the way, I’m not proud of that.)
But after the adrenaline rush of finishing off an opponent—in a verbal fight,
a fistfight, or whatever, where are we left? In truth, we are left remembering
the battle, and those who have lost end up feeling wronged—whether the scales
of truth would agree with them or not.
Once the fight is over the road to peace actually becomes harder, not easier.
This is because now there is more that must be healed, more that must be
overcome, before adversaries see themselves as equals. For only in meeting as
equals can individuals, or even countries, engage in true peace.
I am not, believe it or not, a pacifist. But as I look at the wisdom of Jesus, I
wonder, should I be?
At the very least, our walk with Christ must be a walk that strives for peace. A
walk that looks to every opportunity to coexist with those different than us.
For when we stray from the path of peace, even when all indicators are that such
action is “necessary,” the road back to peace only becomes longer.
Pray for wisdom in our lives. Pray for wisdom among the nations. Pray for wisdom
in the world—you will be praying for peace.
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