A MN Timberwolves chaplain is rightly asking, no, demanding, a right interpretation of peace by us preachers. Emphatically, the call is to be clear that a faithful sermon for peace is not a call for passive, standing down to avoid conflict or confrontation. That is not peace.
Yes. Please listen to pastors calling for peace–in its entirety. When I preach peace, I strive for the vision in the whole of Scripture–the rejection of empire, the repentance that is walking away from domination, oppression, divisive forces of violence, dehumanization, enrichment of the few on the impoverishment of the masses.
I strive to proclaim the Peace that walks in solidarity, empowerment, non-violence, reuniting appreciations of diversity, equity and inclusion; peace that believes in interdependence, that every human bears holiness in being; peace that builds commonwealth upon abundance that is real and present; peace that refuses to cooperate with, does not turn a blind eye to nor accept injustice, inhumanity or violent, aggressive murderous tactics of power over others.
When I preach peace, I am not preaching passive acceptance and crossed-fingered wishes upon a star.
Peace is active and often results in bearing the cross of persecution, and horrendously, may include death.
What greater love than to lay down one’s life does not mean hand yourself over to executioners. It means a life helping others even though your life might be taken from you when you least expect it. It means walking an extra mile, carrying a heavier load, helping the shoved to the ground rise up from the imagined graves dug by their oppressors.
And it means loving the enemy enough to know your work for freedom is for them, too.
Would that I could walk my talk and be that kind of peacemaker!
One step at time, 1000s of 1000s of 1000s of such peacemakers are in MN and so many places. Blessed are they who are showing us all the way to the kin-dom of heaven on earth.
Preach on!
While I cannot walk with you, I promise not to hide from those you stand against and those you labor for.
Beloved, be loved, be peace, preach on!
bevfriedlander 