Jesus was a Socialist Jew – Bake Sales and Bombers

Greetings Dear Reader,

“It will be a great day when our schools have all the money they need, and our air force has to have a bake-sale to buy a bomber.”  Robert Fulghum

Long before the word meme was popular this quote made it way around the country in the name of peace.  I have heard this in many variations over the years.  It is a great vision.   

There is a core issue that I see with those who follow Christ and also lobby for war.  Please hear clearly that I love and respect those who serve in the military and protect our freedom.  Please also hear clearly that I hate war.  It is evil and violates the very heart of who Christ commands us to be as his followers.

Love your enemies.  This is impossible to do if you shoot, shell, or bomb them before you meet them.  Too many of our leaders are willing to go to war too quickly.  Violence against others is too high up on the list. 

This is such a hard line to hold if we speak circumstantially.  I cannot imagine a situation where I would not want to defend my family if needed.  I also cannot imagine a way to get around the commands of Christ to love and not resist our enemies.

I try not to get to mystical about my faith and following.  I have seen the power that exists when we use faith over violence.  I was young.  My Grandfather and I were leaving a Brave’s baseball game late on a Friday night.  We were walking along a street to the remote parking area where his car waited.

A man stepped out of the bushes brandishing a knife.  He looked at my Grandfather and said, “Give me your money.”   My Grandfather’s response was simple and direct.

In a calm voice he responded, “Jesus forbids you do to this.  I think he wants you to stay right there while I take my Grandson to the car.  You need to stop robbing people and find a good church.”

The man could not move.  He yelled epithets and threats as we walked the rest of the way to the car but he stood frozen where he had accosted us.  As we drove past him my Grandfather stopped, He did not address the man.  Instead he prayed out loud.  “Father I suppose you can release him.  Please send someone to him so that he finds you.”   The man bolted into the woods. 

Dear Reader I cannot prove this.  That is not why I relate the tale.  If we truly believe in the power of the God we follow then this should be our heart.  I often imagine what we could do if we embraced our faith over fighting back.  If we collectively prayed for our enemies instead of hating them the world could become a better place.

War and violence evolve out of need and greed.  We have a form of godliness but deny its power.  We allow there to be boundaries to our faith.  We choose to allow violence to be an answer. 

I realize that I write this under the freedom provided by every soldier that gave his life to provide it.  I will never disrespect those who fight to protect me whether military or civil.  I will always ask that those who follow Christ use their faith to find a better way.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)