During the course of a week a lot comes across the desk (and Internet) of the pastor: magazines, requests for money, letters, announcements, invitations to many good meetings and workshops etc., etc.  It is not uncommon for much of it to find “file 13” waiting.  I have a well-used delete button on my computer and a large recycle box next to my desk that regularly gets emptied and taken away.  I suspect it’s not unlike many of your desks and computers. 

But recently I had two items that came within twenty-four hours of each other.  One on my computer and the other in the mail.  Each brought the usual shuffle to a screeching halt!  And what’s more, I haven’t been able to shake free of either one of them.  In fact, since they both arrived, they have only grown and caused other items to catch my attention.  I have not often scratched the lectionary guide for I have found it to be a good discipline for me.  But it’s scratched for today! My apologies for those of you who follow it and were expecting a different focus today. 

Let me reread Proverbs 16: 10-12 (from the paraphrase version, The Message) 

“A good leader motivates, doesn’t mislead, doesn’t exploit.  God cares about honesty in the workplace, your business is God’s business.  Good leaders abhor wrongdoings of all kinds; sound leadership has a moral foundation.”  

There is a phrase there that continues to haunt me –

“good leaders abhor wrongdoings of all kinds.” 

Back to my computer.  The first item that escaped the delete button was an article in The New York Times, published June 4, 2005 regarding Amnesty International that has placed the U.S. on the list of governments accused of human rights abuses, and I quote: 

“...citing indefinite detentions of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, prisoner abuse at Abu Ghraib in Iraq and secret renditions of prisoners to countries that practice torture.” 

While our leaders have called the report “absurd” and “the product of people who ‘hate America,’” Amnesty International is joined in its criticism by The International Committee of the Red Cross, the F.B.I., and the United States Courts.  This report does not even include the recent criticism of the disrespect for the Quran nor, as a radio announcer described it “the interesting techniques” used to interrogate a suspected terrorist.  Nor has it referred to human abuse of other prisoners and the killings of unarmed civilians at point blank range.

I was beginning to get frustrated and puzzled.  Then the second item came across my desk in the form of a letter.  It contained among other things an article written by Dr. Maake J. Masango, of the University of Pretoria in South Africa.  It was written in the Journal for Preachers’ Easter 2005 edition.  This was of particular interest to me because I know Dr. Masango from   one  of  his  visits  to  this  country.    I  had  the pleasure of escorting him in a previous Presbytery while he spoke to the churches of our Presbytery. 

In this article he briefly describes the terror of when white soldiers destroyed his home, and he was treated as one who was not a human being created by God.  Then he gives thanks to the U.S. churches and particularly the Presbyterian Women who gave them hope through the Nestle boycott. But then he calls on you and me to address another kind of violence in the world today.  He writes:

“My role is to remind U.S. pastors that yours is a powerful country and that through this power you can bring peace to the world….  We had hoped that your country would not retaliate with violence.  When you did, the world lost a graceful time that could have produced peace”    

He says this as one who knew the dangers of retaliation when South Africa moved from white leadership to black.  It chose Truth and Reconciliation rather than an eye for an eye: tit for tat.  It was the first major transition of power without bloodshed.  He goes on to say:

As preachers we need to confront the assertion of civil religion, especially when leaders who promote violence invoke it….  The church cannot tolerate the misuse of scriptural passages in order to justify violence.        

I know that for the most part I am “preaching to the choir” in this regard.   Many  of us have bemoaned this travesty over our coffee cups.  We have campaigned for different leadership.  But is this enough? 

Mathew challenges some old sayings about an eye for an eye – violence for violence.  We have been coached into the thought of despising our enemies rather than loving them. We are alarmed about our climbing death rate but are rarely told the cost of lives of the people of Iraq.  We lead the world in military expenditure.  In fact, we account for almost one half of all the dollars spent in the world on defense, which now exceeds 1 trillion dollars.  Our expenditures exceed 455 billion.  The next closest country, which is the U.K. spends 47.4 billion on military expenditures.  Can you imagine what that looks like on a bar chart 455 billion up here, and 47.4 billion down here?  China, whose population far exceeds ours, spends only 35.4 billion in military expenditures.  Do we abhor this fact, or merely complain about them?

Are we prepared to say with Jesus “No more tit-for-tat stuff?!”  I am not suggesting intellectual assent.  I am recommending that we begin to protest!  That we join others who have been protesting.  That we call upon our Presbytery to protest.  That we declare that we abhor wrongdoings of all kinds.  We need to start wearing T-shirts that ask, “Who would Jesus Bomb?”  or perhaps more to the tune of Proverbs “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention”!

Jesus is trying to get our attention in this Sermon on the Mount.  We have been told to love our friends, love our country, and hate our enemies – those of the axis of evil.  But Jesus says love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you. 

I think it is time for us to stop mumbling and start marching.  To start become angry about evil done in our name!  I have not even addressed the rightness or wrongness of the war.  That, too, is in question.  But we DO NEED TO ADDRESS THE CURRENT SITUATION.  Can we continue to condone injustice by our inaction?  To do nothing is to continue  Tit for Tat stuff. 

Jesus calls us to stop that kind of thinking, to change that kind of behavior.  We do not have to live out of fear.  We do not have to fight terror and injustice with more terror and injustice!  We are called to a new way.  South Africa’s example might be one for us to look at.  They had every excuse to respond tit for tat, but they chose a higher way.  Truth and reconciliation.

Are we ready to call for truth?  Are we prepared to handle the truth – not only about others, but also more importantly - about ourselves?  Our Country’s behavior?  Are we ready to listen to others, like Maake Maasango, who call us to action?

Jesus calls us to stop responding in ways our enemies treat us, but respond in ways that are true to who we are.  Jesus’ surprise recommendation to love our enemies is a direct parallel to how God has treated us.  God’s acceptance of us makes us new creatures.  We are to respond differently than expected.  Tit for tat stuff is the old way, love is a new way.

There are various responses we might choose to reflect the power of love.

We might choose to challenge the excesses of our government.  We might protest.  We might cast ballots.

We may choose resistance of one kind or another.  I don’t have the final answer as to how we need to respond.  But if we want to be leaders, if we want our government to be just, are we prepared to abhor evil? 

I was introduced to a Roman Catholic Sister this past week.  One of the things said about her was that she has been fighting violence in Over the Rhine area.  She has done this by staging vigils where there has been violence.  It’s a way to reclaim the sacred.  A way to stand for something not simply against something.  Maybe this is a way to bring about change in the violence we hear about.    

I would specifically ask our Church and Society Committee to research this concern and offer us some appropriate ways for us to respond.  How might we encourage our Presbytery, our community?  Who might we work with to bring about a change?  I know that I no longer can remain silent.

Let me read the closing verse again from Mathew 5:48: 

“In a word, what I am saying is ‘GROW UP’.  You are kingdom subjects.  Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity.  Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”