Agents Of Grace and Peace In An Age Of Hate and Violence

I went to bed last night feeling overwhelmed with the angst and chaos of our nation. The news is filled with images of peaceful protests juxtaposed with the American President holding a Bible while inciting violence and retaliation via twitter, and then those protests that have become destructive. It’s overwhelming wondering how best to respond. I woke up this morning reminded of the chaos. Seeing the endless social media posts of black out Tuesday was both a comfort that I’m not alone in the chaos and a reminder of the unresolved tensions and injustice that linger. So, I did what I do, I went out for a run.

While I was running (which has for me become a place of prayer and processing) I was reminded of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s response to Nazi Germany during the time of Word War 2. Bonhoeffer, a theologian and follower of Jesus, fled Germany in the early years of Hitler’s rise to power. While studying abroad, he was convicted that he needed to be in Germany in order to have a voice with his fellow Germans. The return to his homeland lead to a more active role in opposing the Nazi regime and eventually to his death. There are so many lessons to glean from his life, but here’s my takeaway: Jesus followers have an opportunity and responsibility to stay engaged with the condition of our cultural moment. Doing nothing is not an option. In fact, God invites us as recipients of His Grace to be agents of His Grace (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). But how?

Newton’s third law states that, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” While this is primarily a law of physics, it also rings true sociologically and anthropologically. Commonly reduced, it’s the concept of an “eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” It’s the human cycle of justice: you hurt me, I hurt you back (but maybe a little worse). Human justice creates an ongoing cycle of retaliation. Every victim has a justification for their equal and opposite reaction. Sometimes the retaliation is towards the abuser, and sometimes it’s toward the closest or most vulnerable subject (aka kicking the dog, because your boss is a jerk). Human justice seeks to respond or retaliate in an equal or greater response in order to end the transaction. As the history of humanity illustrates so well, this retaliation carries on. 

There is only one thing that can stop this cycle: grace. 2 Corinthians 5:21 speaking of Jesus says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” God sent Jesus, His sinless son to pay the price for sin and injustice. Jesus didn’t deserve to pay that price, but he paid it freely as an act of grace. In the account of Jesus’ life found in Matthew 5:38-39, Jesus says, “you have heard that it was said, ‘eye for eye, tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person, If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” Jesus not only taught this, but lived it as well. In the greatest event of human history Jesus defeated death by laying down his life. When we were enemies of God, deserving of death, he paid that debt for us, dying in our place. Grace is a free and undeserved gift. God’s grace is seen in that while we as humans had sinned, he freely pours out forgiveness, redemption, and eternal life through Jesus (Romans 3:23-4). Grace interrupts our cycle of justice (an eye for an eye). It is the only thing strong enough to defeat injustice and death, bringing about healing and life. 

Here is my takeaway, grace is how we must respond. Reflecting Jesus during this cultural moment means that we take seriously the call to be agents of grace and peace or as 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 states it, “we are ambassadors of reconciliation.”  God entered humanity to extend us the greatest gift of grace and now He has entrusted us with the ministry of showing and telling people about that grace. 

How do we then show grace and peace during a time of so much hate and violence? Here are several principles that I am thinking through:

 -       Respond in Faith, not fear. When we respond out of fear, it is an attempt to control circumstances that we can not. Control is the opposite of love and puts us back into the cycle of human justice. Faith, in contrast reminds us of the words of Psalm 46, “Be still and know that I am God” and, “therefore we will not fear.” These words come right after the descriptive image of the world falling apart: “though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.” Both war and natural disaster may come, but we have secure refuge and hope in God. I am tempted to move quickly past this reminder and ask, “but what can I do?” However, this is the foundation that our action as Jesus followers must be built on. If we remember that God is in control of all things, then our response is not “what do I do?” but, “how do I partner with what God is doing?” The all-powerful God is always about grace and love not retaliation and control. This provides the foundation of our responses.

-       Perfect love casts out fear. If we are acting in love, we aren’t fostering fear. I feel challenged to channel my frustrations into acts of love. Where can we show radical love and generosity? When I am tempted to be defensive, how can I instead show grace? When I disagree strongly with someone, how can I still have a gracious posture of listening and learning? One of the best ways to show love is to pray for others. Pray for our government leaders. Pray for police officers. Pray for those that have been discriminated against. Pray for reform and change. Another way to express love is to serve those who are oppressed. James 1:27-2:1 says that true religion is to care for widows and orphans. Who are the widows and orphans in your neighborhood, local schools, and city? If you are a church leader, seek out ways to give minorities a voice and influence in your church. Look for ways to be a student of peoples’ cultures. Fear is what is driving much of the atrocity we are seeing across our nation. As Jesus followers we have an opportunity to express a radical “gospel” love that allows us to love even our enemies.

-       Stand for what you are for, not what you’re against. One of the great tactics of Satan is to get us focused on what we are against more than what we are for. This is a posture of defense or being a victim and it puts us back into the cycle of human justice (eye for an eye). But we are not of those who shrink back (Hebrews 10:39). In Jesus we are more than conquerors (Romans 8:37). What are the things that the gospel of Jesus stands for? Stand firm in those. What does this look like? Practically speaking, this morning I wanted to post and image of the President on social media posing with incredulity, “how we have gotten here?” I was tempted to digitally alter this photo of the president holding the Bible. Both of these actions come from a place of feeling like this is happening to us (victim thinking). I felt convicted that this was not a response of grace. It wouldn’t have changed the president’s actions, it wouldn’t have halted his Tweets, it would have lowered me to his level of jousting on social media. In fact, it would only add to the attention he tirelessly seeks. What are we really for in Christ Jesus? Grace not retaliation. Forgiveness not accusation. Peace not violence. So, how can I show this? Maybe instead of burning a flag, we put out a flag that says, “black lives matter”. Maybe instead of getting angsty at the latest news report, we look for an opportunity to bless one of our neighbors with a meal or a check in. Or maybe we deliver water bottles to those protesting, or peacefully walk alongside them in solidarity. Maybe instead of getting mad at someone in the grocery store, I think about how to encourage and thank people, especially the essential workers. 

 I don’t know where God is asking you to partner with what He is doing, but I do know that if we ask Him, He will show us. Pray with me for peace. Pray with me for grace. Pray together that Jesus will return and set all things right.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and where you are seeing the Lord lead you.