As a white, middle-class, American Christian, suffering does not come to my door all that often. Still, what I might call suffering may not be seen as suffering in the context of another. While newly married and struggling with all the things that come with being young, struggling to meet my financial responsibilities would probably not count as suffering. My life has never been threatened, I've never had to hide my beliefs from an oppressive social government. And contrary to the rants of some, my ability to worship as a person has never been stifled in the public square, and though there may be contentions, this is not persecution or suffering.
What is suffering, though, is when a horrible thing like the bombings in Boston takes the life of a young child. People innocently gathering to enjoy a test of endurance and physical discipline only to become the victims of a terrible act. In the aftermath, people are left broken, both physically and emotionally, and we as a society have a dark shadow of fear thrown over us. We search for answers of who did this, why did this happen, what do they want, and how do we respond?
Many of those questions can not be answered by those who have to find a way to live in the aftermath. Instead, we should focus on how we will respond. Voices have already called out over the noise to say what we will or should do as a response. The cries for retribution have come from all levels, including the president. I'm sure that as this next Sunday arrives we will get responses from all across the spectrum from ministers who will tell us that its either judgment for some sin or an act of evil that calls for a swift response, and others will ask us to pray for the peace to heal the broken. The name of God will be bandied about in order to support these perspectives, and we are left to find where we stand in this situation.
While I did not suffer directly, and will not call myself a sufferer because I am a citizen of the country where this happened, people are suffering unjustly. Bodies have been damaged, emotions are raw, and some are mourning. This forces us to look at ourselves and marvel at those who respond positively in the moment with courage and compassion, but we should also analyze what it is about ourselves that wants to see these graphic pictures of broken people as well as why we should have to call for more violence as a response. The smoke is still rising and surgeons are still working. Evidence of who did this and why has not come forward, but we are ready to strike. Why? What compels us to have a response so soon? As a Christian, is this good?
Since I call myself by the name of Christ, which in and of itself can be problematic, I must look to the example of Jesus' to find a place where I can live in this new present. I am continually drawn back to this verse.
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 NRSV
It is incredible how we can use, and misuse this statement. It's not a "good" commandment, or a "great" commandment, but the "greatest" commandment. I have to start here. I want to respond with anger, I want to be the avenging angel of God, at least in my own little movie of how my life works, but that is not what Jesus lays out as my path. While it may be uncool to look at the Christian Bible, that's where I'm led, and so I will not apologize for it. I think there are things we NEED to remember about life. It's just that important.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 NRSV
While I will overlook the discussion of who is and who is not a Gentile, and why that word can be offensive, this seems so much like a way to ignore the real power of the verse. "Love" is supposed to be our response. This love is greater than violence exactly because it does not respond with violence. It's like trying to break the cycles of familial violence. If we want to see a new future, we should live a different present. Continually reacting with more violence and taking of life will change nothing. Though Osama Bin Laden is dead, we have another attack that kills more. Though we have ended one war, we have scaled up another. We say we are fighting terror, while our drones terrorize people half-way around the world.
Our newsfeeds will be flooded with images of the bloodied and anguished. Some will win awards for the raw images they can show us of the "moment," and our society will take them in with hands on hearts saying, "we must do something." Why do we need/want to see such things? Is not the pain of a person a private thing? Is it exploitation of the individual to flash these things on the cover of Time and the broadcasts of Fox and MSNBC? Are we so inhuman that we must see horrific pain in order to feel a connection? Isn't this just as violent a treatment of these people as the initial act?
I believe there can be love in just letting people weep and wail in private. I think we can feel empathy without being forced to sickness by the gratuitous. Human beings are an incredible animal in our ability to perceive beyond ourselves. I can feel pain without having to have my body destroyed by fire and ball-bearings, and I can also feel pain over loss without having to be shown death. Can these images be our only motivator for response?
So, now I am on the other side of yesterday. There are more hurting people in the world, and I have to respond. I could respond in the vein of past statements that it is our imperative to work on the part of God to remove violence. (This is a summary not a direct quotation.) Unfortunately, if I am to structure my ethics on the foundations of the teachings of Jesus, then violence can not be my response. The violent actions of Boston cause me to mourn, and I want to join with those who hurt in solidarity. I weep for you, and I pray that the peace of the God who mourns is with you and your families. Peace be with you.
What is suffering, though, is when a horrible thing like the bombings in Boston takes the life of a young child. People innocently gathering to enjoy a test of endurance and physical discipline only to become the victims of a terrible act. In the aftermath, people are left broken, both physically and emotionally, and we as a society have a dark shadow of fear thrown over us. We search for answers of who did this, why did this happen, what do they want, and how do we respond?
Many of those questions can not be answered by those who have to find a way to live in the aftermath. Instead, we should focus on how we will respond. Voices have already called out over the noise to say what we will or should do as a response. The cries for retribution have come from all levels, including the president. I'm sure that as this next Sunday arrives we will get responses from all across the spectrum from ministers who will tell us that its either judgment for some sin or an act of evil that calls for a swift response, and others will ask us to pray for the peace to heal the broken. The name of God will be bandied about in order to support these perspectives, and we are left to find where we stand in this situation.
While I did not suffer directly, and will not call myself a sufferer because I am a citizen of the country where this happened, people are suffering unjustly. Bodies have been damaged, emotions are raw, and some are mourning. This forces us to look at ourselves and marvel at those who respond positively in the moment with courage and compassion, but we should also analyze what it is about ourselves that wants to see these graphic pictures of broken people as well as why we should have to call for more violence as a response. The smoke is still rising and surgeons are still working. Evidence of who did this and why has not come forward, but we are ready to strike. Why? What compels us to have a response so soon? As a Christian, is this good?
Since I call myself by the name of Christ, which in and of itself can be problematic, I must look to the example of Jesus' to find a place where I can live in this new present. I am continually drawn back to this verse.
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40 NRSV
It is incredible how we can use, and misuse this statement. It's not a "good" commandment, or a "great" commandment, but the "greatest" commandment. I have to start here. I want to respond with anger, I want to be the avenging angel of God, at least in my own little movie of how my life works, but that is not what Jesus lays out as my path. While it may be uncool to look at the Christian Bible, that's where I'm led, and so I will not apologize for it. I think there are things we NEED to remember about life. It's just that important.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 NRSV
While I will overlook the discussion of who is and who is not a Gentile, and why that word can be offensive, this seems so much like a way to ignore the real power of the verse. "Love" is supposed to be our response. This love is greater than violence exactly because it does not respond with violence. It's like trying to break the cycles of familial violence. If we want to see a new future, we should live a different present. Continually reacting with more violence and taking of life will change nothing. Though Osama Bin Laden is dead, we have another attack that kills more. Though we have ended one war, we have scaled up another. We say we are fighting terror, while our drones terrorize people half-way around the world.
Our newsfeeds will be flooded with images of the bloodied and anguished. Some will win awards for the raw images they can show us of the "moment," and our society will take them in with hands on hearts saying, "we must do something." Why do we need/want to see such things? Is not the pain of a person a private thing? Is it exploitation of the individual to flash these things on the cover of Time and the broadcasts of Fox and MSNBC? Are we so inhuman that we must see horrific pain in order to feel a connection? Isn't this just as violent a treatment of these people as the initial act?
I believe there can be love in just letting people weep and wail in private. I think we can feel empathy without being forced to sickness by the gratuitous. Human beings are an incredible animal in our ability to perceive beyond ourselves. I can feel pain without having to have my body destroyed by fire and ball-bearings, and I can also feel pain over loss without having to be shown death. Can these images be our only motivator for response?
So, now I am on the other side of yesterday. There are more hurting people in the world, and I have to respond. I could respond in the vein of past statements that it is our imperative to work on the part of God to remove violence. (This is a summary not a direct quotation.) Unfortunately, if I am to structure my ethics on the foundations of the teachings of Jesus, then violence can not be my response. The violent actions of Boston cause me to mourn, and I want to join with those who hurt in solidarity. I weep for you, and I pray that the peace of the God who mourns is with you and your families. Peace be with you.
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