So forgiveness pre-requires understanding the mistakes of the past? here hear re this opposing this me-first, America-first, white-first, male-first approach>…
Weekly lessons in theology and public life • Since 2011
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Introduction: Peace
Read MORE: Introduction: PeaceOne of our young men training to be an Army Ranger remarked it’s a real dilemma trying to reconcile Jesus telling him to love his enemies and the Army teaching him to kill them.
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Lesson 1: Is Peace Possible?
Read MORE: Lesson 1: Is Peace Possible?When I was growing up, my assumption was that history involved periods of warfare followed by periods of peace. I believed that one of the goals of Christianity was to lengthen the peaceful times. Although I was not certain any…
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Lesson 2: Does Peace Begin With Me?
Read MORE: Lesson 2: Does Peace Begin With Me?Recently I received a long Facebook post from a young man who grew up in our congregation and now serves as an officer in Iraq. He was responding to the incident when a lady in a burka was thrown out…
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Lesson 3: What Do Christians Expect From Their Governments?
Read MORE: Lesson 3: What Do Christians Expect From Their Governments?Martin Luther defined the relationship between church and state with a two kingdom doctrine. The standard of the Church is love as she inspires people by proclaiming the Gospel. The norm of the government is justice as it defends people…
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Lesson 4: What Do Christians Expect From Our Churches?
Read MORE: Lesson 4: What Do Christians Expect From Our Churches?Perhaps it is time we recognize the Church is a peace movement. God comes to Father Abraham disgusted at the violence that has damaged his creation. Lamech epitomizes the brutality when he brags to his two wives that he has…
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Lesson 5: What is the Present National Story?
Read MORE: Lesson 5: What is the Present National Story?Abraham Lincoln probably articulates the story by which our nation now understands war in his Second Inaugural Address. It is very much like the one Derek posted earlier in this study. Lincoln called war a mighty scourge that God applies…
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Lesson 6: Does Nonviolence Work?
Read MORE: Lesson 6: Does Nonviolence Work?We ended the last lesson suggesting we need a new story if we are to stop the cycle of war begetting war and violence begetting violence. You hear that same call implied when Roman Catholic statements observe, “Whatever good we…
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Lesson 7: Unveil Truth
Read MORE: Lesson 7: Unveil TruthStrange as it might seem, I regard the Apostle John’s program in Revelation as the most coherent statement of the Christian peace movement. Although it uses mysterious apocalyptic language; it clearly lays out only four weapons available to believers: 1)…
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Lesson 8: Proclaim God’s Word and Praying
Read MORE: Lesson 8: Proclaim God’s Word and PrayingThe Book of Revelation based the Christian peace movement on the truth of God’s Word. Believers could uncover truth by using God’s Word as a standard, but also by remaining in contact with God through prayer. In previous lessons, I…
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Lesson 9: For What Are You Willing to Die?
Read MORE: Lesson 9: For What Are You Willing to Die?The question is a good way to end our consideration of Christianity as a peace movement. The fourth of the weapons that Revelation offers might well be the critical one. Christians not only are to unveil the truth, speak God’s…
Recent Comments
An extremely timely topic. Thanks, Fritz!
yes we need to forgive our leaders yet make sure they do the right thing – which they aren’t.