Peace is the only alternative

“Peace on earth and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.” This is the heart of the Christian Faith. With Jesus, God re-energized his reconciliation efforts. With few exceptions, Jesus has been seen by scholars as a man of peace in an era of turmoil. In a classic picture of Jesus, he is looking over the city of Jerusalem and utters his profound lament. “Oh that they might know the ways of peace.” A yearning for peace lingers on with all the human family.

The meaning of peace in the Israelite tradition is simple. Peace comes when everything is the way it ought to be. As yet, we have not gotten there.

We human beings have tasted this peace, but only in small morsels. Understandably, we want more, but the great peace banquet escapes us. The yearning for peace never goes away. Yet, it escapes us. Peace continues to beckon us to its possibilities. We keep walking away from the possibilities of peace. Why?

Thoughtful people are asking that question more and more. The world is war weary. Admittedly our world is a tough place for peace to do its work. But with every Christmas celebration, we give peace one more try. Is it possible to get it right? Can this be the Christmas season when peace work can begin to blossom?

In 2013 Pope Francis began his leadership of the Roman Catholic Church. The Church he leads claims 1.2 billion members about half of all Christians in the world. Pope Francis has quickly gained the respect of almost all of the entire Christian population. He appears to be a listening Pope. Francis has several bishops, who are advocates of peace. A growing number of non-Catholic Christiana are speaking up about the priority of peace. The consensus impression is that Francis is listening.

At issue is the Just War tradition that has been unquestioned in the Catholic Church for over 1500 years. St. Augustine is given credit for the original thinking behind just war. St. Thomas Aquinas later gave further definition and rules. The argument behind just war theory is that there are times when war is justifiable to restore order. There is now a growing number of religious leaders who are saying that Just War theory has not worked. They argue that wars plant the seeds for the next round of wars.

Earlier I gave a working definition of peace. For best understanding I offer a definition for justice. Justice is done when actions are taken that make people whole, complete, fulfilled. Just war is an unacceptable wording. The new breed of peace activists are rightly pointing out that war by definition can never be just. War by its very nature produces winners and losers and neither finds wholeness. The term needs to be removed from our vocabularies. The expression “just war” should be removed from all Christian teaching. The expression “just war” needs to be replaced by “just peace.” Simply put, justice is the tool that brings the experience of peace. Justice in its best definition is transforming, healing, and full of grace.

Just Peace can be identified by what it does. Just peace establishes relationships with those who have been estranged. Just peace reconciles and never divides. Just peace restores and heals. Just peace embraces everyone and invites everyone to participate. Just peace makes it plain that God has no outcasts. Just peace sustains and makes peace enduring for lifetimes.

A terrible lie should be exposed. Many Americans believe justice is done when punishment is administered in proportion to the offense committed. Jesus specifically rejected the eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth standard. Justice can never be worked and peace can never be established by punishment or penalty. In order to establish peace, punishment should forever be abandoned. In my understanding of the Christian Gospel, grace, forgiveness and pardons are the tools of rectifying and healing. I am glad for the parents that I was given. Not once was I ever paddled, slapped or physically abused. My mother was a master of the kind word. I always knew that I was dearly love by my parents. I am glad that I passed those standards on to my three children.

The grace practiced in the family needs to be practiced on the public square. I do not have a spotless record in this regard. I am thankful for grace. Speaking in kindness is a supreme Christian virtue. If practiced, it can transform committees and discussions, even whole neighborhoods.

Pope Francis is a key figure in the pursuit of peace.

His spoken word and personal actions speak profoundly to most Christians, both Catholic and non-Catholic. But the real work will be done by the rank and file Christians who take seriously their life in Christ.

Out of my reading of books and magazines that call for my actions of justice in the pursuit of peace, I have determined that I will continue to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn the ways of peace. For me there is no other reasonable alternative.

The End

Howard Bess is a retired pastor living in Palmer.