Tag Archives: Negotiation

Yoke of Justice

choose-jesusLiving in the Spirit
November 16, 2016

Scripture Reading: Psalm 145:1-5, 17-21

One generation shall laud your works to another,
   and shall declare your mighty acts.
On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
   and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
The Lord is just in all his ways,
   and kind in all his doings.
The Lord is near to all who call on him,
   to all who call on him in truth. –Psalm 145:4-5, 17-18

In a CBS interview with a post-election focus group of Trump supporters, one woman answered she voted for Trump despite some of the negative things stated about him because she was not picking a Sunday school teacher. Her comment raised a lot of questions. I have no idea from what viewpoint her expression came but two questions raised in my mind are one’s faith communities need to consider. Was she saying that faith is in one basket and politics another? Was she suggesting that she was tired of people trying to force their religious beliefs on her?

Separation of church and state is the source of the second question, and I agree to force what I believe on another serves no good purpose. God is very clear in God’s covenants that people follow by choice. Jesus reflected that in all his dealings. He always offered an invitation for people to come to him as a choice. ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ (Matthew 11:28-30) I fear we chase people from God when we try to cram our interpretation of his will down their throats.

Just as important though is separating our faith from our world view. It cannot be done. We either see all people as children of God or we do not. We love our neighbors no matter what. We feed the hungry, clothe the naked, heal the sick, restore prisoners, and welcome strangers in a continuum of caring that is reflected in all aspects of our lives including the civic part. Over the history of the church, many negotiations happened in how all that plays out. Some so early in church development, their stories are recorded in the New Testament. When we broaden that negotiation stage to include people of different faiths or no faith at all, our God-centered skills of finding common ground toward the Common Good face even greater challenges. Jesus did not say there was no yoke. Jesus says he is sharing the yoke of justice whenever we willingly embrace it.

Prayer: Lord, guide us to find common ground from which to grow the Common Good. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.

Spreading Shalom

swords into plowsLiving in the Spirit
August 4, 2015

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him.

 Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, ‘Good tidings for my lord the king! For the Lord has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.’ The king said to the Cushite, ‘Is it well with the young man Absalom?’ The Cushite answered, ‘May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man.’

 The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, ‘O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!’ –2 Samuel 15, 31-33

What about human nature allows us to get to these points in life when we cannot seem to come back from the tragic consequences of our own making? Fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, political parties against political parties, nations against nations strive for success at the price of their very souls.

There is a great debate in our world today, a continuation of one that has been fought for eons, whether it is better to negotiate peace or obtain it by force. It seems to me an oxymoron to go to war to obtain peace. It also seems, by responding violence for violence, we are allowing our enemies to define us, sap our resources, and perpetuate the cycle of society’s destruction.

Our individual relationship with God is the starting point for world peace. The oneness we share with others who are also honing their relationship with God is the starting point for sharpening our abilities to create a foundation of shalom designed to undergird all relationships throughout the world opening the door for negotiation. It all starts with trusting God more than we trust violence.

Prayer: Lord make us instruments of your peace. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.