Loving those enemies within

But even if they [advocates for war, or the war as needed folks] refuse to hear me, and to respect the restraints they are theoretically committed to [by the requirements of the Just War tradition they promote], I owe it to their dignity as fellow humans, some of whom are fellow Christians, to address them in terms of their moral culture, not only of mine. That readiness to make oneself vulnerable to the language world of the other . . . is itself a minority view. For many, the only honorable stance in an ecumenical settings is a vigorous advocacy of the rightness of one’s own orthodoxy. For me, the opposite is imperative on grounds of practicality, ethics, and spirituality.

My use of their language, taking it’s potential integrity more seriously than they do, is a form of the second-mile response that Jesus taught and lived. I am driven not by the integrity of their position, which is what needs to be proven and which I doubt, but by the integrity of my own position, which is not dependent on results to be valid.

That came from The War of the Lamb by John H. Yoder, essay found in chapter 8; I added the emphasis.

After I wrote the last post, I went on into chapter 8 and was delighted to see a fleshing out of my own thoughts. As Yoder encapsulated a little after the above words,

I do not take this position on pragmatic grounds because I have any confidence that it will convert people. My position is itself a form of love of the enemy, turning the other cheek, affirming the dignity of the adversary, which also underlies my refusal of war.

A consistent nonviolence demands that I, as a disciple of Jesus and promoter of his nonviolent Good News (side note: I listened to podcast yesterday wherein the interviewee hoped one day the term “nonviolent” would be irrelevant, redundant; when we all could just say “Good News” and understand that nonviolence was implied, embedded; a lovely thought), love my enemies, love my adversaries, regardless of whether they are inside or outside the Church. Whether a country, a religion, a people group, a man breaking into my home, a pastor of a church on the corner, or my own brother, I need to show them love and dignity and respect as humans, bearing the image of God; to be an example of Jesus to them, to evangelize even Christians for the Good News. That could mean simply serving them, but it also requires that I hold them to the standards they set for themselves, as well as keep them accountable.

Those who at least believe they hold to the Just War tradition, though I have a difficult time finding examples of them, need to understand what it is they hold to and the requirements of the tradition. If they did, I’m confident they would be rejecting the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead, there is widespread support among conservative, Republican Christians here in the US. That leads me to my choice phrase, war as needed. If you deem a war is necessary, than do it. That’s a little more accurate depiction of what is going on right now. There are no real checks and balances, or requirements to meet, when the Christian advocate for war looks at the military activity of the US. It’s very simple: if the US has been attacked, retaliation is necessary; all we can do as Christians is support them and take up arms in defense of the country.

But who among the Just War advocates is willing to walk through that conversation? Who is willing to take a stand for the Just War tradition and not let it die?

I, an advocate for gospel nonviolence, have learned so much from understanding the Just War tradition and the arguments of those Christians who advocate for war and violence. I have learned because I have listened. And through that I have learned more about the nonviolent Good News that Jesus taught and lived than I could have had I only read or listened to the words of peace teachers. We can learn from eachother if we are willing to love eachother.

By the way, I’m still looking for ways or opportunities to give a mint condition copy of The War of the Lamb away. I’m open to ideas. But, I’d really love to see the book get passed on. If you’re a gospel nonviolence person and want to read it, great; but hopefully you know someone not so embracing of peace but is interested in learning more.