Real freedom

Thanks to Emergent Village, I read a great post today about pacifism. Mark Van Steenwyk, on JesusManifesto.com, shares a struggle that he used to have when sharing his nonviolent stance: Onward, Christian Soldiers. Many respond that the only way we're able to hold pacifist beliefs or have the freedom to converse about them is because our fathers and grandfathers sacrificed and fought. I'm like Mark was, and didn't really know how to answer that. Now, however, Mark has a different response. He shares:

When American Christians use the words “freedom” and “liberty” and “sacrifice” they are usually being patriotic. When asked if Jesus “sacrificed” for our “freedom” and “liberty” they would quickly agree…and wouldn’t see any conflict between the American sense of these words and the Christian sense. If pressed, I would imagine that the typical American Christian would explain that American soldiers die for our physical or political freedom. Jesus, however, died for our spiritual freedom. It is as though Jesus is Lord of the Spirit but Uncle Sam is Lord of the Flesh.

He talks about kingdom patriotism:

The only ones who sacrificed for my freedom are Jesus and the martyrs…all of those who suffer for the Faith. If by adopting pacifism I dishonor America’s soldiers, by renouncing pacifism I dishonor the blood of Christ and the martyrs.

[...]

Many brave Christians have died throughout the ages turning the other cheek–laying down their lives so that Christ could be clearly revealed to the world. This is a greater sacrifice than that soldiers makes in service of their country. It is kingdom patriotism…laying down one’s life in the cause of Christ.

Mark has decided to join the Christian Peacemaker Teams in order to put his beliefs into action. He clears up the misconception that pacifist equals passive-ist: "despite popular beliefs, there is no linguistic tie between the words 'pacifism' and 'passive.' A 'pacifist' is one who practices or makes peace. A peace maker. A peace-ist."

He ends his thoughts with this comment:  "The freedom that comes from democracy, while beneficial, is paltry compared to the abundant freedom we have in Christ." The freedoms and liberties we have gained come at a great human cost, and we spend a lot of money maintaining "security" for America. I responded to a comment to an earlier post of mine with a few statistics from Brian McLaren's Everything Must Change, and thought I would re-post some of them here:

The U.S. spends $100 million a day just maintaining our weapons in case someone attacks our soil, and just a tenth of the military budget  could provide the basic needs of the entire world's poor! One half of 1% of the military budget could also be used to decrease hunger by 50% in Africa by 2015 (162, 165-66). McLaren also describes how the U.S. makes our weapons in bulk since it's cheaper, then sells them to other countries. How will that secure real peace and freedom?

Comments

[Jeff short]

Mark's thoughts on sacrifice, freedom and liberty are great. I will be better prepared myself to discuss this in the future. Being a guy I like to use peace activist as opposed to pacifist, and no amount of word studies will probably change that. Thanks for sharing.