Last night I was watching a CNN Easter special about Jesus and the host was asking a range of theologians about what would Jesus do in today’s world, especially with regards to politics? I was shocked to hear more than one theologian say that God was a God of war and that Jesus would condone the Iraq war. One Theologian said, “There are some things worth dying for […] freedom is one of those things.” I began to question how someone could say that. I was reminded of Wink’s concept of Jesus as trying to use active nonviolence to work for justice. How could people’s understanding of Jesus be so different? For me, I cannot fathom how people can use Jesus to justify any wars. When Jesus said “Love your Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself,” I think that it’s pretty clear—love everyone. He also said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” How can you say yes I love my neighbor so much, I want to kill him? I cant fathom Jesus coming to earth and leading us to war. Maybe I am wrong, but I believe that we are all one. We all are children of God. As Tony Campolo once asked can you imagine Jesus dropping a bomb on another Jesus? I can’t imagine Jesus ever resorting to violence. The Prince of Peace came to bring peace and preach love. How can we have missed this message so much?
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