From “The Cross in our Context” by Douglas John Hall
Those who wield the sword perish by the sword – a motto, surely, that applies to divinity as much as to humanity. A god who rules with the sword will not survive the revenge of his victims, however long it may be in coming. If God’s object is proximity to us (“I will be your God and you will be my people”), if God wills to transform us through the power of “suffering love,” then no application of power in the usual sense could possibly attain this object.
Like oil and water – power by the sword and power by suffering love cannot be mixed into one. Our God is one whose power is in suffering love. That is why it is so often called a “thin tradition” – no many go there and not many choose to be there. Power by the sword – power as it is best known in our world – does not have a place for the bending and bowing in which one side honors the other side even to the point that we will not raise arms against the other even if it means we will have to suffer for our patience and our love of neighbor. The moment we play the game of the power of this world, we are in it and the only way out is to turn around, repent, grab hold of the way of the cross – but that…is a radical move for all of us. And yet, the Spirit is a part of the promise to move us into the way of peace and radical love.
Connection: Try to take note of how many time in this day you fall in line to the ways of the powers of this world. Sometimes it is a simple as the things we say behind someone’s back. We think no damage done, but we have damaged all of us.
Lord God, your peace reaches out to touch us and convert us and your love reminds us of how you seek to bind together all your children. Bless us this day with your love and peace. Amen
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