PSALM 122
ROMANS 13:8-14
MATTHEW 24:37-44
SERMON
– 12/2/01
Shalom,
Salaam, and Us
Peace. Three months ago, this was low on the list
of priorities for most people in this country—indeed many, if not most
Americans, had a notion that “peace” (for them, anyway) was something already achieved in the world, except
perhaps for a little “tidying up” here and there. It was hard for dissenters from that placid and apathetic
consensus to get a hearing, whether they were military people ringing alarm
bells about “security” or social activists concerned about “global justice”.
People in many
other countries—and those recently arrived in this country from strife-torn
nations—harbored no such illusions.
What a difference
three months makes. Now America has
woken up to the absence of peace in the world, and the need for peace is high
on nearly everyone’s list. So today’s
classic text from the prophet Isaiah, and the First Sunday of Advent’s theme of
peace, are both what we need and, finally, what we want
to hear.
Two other words
have even higher priorities in many people’s consciousness, though: “victory” and “security”. President Bush has been careful to warn us
that the war against terrorism would not end with the death or capture of Osama
bin Laden or even with the destruction of his current terrorist network; but
certainly, when, as and if those things happen, many people will be tempted to
say “now we can go back to normal life.”
If “normal life”, however, means being able, as a nation, to ignore both
global threats to our security and global opportunities to create a more just
world order, then we better not go back to what we knew as “normal life”
or we will simply be asking for more terror in the future.
“Victory”, within
the, thankfully, narrowly-defined terms the U.S. seems currently to be seeking
it, is, I believe, necessary for our “security”—but it is not sufficient. “Victory” alone will not bring security,
because victory alone will not bring peace.
The world found that out in 1918 and again in 1945. The difference between those post-war eras
was that America in the 1920’s became “the world’s largest ostrich”, burying
its head in the sand, aloof and apart from the League of Nations and efforts to
build true peace, while the seeds of even greater destruction in World War II
were planted in the ruinous Treaty of Versailles after World War I.
We were barely out
of World War II when it became clear that the world faced the threat of a
totalitarian empire based in Moscow.
Only by American commitment to international involvement has the West
persevered until the Soviet Empire withered away.
But even in that
better era, America was more committed to “victory” and “security” than to true
peace, without which victories are fleeting and security is an
illusion. Afghanistan itself, alas,
provides a superb example of this. The United
States first armed the mujahadeen as resistance fighters against the
Soviets when they invaded Afghanistan in 1980.
When the Soviets withdrew in 1989, the U.S. lost interest in the
country, which descended into deeper poverty and civil war—won, eventually, by
the people we had initially armed, who became the Taliban.
Now, America is
interested in Afghanistan as never before.
Now, as our government seems to understand, we need to do far more than
defeat the army we like the least. The
country has endured 20 years of war—which means that many people do not
remember or have never experienced how to live without war. It also means a number of men may have never
held or learned another full-time job besides fighter! The country is covered by millions of
explosive land mines. The life
expectancy is 46 years. The economy is
in a shambles. Millions of refugees are
spread across the country and overflow into Pakistan and Iran.
Even if,
miraculously, all guns were to cease firing this afternoon, there would not yet
be peace. There is far, far more to
peace than the absence of war.
The Hebrew word for
peace is Shalom. “Shalom”,
the great biblical scholar Gerhard von Rad wrote, “designates the
unimpairedness, the wholeness of communion, and so a state of harmonious equilibrium [emphasis added],
the balancing of all claims and needs between two parties.”
Shalom cannot exist where there is
oppression, no matter how "quiet” oppression makes things seem. Shalom
cannot exist without community—felt mutually by all of its members. Shalom
goes beyond tolerance to understanding to mutual care and respect by
equals. Shalom cannot exist unless all experience freedom from fear and
freedom from hunger.
After this
description, some people may say, “Heck, you’re talking about the Kingdom of
God.” Well yes, exactly.
Lots of Americans
would be perfectly content if we could magically transform things back to where
they were on September 10th, and then keep it that way. And believe me, part of me feels that way
too.
But, as Christians,
we are called to far higher goals.
Hopefully, we have a deeper understanding of the reality and power of
Evil in the world than many people did, and so we are less surprised (though no
less upset) when something evil happens.
But, hopefully also, we have a deeper understanding of the upside
potential of life, of the possibility of building a world with greater justice
and more shalom.
It was Christians
who believed we could do better than
the status quo who organized slave escapes, staffed the
“underground railroad” and successfully worked to abolish slavery. It was Christians who believed we could do better than the status quo
who worked to abolish child labor, to establish landmark laws for worker safety
and rights, civil rights, and health, and to establish schools and
hospitals. And Christians who believed
that the status quo could be transformed radically and peacefully
were crucial in the toppling of the Soviet Empire (starting with shipyard
workers in Gdansk, Poland) and in the end of apartheid in South Africa.
All those were considered “long shots”,
causes fit only for “hopeless dreamers”.
Well, guess what: if people
don’t dream, they have no vision of a world different from what is. Dreams are essential—and so is the hard,
courageous, creative work to make them come true.
In facing the
reality of the world as it is, Christians have several advantages over the
faith-less. First, we aren’t (or
shouldn’t be) naïve about the reality and power of Evil in the world, so
set-backs should neither surprise nor defeat us. Second, we have the inspiration of dramatic examples of people
who acted in faith to make the world better and made awesome impacts. Third, we have faith that God can and
wants to offer us strength and guidance in our efforts for Shalom, so we can have more wisdom and more perseverance than is
humanly possible. Finally, and best of
all, ultimate success does not depend on
us. God will bring in The Kingdom
of God in its fullness, no matter how successful—or unsuccessful—we are in
preparing for it now.
Should the prospect
of certain ultimate victory mean we should put our feet up and do nothing
now? Absolutely not, because everyone
is either part of the solution or part of the problem.
“Prepare ye the way
of the LORD” is the slogan for the Season of Advent. It’s not just about preparing for Jesus’ birthday, though
that’s important. It’s also not just
about reading the Old Testament and understanding the hopes of the people of
Israel for a Savior in the years leading up to Jesus’ birth, though that’s also
important.
“Prepare ye the way
of the LORD” is also about preparing ourselves—and those whose lives we
touch—for the ultimate Advent of the LORD, when he comes again to usher in his
reign and transform the world into the fullness of Shalom.
“Prepare ye the way
of the LORD” is also about our efforts to build Shalom now.
Is Advent all about
running ourselves ragged buying presents?
NO. I try to focus
present-buying on a person’s birthday and have Christmas presents cost
no more than what birthday presents cost, and perhaps less. Or, some presents can be given in
honor of someone to a Shalom-building
effort they really like. Tom likes
Habitat for Humanity. Last year, Elda’s
children and I combined on a gift to Heifer Project International, which gives
farm animals to Third World families and villages. This year, I’m looking at the President’s fund for Afghan
children. I’m sure everyone here can
think of something in lieu of giving one of those “doodads” that may be forgotten
in a drawer in a month.
Advent also is a
time to reach out to others spiritually. Shalom not only means
the development of a more just world but a world in which everyone has a deeper
relationship with God. If a friend,
co-worker, relative or neighbor is going through a difficult time, offer to
pray for them. And then do. And call me to add that concern to the
Prayer Chain. If they belong to a
worshiping community, encourage their participation (whatever their
faith). That may surprise them at least
as much! And yes, if they have no
spiritual community, invite them here,
and be their host here.
Shalom means living community across old
borders, maybe even learning words in another language, like Salaam, the Arabic word for peace.
Let’s face it: “Victory” and “Security” in the senses we
worry about them now, are primarily the jobs of the duly constituted
governmental authorities. But Shalom is everyone’s job, or it won’t happen.
Let there be peace
on earth—and let it begin with us.