In the past few months, we’ve witnessed and read about many tragedies both in our country and around the world. A few days ago, the first funerals took place for victims of the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting. This is a story that mixes racism and violence with appalling results. Yet, it’s also a story of hope as this community gathers together around their faith.
Also a few days ago, I learned that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was given a death sentence for his atrocious actions in the 2013 attack on the Boston Marathon.
This is another horrendous story. In this one, religious fanaticism was mixed with violence. What these stories have in common is violence motivated by hatred of a neighbor.
As I sit at my desk, contemplating another cup of coffee, I wonder about my religion. I’m an Eastern Orthodox Christian, and I hold the Bible in high esteem. Yet, there are violent images in its text. One in particular comes to mind: It’s a passage from St. Matthew.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34)
That text seems hard to swallow. How do I reconcile that with other passages in the Bible where Christ is presented as loving? How do I reconcile this with passages where Christ is presented as giving his peace? Can I even reconcile these passages, or is it a lost cause?
This post was originally published in the Dubuque Telegraph Herald (Saturday, July 4th, 2015). To read the rest, please head over there now.