Scripture: James 3:18 – “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (NRSVue)
While many people lose their faith when they go to college, I really found my faith there. Part of it was surrendering to God when I was in despair, but another huge part was through the academic study of theology and the Bible. And while I did not feel called to live the “publish-or-perish”, ivory tower life of a professor, I still have fond feelings towards academics and students in colleges, universities, and other similar institutions.
It is very troubling to me to see what has been going on at Columbia University, the University of California, Los Angeles, and other campuses around the country. I am very sympathetic to the message the students are trying to express, but I question how it is being conveyed. Despite the best efforts of many of them, there is enough in these clashes that can be scary, and frankly tend to turn more people away from their cause than towards it. So, I was thinking about where God is in all of this.
One issue at play here is one of symbolic action. Putting up tents to symbolically show solidarity with Palestinians driven from their homes is meant to raise awareness to about the horrors going on there. In many Biblical books, prophets made similar symbolic acts to show God’s displeasure with how society was behaving. Hosea married a sex worker. Isaiah walked around naked for three years. Jeremiah tied himself to a yoke and smashed jars before the leaders of the people. Ezekiel baked bread over human excrement. Jesus turned over the tables in the Temple, and one could argue that the cross was the ultimate form of protest. Doing striking things to get people to notice a problem is an extremely Biblical act. And it is these things that got people killed. As Jesus said, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” Protesting itself can be a holy and righteous act, regardless of the consequences.
However, there are complexities at play in this particular case. Both sides have committed acts of terrorism and war crimes. Both have refused to accept compromises to instead stride for an ultimate victory that removes the other from the land. In America, those who protest the acts of one side are called complicit in the horrors of the other. People want justice, peace, and security for everyone, but those principles are forgotten amid the shouting. Accusations of antisemitism and genocide make it such that people don’t hear the message of peace, only that “kids have gone crazy” when police come in to enforce public safety.
In the Letter attributed to Jesus’ brother, James, it says, “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” I think that everyone wants righteousness, for families to live in their homes without fear of being assaulted by police, losing their human rights, being blown up by a car bomb, or having missiles fired down upon them. They want people to live according to the teachings of peace in the Bible and the Qur’an. But they do not want to use peace to get to righteousness, and so there is no righteousness. Even peaceful protests lose their power when rocks or punches are thrown.
As Christians, we must ask ourselves the following questions. The first is to discern through prayer and study what God wants in this situation. What would Jesus proclaim, for he too lived in a time of occupation, terrorism, and factionalism? The second is this. How calls for righteousness and peace be expressed such that they are not ignored but also so that they do not add to the environment of anger and fear? Lastly, what can we do in our lives to be part of the solution rather than the problem? It starts with prayer, but it cannot end there. It may be joining actually peaceful protests and contacting political leaders. It may be donating to charities to get food and health care to those who need it. It may be to reach out to friends and neighbors who are confused and angry over everything to help them see how God is leading us to righteousness and peace. Listen to the urging of the Holy Spirit and go where God is sending you. Make peace in places near and far by being peaceful.
Prayer: God, amidst all the anger and confusion, help me to see clearly your love and care for all people, even those I disagree with. Amen.
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