Today at work, we had an emergency preparedness planning meeting. We don’t have earthquakes or tornadoes here, but there is certainly always the danger of a fire, so that was the first thing we discussed. Then, because this is now the normal, we discussed what we would do in case of an active shooter or an ICE raid.
Someone mentioned about how many businesses now have bulletproof glass in front of their reception area, and some of them even have those drawers where you can put your ID or whatever you need to turn over into the drawer on your side and then slide it through to the receptionist. When they were describing this system, I couldn’t help but comment, "What a world we live in, that we need such things."
The more I thought about it, though, I realized this is not a world problem. This is a U.S. problem. This is a, anybody-can-get-a-gun-and-be-a-big-man problem.
In the majority of other first-world countries, as America is supposed to be, there are strict gun laws. And, surprise surprise, they have far fewer mass shooting events than the United States has. Like, almost none. We are first in the world in gun violence - by a lot. They also have far fewer violent conflicts with their local law enforcement and immigration authorities than we have.
Why do we live this way? Why do we accept this as normal? Why have we decided that the Second Amendment right to bear arms means we shouldn't have any controls over who can buy a gun or how many guns they can buy?
Gun owners are statistically more likely than non-gun owners to die by gun violence. Gun owners are also statistically more likely to kill someone with a gun. One someone or multiple someones.
The Second Amendment has become a major talking point for Republicans. Therefore, since many Christians view Christian and Republican as synonymous, it is a talking point for Christians, too. I know Christians, many of whom have never personally touched a gun or owned a gun, yet who will vehemently defend the rights of people to own guns and slam any efforts towards gun control.
What is that? This from someone who follows the Savior who said, Lay down your sword?
I don’t get it. Aren't we supposed to be a religion known by love? Love, not violence.
Guns were created for violence. They were created to kill. They are not toys or status symbols or collector's items. They are machines of war.
How does that fit with following a Messiah who told us to love our enemies?
A coworker today introduced me to a woman named Valarie Kaur. She is a Sikh believer and a social activist. We watched her amazing TEDTalk (weeping as we did) on revolutionary love.
In a fun coincidence, we just studied the Sikh religion in my World Religions class a couple of weeks ago. The Sikh religion is committed to nonviolence. In fact, they’re kind of known for it. To the extreme, some Sikh believers will even sweep the ground ahead of them as they walk so they don’t accidentally step on an insect that might be there in their path.
In the video, Kaur says part of revolutionary love is approaching people with wonder, rather than blame or anger or defensiveness. When we approach with wonder, trying to understand their side and who they are, you start to see people as human beings - not enemies.
It’s incredibly moving to watch. And oddly enough, her message sounds an awful lot like Jesus.
Odd only because Sikhs don't believe in Jesus, at least not as the Son of God or as the Messiah. They do believe in God, and in prayer and worship, and in living lives of devotion. Listening to her message of peace and reconciliation, I couldn't help but hear echoes of the words of Jesus in the Gospels.
Revolutionary love sees people as worthy. Jesus saw people this way, too. He frequently committed cultural taboos by loving on the unloveables, the marginalized and the outcast.
For example, when a group of self-righteous men threw a woman caught in adultery at His feet (no mention of the man she was caught with, of course), and commanded that He approve their stoning of her, He said only, "Let He who has no sin throw the first stone." All of them were convicted deep in their hearts, and they walked away, leaving her there with Him. Jesus did not condemn her. He was the only one there with no sin, and yet He did not throw a single stone. He did nothing to harm her. Rather, He forgave her, blessed her, and sent her on her way.
That is revolutionary love.
The most shocking thing perhaps of the gospel is that Jesus calls us to do the same. John 3:34, "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
I have trouble picturing how a gun fits into that picture...
In today's unstable context and frightening headlines, as our own government marches against protesters and hauls away women and children and construction workers, we don't need more violence - we need some revolutionary love. I believe the protests will make a difference on the political landscape, but even if they don't, consider this: the world is watching. They are watching who and what you cheer for, and what you stand against. They will decide who this Jesus person is, based on you - you who claims to follow Him.
Marching in defense of our brown brothers and sisters who are being rounded up like animals is an act of love.
Speaking out in defense of those whose voices have been silenced is an act of love.
Advocating for better treatment and services for the poor and vulnerable is an act of love.
Passivity? Ignoring it all and hoping it'll work out on its own? Well, as Desmond Tutu famously said, "If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor." When the world sees the Church on the side of oppression and prejudice and hate, it assumes Jesus is that way, too.
The solution to the ills of our country is not having a small group of people take over everything and rule with an iron hand. The solution is not forcefully enforcing some twisted version of legalistic religion - even if it is a twisted version of our religion. This is not something we were ever called to do. We were called to love.
Violence never solves anything. Violence merely begets more violence. It is love shown in action, demonstrated in selflessness, standing up for others and speaking out when injustice happens, which makes a difference. Which changes hearts.
This is sacrificial love.
This is revolutionary love.
This is the Gospel.
"Speak out for those who cannot speak,
for the rights of all the destitute.
Speak out; judge righteously;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."
- Proverbs 31:8,9
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