Throw a dart at newspaper and you’ll likely land on an article about some violent act. Imagine the violence we hear about frequently in the news:
- Road rage
- Gun violence
- Violence against children and spouses
- Violence in gangs on the street
- Violence against animals
- Violence in our words
- Violence in movies and in sports
- Violence threatened online and bullies on line
- Violence and intimidation at schools, in prisons, between neighbors
- Violence today in Chad, Africa; Gaza; Ukraine in Europe and more
- Violence by police and violence to police
What are ways to break the cycle of violence? Can we assist those who are doing the work already? It feels like wars just happen like the weather, that retribution is normal, and endless conflict inevitable. Is it really?
Scriptures
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Matthew 5:9, NRSV
Theology
The verse from Matthew is the only time the word “peacemakers” is used in the whole Bible. A peacemaker literally is the “one who reconciles quarrels.” Jesus is clearly not on the side of the violent, but on the side of the nonviolent. Jesus is saying there is no way to peace other than peacemaking itself.
Reason
Violence in the home – with kids and between adults – is common. One in for women have suffered abuse at the hands of their significant other. Violence in the home, of course, includes children. In San Antonio, churches like ours can partner with the Family Violence Prevention Center, both learning from them and supporting their work.
The other three loves:
