The Mistake.

The mistake that the writers of the Torah, the writers of the Psalms and the Prophets, and the writers of the Gospels made was to revert to the ways of the world, i.e.: might and power, superior strength, violence, the sword, triumph over enemies.

Because in the world these things win we presume that God wins in the same way.

But God does not.
God prefers to lose rather than resort to violence and force.
God is gentle and non-violent.
The gentle light of love.

"'Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.'"  Zechariah 4:6b (NRSV)

Moses, David, Israel expect God to destroy their enemies.
But it does not happen.

No one is destroyed.

God waits.
God waits until we see.
See that nothing is gained through violence and force.
God will not answer prayers for revenge or victory by force.

"'From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.'"  Matthew 11:12 (NRSV)

So rather than praying for evil to be destroyed we should pray for those who do evil to be healed and reconciled to God.
For those who we call evil to be made whole.

God will not destroy them.

"'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.'"  Luke 6:27 (NRSV)

This is Jesus teaching and we should follow it.


(Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.)

Photo Credit: Dane Vandeputte Flickr via Compfight cc