I’m not yet finished blogging about my dreams for what I’m going to so with the rest of my life, but I’m going to take a break from that blog series and start a new one. Most of my blog posts over the next month will be about what I’m doing, experiencing, and thinking in El Salvador, but I wanted to start this new series now and hopefully post at least a couple posts on this series. (I kind of like the idea of doing different themed series of blog posts- maybe I’ll keep thinking of new series, maybe I’ll even take requests.)
In this blog I’ve been writing about my search for peace, but I realized the other day that I never really defined what exactly I mean by “peace.” So, I thought I should write a blog post about what I mean by “peace.” But then I realized that I don’t really know exactly what I mean by “peace.” Well, I think I know what I mean, but I can’t really explain or express what I mean.
As the whole idea of coming up with a definition of peace was running around in my mind, I was reading the book Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Prophet, Martyr, Spy by Eric Metaxas. See my post from yesterday about the book and the man.
In the book, there is a quote from Bonheoffer about peace which made me think that it would be a good idea to take a look at how other people have defined peace and while doing so I’ll try to put into words what I think I mean by “peace.”
At a conference in 1934, Bonhoeffer gave a speech about the role of the church in working for peace. Here’s part of that speech:
“There is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace must be dared, it is itself the great venture and can never be safe. Peace is the opposite of security. To demand guarantees is to want to protect oneself. Peace means giving oneself completely to God’s commandment, wanting no security, but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations in the hand of Almighty God, not trying to direct it for selfish purposes. Battles are won, not with weapons, but with God. They are won when the way leads to the cross.”
The last words of Bonhoeffer’s speech that night were “What are we waiting for? The time is late.”
I don’t even really know how to respond to these words from Bonhoeffer- his words are filled with so much truth and would challenge just about anyone.
Here’s what strikes me about Bonhoeffer’s words:
- Peace is something to be dared: working for peace is a risky business that requires surrendering safety and security. It’s not a given that peace will just happen, peace is something that we must dare to pursue.
- Peace is possible only by giving oneself completely to God’s commandment (I’m not completely sure what commandment Bonhoeffer is referring to here…anyone have any guesses?)
- Peace will never be obtained with weapons or violence. Only with and through God will true peace ever come about.
- There was a great sense of urgency for Bonhoeffer. Surely the historical moment of the impending crisis in Germany brought about that sense of urgency, but Bonhoeffer had an incredible grasp of the necessity to work to bring about the Kingdom of God today. For Bonhoeffer and for us today there is absolutely no reason to wait one second to begin and continue working for peace. We have already waited far too long.
It’s hard to say if Bonhoeffer had any idea that more than 10 years after speaking these words he would forgo his own safety and security for peace. In his work for peace, Bonhoeffer didn’t think about his own safety or security, but rather through faith he gave his life and fully obeyed God. Even though Bonhoeffer was killed in a concentration camp and didn’t really achieve what he set out to do, I would argue that Bonhoeffer did find peace for himself and brought about more peace in the world. He was completely in tune with God’s will and his journey for peace continually pointed toward and ended at the cross.
The world and situation we live in today is different from the world Bonhoeffer lived in. However, that’s not to say that we can’t learn a lot from him, his life, and his words.
Bonhoeffer’s words make me ask a few questions of myself in my own search for peace: Am I truly willing to accept that my own safety and security are not the priority when it comes to working for peace? Can if completely commit myself to God’s commandment and through faith put everything in God’s hands? How can I move past wanting guarantees of my safety and guarantees that everything will work out how I think it should? How can I ensure that my search for peace is not for selfish reasons? What does it mean for me that battles of peace are won when the way leads to the cross? What am I waiting for?
I have more comments on this, perhaps we can talk about this book in August. You can refresh me a bit on it as I read it awhile ago for book group. It was amazing. But I just wanted to say that it is striking the parallels to what he said then and how to apply it today. I don't think the world is so different from back then. The events and things happening may be different but some of the reasons why they continue and the beliefs that are held that lead to war, violence, oppression, etc are still relevant and very much alive today. I really think I need to re-read some of Bonhoeffer's works or go back and pick them up for the first time and really read what he says about building peace and reconciling ourselves to God.
ReplyDeleteA few mentors have told me over the years that because my own father was a bit of a weak figure in terms of giving me the leadership I needed as a father should (for many reasons) I struggle with that relationship between myself and God, especially of giving up control.
I wonder how many people struggle with that and don't even realize it? I wonder what Bonhoeffer would say to the human conflict of giving up control when the natural order of things is disrupted through divorce, sin, etc.
Beth-
ReplyDeleteI would love to add this book to our list of things to talk about in August!
The specific problems in the world may be different today than during Bonhoeffer's time, but you're so right to say that it is the same reasons and beliefs that that lead to injustice in the world. The injustice in the world just manifests itself differently today.
I would imagine that there are a lot of people out there who struggle to give up control. Especially in our American culture where rugged individualism reigns. We are taught and expected to be independent. I wonder if people from more collectivistic cultures are better able to allow God to have control?