Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand
15 November 2001
Dale W. Brown

While basking in a beautiful camp setting the morning of September 11, cell phones cast sobering messages to the retreat of pastors of the Northern Plains. We had gathered to comprehend how we might live out of our heritage. As guest leader I quickly sensed that our group desired to respond to the unbelievable horrid news by joining millions of Americans in prayer. Petitions of both liberal and conservative Church of the Brethren leaders echoed the words of Jesus in the sermon on the mount. All prayed for victims. All prayed that our nation avoid vengeful retaliation and respond in loving nonviolent ways. Later when viewing faces of our presidents at the sacred memorial service in the National Cathedral, I was encouraged by a member of the clergy who eloquently concluded: "As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore." Her statement nurtured the courage of Barbara Lee, the only Congressperson to vote "no" to the declaration of war.

Since, I have reluctantly realized how much our peace church heritage is out of step with our culture. Walter Wink is more right than I wanted to believe in documenting the religion of America to be redemptive violence. On this issue, we in the peace churches are the conservatives. For we inspire to take Jesus seriously. His words tell us that if we love him, we will keep his commandments. And he commands us to relinquish eye for an eye strategies, to love our enemies, and pray for those who persecute us (see Matthew 5:38-48).

Following accounts of the baptism and temptation of Jesus, his first recorded proclamation was to "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near" (Mt. 4:17). As director of peace studies in a seminary I confess how often I remained silent when I was aware that thousands of people suffered from the bombardments of our planes. I remember how I offered fervent prayers for the people of Panama when our bombs killed some 4,000 innocent people. But I failed to publicly support Hispanic brothers and sisters who were outraged that such atrocities were justified by our nations desire to capture a renegade leader and stop the flow of drugs. They knew that drugs would continue to flow through Panama and Central America. In my visits overseas, others have exclaimed: "We really like Americans, but we do not like the policies of your government."

Stranded with canceled flights, I envisioned that Americans might come to identify with millions of people who have suffered and died from our 22 bombings of other countries since World War II. I visualized that September 11 would be remembered as the day when Americans were awakened to oppose the bombing of innocent people. I felt our painful experience of beholding and suffering terror from the skies might lead to understanding how other people have felt. And comprehend how anger mobilized citizens to patriotically support leaders they previously disliked. I had perhaps too much faith and hope in the influence and general acceptance of the golden rule.

Repentance of our deeds would not justify the horrific deeds of terrorists. For us, repentance means that we refuse to imitate their evil deeds. What is appalling about terrorism is the killing of innocent people. And calling for repentance as prophets of old did to their kings, does not mean that we are not patriotic. My deep love for my country is similar to my love for my children. I have not approved of everything they do. .

Yet, it is unusual to discover signs of penitence or regret in our belligerent atmosphere. Jesus told a parable about two men who went to the temple to pray. The one a religious leader, a Pharisee, prayed: "God, I thank you that I am not like other people: Thieves, rogues, adulterers and even this tax collector." Jesus preferred the spirit of the tax collector, who in beating his breasts prayed: "God be merciful to me a sinner" (Lk. 9-14). This parable does not support the declaration that America is the best nation and others who are evil can be eliminated with violence. Biblical teachings proclaim that all people and nations have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

If our nation could repent of sins, or even name some policies as mistakes, there could emerge increased faith in the Jesus way and hope that the kingdom is at hand. A different kind of war requires new ways of thinking. Active good will, as demonstrated in the past, coupled with international accountability must be deployed as a force more powerful and more effective than missiles. Alongside brutality in our enslavement of Africans and seizing lands from the Indians, America has provided the home for large nonviolent, charitable, compassionate movements.

The good news of a penitent and more humble people before God could allow our nation to focus on the causes of terrorism. Such is necessary in efforts to eliminate this evil. We could discover a root of terrorism when American forces joined Israel in the invasion of Lebanon. Over seventeen thousand civilians were killed. The purpose of the invasion was to secure a friendly neighboring state free of enemies. Instead, the bombings inflated the number of Lebanese who hated Israel. America's participation was paid back when terrorists seized our citizens and jailed them as hostages. Likewise they placed explosive bombs on international flights. Justice might flow like a mighty stream when we are honest about what we have done and prioritize eliminating the seedbed of terrorism which is fed by hatred, poverty and hopelessness.

Good news could come in implementing the advice of General and President Eisenhower, who was raised by a pacifist Brethren in Christ mother. In his farewell address, he warned against the military industrial complex, stating that every bomb made constituted robbery from the poor. Throughout his presidency he advocated that our government establish an academy of peace equal to academies of the armed forces. With sufficient funds this department would not only study the causes of terrorism but train diplomats to become experts in skills of negotiation and peacemaking.

The good news would promote what we learned in Sunday school, namely that our security will be enhanced in making friends, not more enemies. Lasting protection cannot be gained by bombing rogue nations. Our destiny requires thoughtful steps toward mutually beneficial relationships not only for ourselves but for all of God's children. The apostle Paul advises us "not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good (Romans 12: 21).

Proposals defined as consistent with the Jesus Way, often seem naïve and too idealistic. Many members in the peace churches and other friends accept or respect the pacifist position when limited to personal relationships. Yet, they do not believe the Jesus way can realistically be applied to national policies. This may be partially true. However, in a world in which two young men can make and deploy a bomb that destroyed a large Federal Building; a world in which those who hate us can employ varieties of massive weapons of violence; a world in which experts have emphasized our vulnerability to such acts; it increasingly seems believable that responses of Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King are relevant to the present confusing crisis. Christian voices should join others in rejecting terrorist like actions and America's widespread faith in redemptive violence. Let us join with people of goodwill in proclaiming and participating in kingdom signs of redemptive love.


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