"I am convinced that love is the most durable power in the world. It is not an expression of impractical idealism, but of practical realism. Far from being the pious injunction of a Utopian dreamer, love is an absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization. To return hate for hate does nothing but intensify the existence of evil in the universe. Someone must have sense enough and religion enough to cut off the chain of hate and evil, and this can only be done through love."
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ok, so we all know that we shouldn't have idols. Particularly not human ones. But I probably come pretty close to idolizing Dr. King. During one of my last semesters of college, I took a class called The Life and Thought of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It was a fantastic class, and I learned so much great stuff. We read Parting the Waters: America in the King Years 1954-63, and I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Civil Rights Movement.
It highlights the context of the world Dr. King was living in, and touches on his life. To say I have respect for him would be an understatement. As with any historical figure, we have a tendency to put them on a pedestal, and to forget that they were human. They were real, flawed people that sometimes made mistakes, sometimes said something that hurt someone, and let jealousy, anger, and egotism take over.
But that is probably one of the reasons why I respect him so much.
In spite of his very human mistakes, he still stood strong for what he believed in, and made a profound impact on the world. In the quote above, he said that the expression of love is not an impractical idealism, but a practical realism.
It's not this crazy, abstract thing that only happens in the movies.
It is real, practical, and a necessity. It is right here, for all of us to excercise, invest in, experience, and cling to.
On the other hand, returning hate for hate only perpetuates the cycle of destruction. This is where the Enemy lives and prospers.
During this class, we had to do a final paper and project, based on an ideal of Dr. King's or of the Civil Rights Movement. My group chose non-violence as our topic. I decided to write my portion of the paper on Gandhi and his views on non-violence, as well as what Jesus had to say about it. This was probably my absolute favorite paper I wrote in my college career, maybe because I believe so strongly in the ideals I was writing about. Here are some excerpts from my paper:
"At the outbreak of war in 1939, although it was the epitome of irony that Great Britain was fighting for freedom while still controlling India, and thus denying Indian freedom, Gandhi urged his followers not to wish for the freedom of India through the demise of Great Britain. About this, Gandhi said, "We do not seek our independence out of Britain's ruin. That is not the way of non-violence."
It was not only for Indian independence that Gandhi peacefully fought for. He also spent many years fighting for peace and cooperation between Hindus and Muslims. He spent several months in Noakhali, in Bangladesh, an area that was populated mostly by Muslim people, and was known for hostility and violence against the Hindu people in the region.
As with many figures in history who have stood for something, there are always those who hate them and wish to do them harm. Although Gandhi had worked tirelessly and fasted for peace between the Hindu and Muslim peoples, there were many people who were tired of waiting. They simply wanted to take action, but sadly, they took the way of violence. One day, as he was praying, a dissenter threw a bomb at him. The bomb missed, however, and Gandhi simply went on praying. Just ten days after this, on January 30th, 1948, he was ten minutes late for a meeting, which never happened, as he loved punctuality. As he was on the steps of the building, he turned to speak to his followers who wished to kiss his feet. As he did this, he was shot three times, at point blank range, in the heart. With his last breath, he spoke the words He Ram, the Hindi word for God."
"In his lecture, The Third Way, Dr. Walter Wink discusses several examples in which Jesus has taken a non-violent stance, and has urged his followers to do the same. Wink points out, however, that as a result of what he calls an “undertranslation”, for centuries readers of the scriptures have gotten the wrong idea.
In his first example, Wink discusses the passage in which Jesus speaks of turning the other cheek, found in Matthew 5:39, in the famous Sermon on the Mount.
“"You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile.” (Matthew 5:39-41 NRSV)
Wink focuses on the word “resist”. The original Greek word in this passage is antistenai, anti meaning “against”, and stenai meaning stand, therefore “stand against”. Rather than simply resisting, this word, when used in several instances in the Old Testament, refers instead to warfare, in which armies would actually stand up against each other, and advance until they collided. Jesus is urging his followers to react not with violence, or warfare.
The verse referring to “turning the other cheek” is one of the most famous verses which deal with non-violence. In his lecture, Wink brings up a very important point when considering this passage. When a person is struck on the right cheek by someone standing in front of them, the striker must have used his or her left hand, in order for the blow to fall on the right cheek. In Ancient Israel, the left hand was never used, as it was reserved for tasks considered unclean. In order for a blow to the right cheek to be possible, the striker would have needed to backhand instead of using a full blow. This was often used in a symbolic way, for instance, to symbolize a master having authority over a slave.
Wink also discusses the next verse, in which Jesus teaches that if a person is sued for his or her coat, they are to give their cloak as well. In Ancient Israel, the Israelites usually wore two garments. One, as a daytime overcoat, as well as a garment to cover up with while sleeping, and the other as an undergarment. According to the legal system, if a debt was owed, but the debtor could not pay with money, they could use livestock or possessions as collateral. If a person was particularly poor, he or she could use their outer garment as collateral. The creditor was allowed to take the garment during the day, but they had to return it at night for the debtor to use for sleeping. The next day, the creditor could return to reclaim the garment, and this would continue until the debt was paid.
Wink suggests that Jesus was saying that a person should not only give more than they are being forced to give. If they were to offer up the undergarment as well, they would stand in the court naked. Nakedness, in Ancient Israel, was seen as an incredible shame, not only to the naked individual, but to the people who see the nakedness.
His last example involves the Roman occupation of Israel. Roman roads always had mile markers along the road, set at every mile. If the Roman soldier was suddenly called somewhere in which he would need to travel quickly, he might make a civilian bystander carry his pack. Roman law made it illegal to force a civilian to carry a pack more than one mile, so if that civilian were to carry it another, he or she would make the soldier technically at fault with the law.
Wink uses all of these examples to convey his main idea—that Jesus is not only calling for passive resistance to violence, but to find a non-violent way to stand up. In the example of the backhand to the cheek, if the person receiving the smack turns his or her head to the right, or “turning the other cheek”, the nose is now in the way, making another such backhand impossible. Regarding the example of the garments, the person who is being sued is not only offering up more than they are being sued for, but is also creating a non-violent situation which will be uncomfortable for the suing parties. Also, in the example of the Roman soldier and the civilian, by carrying it farther, would make the soldier break the rules that he upholds. According to Wink, Jesus says that it is so important to find a way to stand up that is not violent, so that a person does not become the very thing that he or she is fighting. By upholding “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”, all that is accomplished is that the hate and violence is perpetuated."
So what do we do when we see or experience injustices in the world? We fight with love. We fight for love. That is, after all, what Jesus did for us.
It is the most powerful thing in the world, and God has given us the capacity to love others beyond ourselves because He loves through us. Isn't that wonderful? God has asked us to take part in this wonderful romance of humanity, and we get to experience the joy of it.
I couldn't ask for a better journey.
