In the previous post, I discussed some of the pragmatic parts of Walter Wink’s book Jesus and Nonviolence. In chapter 5, he begins to discuss the deeper reasons for the Christian to see this 3rd way of Jesus.
Wink begins by rooting Christian nonviolence in Jesus’ “Love of enemies.” Even for many that practice nonviolence, love of enemies is not considered nor demanded. Therefore, we dehumanize those that we oppose, and our use of nonviolence can actually become a source of pride, which has never been a goal of Christian nonviolence.
Wink writes, “Love of enemies is the recognition that the enemy, too, is a child of God.”
If we recognize that our enemy is made in the image of the Almighty, violence becomes treason against the creator, and even the face of nonviolence must be reconsidered.
Wink also reminds us that any struggle that we fight with nonviolence is not against an actual person but against a system or an idea that a person or group may represent. In fact, Wink tells us, our goal is not to defeat the person across the way but to “liberate the oppressor,” who is also a victim of the system, albeit differently than direct victims.
As Wink concludes his section on love of enemies, he tells the reader, “Love of enemies is trusting God for the miracle of divine forgiveness. If God can forgive, redeem, and transform, I must also believe that God can work such wonders in anyone.”
Some may say that those who support nonviolent resistance against the system are indeed anarchists. However, Wink says that those who practice nonviolence must be willing to suffer the consequences for breaking any laws. If the goal is to show how unjust the laws are, then we must be able and willing to suffer those unjust consequences.
Wink has given us a great book that will, at a minimum, cause the reader to think through questions that are rarely asked in a church setting. At the end of the day, I agree that pacifism may be an unrealistic ideal for a fallen creation, but calling something an “unrealistic ideal” does not mean that it is not the way of the Christ, the way of the cross.
I do believe that nonviolent resistance is preferable to violent revolution, but violently opposing systems of injustice and oppression is better than a stance of neutrality that allows the injustice to continue.
Violence or nonviolence? The way of the crucified Messiah.
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