Peace, Peace, but there is no peace

Scripture: Jeremiah 6:14–15 (NRSV)

¹⁴ They have treated the wound of my people carelessly,

saying, “Peace, peace,”

when there is no peace.

¹⁵ They acted shamefully, they committed abomination;

yet they were not ashamed,

they did not know how to blush.

Meditation:

            Today’s generation seems to know little of peace. Governments around the world continue to say they are for peace, but their people know very little but violence and war. We have forgotten how to blush it is true. We murder unborn children by the millions and we feel no shame. When dozens of children are murdered in a school instead of realizing that we are to blame for these innocent deaths we seek to blame others and ban guns.

            The only ban on guns that will ever stop violence is if we heed the prophet’s instruction and beat our weapons into plowshares. Until then men and women of unstable mind and heart will continue to act out their rage in unthinkable ways. We must proclaim that no guns will still equal no peace. While those who know Jesus will know peace but will we who know the peace of Jesus be bold and courageous enough to speak out.

            Peacemaking is hard work. It requires the courage to say no to the gun lobby and the antigun lobby. Neither group can claim peace as their goal. The gun lobby insists that if everyone was armed there would be little crime. This claim is false on the face of it. Statistics imported from other nations where guns are freely obtainable are useless because the reason for owning a gun is always and only the infliction of violence whether on a person or an animal or a target.

            The anti-gun lobby sees a populace without guns as a peaceful place. Jesus words from   Matthew 5:21–26 (NRSV)

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. ²³ So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”

            Jesus correctly diagnoses our problem not as one of guns but one of our own anger and violent tendencies. One may be able to do less damage in a short amount of time with a knife, but those who are killed and injured are just as dead and in need of medical attention. If we would be peacemakers we must look within ourselves. We must seek to become people of peace. Repenting of the violence and anger we harbor toward our neighbors is a first step. Being concerned enough about our neighbors who suffer from mental illness to actually get involved with their lives and get them the help they so desperately need is an absolute necessity.

            Let us wake up. Guns are not going away. We will continue to kill babies because they are defenseless against our brutality. But even more important the rage, violence and mental illness is only going to get worse until we look at ourselves in the mirror. Until we blush at the sight of our own face and the evil that lurks behind our fake smiles we will continue to bring death to our neighbors. Until we learn to ignore the lies that the politicians sell us about new laws that will bring peace we will continue to live with violence and war among ourselves. Jesus is the key to peace and there is no other. Amen.