Tag: voices

Save His People and Stop the Madness of The World!

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By Jenna Walmer

“That is why I am suffering as I am.  Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.”

– 2 Timothy 1:12

“The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.”

– John 7:7

“Save your people and bless your inheritance, be their shepherd and carry them forever.”

– Psalm 28:9

As I scrolled down my twitter feed Tuesday night looking for the latest news in the world, I noticed a particularly interesting article from the Church of the Brethren. On September 30th, a newsletter from the Church of the Brethren newsline was titled, “‘EYN Severely Damaged’ Nigerian Brethren Leader reports.” I usually do not open long articles late at night after an exhausting band practice, but this title moved me. I began reading the article and my eyes immediately went to the sentence (that happens to be bolded), “EYN… reports 3,038 members killed.” This striking information led me to look over the entire article before I went to bed.

As I read the article, my heart welled up with sorrow for our brothers and sisters like it always does when I hear new pieces of information about the terror in Nigeria. I usually do not keep up with current events in the world as intentionally as I should, but I do keep up-to-date with the news, general ideas of situations, and our nation’s problem solving techniques.

From the article last night, I learned about the amount of destruction that has occurred and how it has affected people more drastically recently. Almost 100,000 church members have been displaced from their communities and are now refugees. Over 2,000 EYN members’ houses have been burnt down. The most powerful fact mentioned in the article was, “these people cannot go to their farms, as those who attempt were killed or chased away.  Thousands of their children cannot go to school and that means the future of these children may be lost.”

Just imagine if we could not go to school or arrive at our workplace because of terrorists attacking our community.  What would our government do to them?  As a peace community we are called to love one another and act justly and mercifully to each other. So, how do we bring this to an end? How are we to comprehend the violence in the world?

In John 7:7 Jesus states, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that its works are evil.” Since we are followers of Jesus, and people, like the Boko Haram, hate Jesus, it is expected that many people will hate us as well. That is when we are called to trust in God’s protection over us and have faith despite the suffering we are going through.  We are to trust, believe, and be convinced, that God will provide, and he will protect us. But, it is also our job to help save His people. We all know that there are many believers all over the world being persecuted, but we all aren’t doing something about it. Spread the word. Send letters. Give money. Pray. Be an ambassador for peace.

As I laid in bed last night trying to fall asleep after I read the article, I debated what I was going to wear the next day. I was planning to dress up with my friend, since I did not have to go outside for band during the day.  After reading the article, I felt as though I needed to spread the word for peace more boldly. At National Youth Conference, I bought the “When Jesus said, ‘Love your enemies,’ I think he probably meant don’t kill them” shirt.  When I purchased the shirt I knew I wanted to wear it to school, but I also recognized the fact that it was a possibility that people would make harsh comments (In the past, I have been harshly ridiculed for my pacifistic beliefs).

My inspiration for my clothing choice came from the conclusion of the article: “My dear brothers and sister, what amounts of compensation or relief can anyone provide to comfort these communities? Maybe the most important questions should be when will this madness stop? What is Nigeria’s government doing to protect and save the lives of the remnant? And what are we doing as national and global members of Christ’s body? May God have mercy on us, the victims and the victors.”

Let’s all step out of our comfort zone to stop the madness in the world.

The article “EYN Severely Damaged” can be found at:

http://www.brethren.org/news/2014/newsline-special-eyn-is.html

Jenna Walmer - Palmyra COB, Altantic Northeast DistrictJenna Walmer is from Lancaster County and is currently in 12th grade. In school, she loves to research historical events. If she were to live in a specific time period, she would want to be a hippie and live in the 60s or 70s. Her favorite past times are swimming and playing her trombone. If you want to know more about her random life, follow her on twitter: @jaymarie2100
 

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DunkerPunks: Changing the World, One Smelly Foot at a Time

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The way that we change the world is not through power but by washing feet.

– Greg Boyd

Greg Boyd was the first plenary session speaker at the Missio Alliance conference that I’ve mentioned before. He said a lot of great things that stuck with me for various reasons, but nothing that he said stuck with me as much as the quote above.

The way that we change the world is not through power, but by washing feet.

I like this for a number of reasons.

First, the Obvious Reason:

We talk a lot on DunkerPunks.com and in the Church of the Brethren about peace and nonviolence. We study the Sermon on the Mount and other teachings and accounts of Jesus, and it’s clear to us that Jesus preached and practiced nonviolence, so we must do the same. Building peace and practicing nonviolence fit into the larger picture of following Jesus.

Second, I Love the Humility of It:

There’s something about humility and the practice of mutual submission that is incredible at diffusing power. Something to remember about Jesus: yes, he came from humble beginnings, but as an adult he was a rabbi. As far as Jewish society goes, this is about as good as you can get. To be a rabbi meant you were the best of the best of the best. You were the smartest of the smartest of the smart. And if you were a good, inspiring rabbi (like Jesus), you could develop a large and loyal following. As a rabbi, Jesus could have been incredibly powerful.

Also, keep in mind what the people of Jesus time were looking for when it came to a Messiah: They imagined a warrior king, a politically powerful revolutionary, someone mighty. And they got Jesus.

Jesus had a way of turning power on it’s head. He was in every position to be incredibly powerful. He could have led a violent revolution against the Roman Empire. He could have incited his followers to pick up weapons and attack. They would have done it. Peter did do it. He attacked a Roman soldier, cutting off his ear, and what did Jesus do? He put the ear back on the soldier’s head.

Jesus could have used his power, but instead he girded himself and washed his disciple’s feet. Including the feet of those who would betray him and reject him. I love the humility of it.

Third, I Love the Smallness of It:

I realize that Boyd was speaking metaphorically, but let’s think literally for a second.

A question for those of you who have ever washed feet before: How many people’s feet can you wash at once?

The answer is obvious: one. Often, people frame nonviolence as simply not being violent. That’s not the case. That’s not was Jesus preached. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

“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.”

This is so eloquent and so packed that you can expand it in a number of directions to demonstrate how nonviolence is active. I’m sure I will in the future, but for now I’ll just expand in one direction.

All three of the actions Jesus describes are interactions between two people. The formula is the same for each: a person in power abuses a person with less power. The person with less power submits to the abuse nonviolently, and then responds not with violence or with inaction, but by subverting the power by actively submitting even further. No longer does the abuser feel powerful, but cruel. No longer does the less powerful person appear inferior, but gracious and human. No longer does the power dynamic seem righteous, but unjust.

And it all happens on the tiny plane between two people. When we practice nonviolence, we get caught up in imagining that we’ll be nonviolent one day, and the world will be saved the next day. It doesn’t work that way. The kingdom of heaven doesn’t expand from the top down, reaching from heaven and enveloping the whole world. It spreads from the bottom out, like a mustard plant.

Every time you look someone in the eye and show them the love of Christ, you are planting the mustard seeds of the Kingdom.

Every time you wash someone’s feet, you are showing them what it means to worship a God of love.

And that’s how we change the world. One smelly foot at a time.

Emmett Eldred - Hollidaysburg COB, Middle PA District

Emmett Eldred is a sophomore Creative Writing; Professional Writing; and Ethics, History, and Public Policy Major at Carnegie Mellon University. His passions include reading about, writing about, and snuggling with pugs. Emmett is the founder of DunkerPunks.com, and he wants lots more people to contribute! Fill out a Dunker Punks profile, and join the conversation! Follow Emmett on twitter @emmetteldred and follow Dunker Punks on Twitter @DunkerPunks and on Facebook.