‘”There are certain technical words within every academic discipline that soon become stereotypes and cliches. Modern psychology has a word that is probably used more than any other word in modern psychology. It is the word ‘maladjusted.’  This word is the ringing cry to modern child psychology. Certainly, we all want to avoid the maladjusted life. In order to have real adjustment within our personalities, we all want the well-adjusted life in order to avoid neurosis, schizophrenic personalities.

“But I say to you, my friends, as I move to my conclusion, there are certain things in our nation and in the world which I am proud to be maladjusted and which I hope all men of good-will will be maladjusted until the good societies realize. I say very honestly that I never intend to become adjusted to segregation and discrimination.

“I never intend to become adjusted to religious bigotry.

“I never intend to adjust myself to economic conditions that will take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few.

“I never intend to adjust myself to the madness of militarism, to self-defeating effects of physical violence. But in a day when sputniks and explorers are dashing through outer space and guided ballistic missiles are carving highways of death through the stratosphere, no nation can win a war. It is no longer the choice between violence and nonviolence. It is either nonviolence or nonexistence, and the alternative to disarmament. The alternative to absolute suspension of nuclear tests. The alternative to strengthening the United Nations and thereby disarming the whole world may well be a civilization plunged into the abyss of annihilation. This is why I welcome the recent test-ban treaty.

“In other words, I’m about convinced now that there is need for a new organization in our world. The International Association for the Advancement of Creative Maladjustment–men and women who will be as maladjusted as the prophet Amos. Who in the midst of the injustices of his day could cry out in words that echo across the centuries, ‘Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.’”

Peace, dwight

Last night in during Essential Community (a course I team-teach at MHGS) we were privileged to have Philbert Kalisa (pictured in the white shirt) from Rwanda join us.  In the wake of the Rwanda’s genocide in the 1990s Philbert sensed something of a divine invitation to explore ways of participating in the reconcilation and peace building process between both victims and perpetrators in Rwanda. He told story after story people choosing recilcation over hatred.  Rev. Philbert has formed an organization called Reach . . . definiately worth checking out. 

Peace, dwight

On this the first Sunday of Advent when followers of “the Way” join in a liturgy of anticipation for the coming of Emmanuel – God with us – we are reminded that in the face of separation God offered God’s own presence in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s incarnation has startling implications for Christian life and ministry practice.

This past week I was reminded of the practical importance of encounter and presence in the process of reconciliation. A small group of Seattle-area Christian leaders, (Rose & Rich Swetman, Nancy & Tom Murphy, Sandy Brown, Paul Chapman, and myself) gathered together with pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church and Lief Moi one of the church’s founding elders to inquire of God as we explored the damage caused by the harsh and at times demeaning tone of some comments by Mark, and the public protest that was being organized in response to his comments.

If we had simply met and nothing tangible would have resulted I still would have been thrilled by the fact that we met face-to-face as our Scriptures invite. But as further evidence of the grace of God, I’m delighted to report that the meeting was a time of frank and honest discussion, where everyone had opportunity to hear, to speak and inquire.

Mark demonstrated a desire to hear and to learn, and told a number of stories of the impact of the response to his language that illustrated his need for change. He told the story of his contact with a member of the Haggard family after his comments went public and how as a result of that conversation Mars Hill Church will have a female researcher read his blog posts prior to publication. With tears in his eyes Mark spoke of his fear for his family’s safety as a result of the public response to his language . . . threats of violence must stop. Please, if you or anyone you know has responded to Mark or (anyone) with such threats of violence please, for the sake of Christ and the love of humanity explore your heart and repent of your sin. Violence is not the Way of Christ. Also, Mark’s pastoral heart was evidenced as he spoke clearly about the need to model humble leadership which appropriately acknowledges failure; he even confessed his need for wisdom as he wasn’t sure how best to proceed.

Although the primary focus of our conversation was the tenor of Mark’s comments in recent years, he wasn’t the alone in making movement during the course of this conversation. Paul, the organizer of the protest, asked Mark’s forgiveness for labeling him, “Mark the Misogynist.” Not only that, the protest was called off. Further, for those in that conversation who had seen Mark as something of an an adversary prior to our meeting there was movement toward being advocates one for the other. I left that meeting with greater hope for a reconciled church in Seattle, and beyond. For all of us the proof will be in the pudding. How will Mark use his wit and prophetic platform in the future time only will reveal, but I do believe that he loves God and is desirous to serve Christ and to finish well the race he has been called to run.

We all know that actuating lasting change is difficult and slow as our greatest strengths are often our greatest weaknesses. And so the very things that brought us together for this meeting may bring people together again around future matters; and this is the nature of human experience. It is also the hope of Christian reconciliation that our differences and disagreements can bring us together at the foot of the cross. Our goal is not to agree on points of theology, as clearly we don’t, rather our goal is to grow in love and to move toward reconciled union because of God.

This is just one of the many reasons why Trinitarian theology has such practical application in our lives. Three Divine differentiated persons in humble service of one another, and simultaneously one God: genuine plurality/genuine oneness. As followers of Christ we must disagree with another and we can still move toward one another in grace, love, humility and curiosity while recognizing that our oneness does not rest in our creeds but in our Creator.

Peace, dwight

Today is the Day for Peace

Watch and truly listen to this brief message from Kofi Annan.  Many people around the world are observing a minute of silence in prayer for peace at noon today.

peace, dwight

Tomorrow (9/21) is the International Day of Peace.  “The day,” according to Kofi Annan “is meant to be a day of global cease-fire.  I call on all countries and all people to stop all hostilities for the entire day.  I also urge all people around the world to observe a minute of silence at 12 noon. Let us hold in our hearts the ideal of peace.”

Please join me, and countless others around our globe in one minute of silence at noon tomorrow. 

Peace, dwight

Goshen College history professor, John D. Roth recently delivered one of the C. Henry Smith Lectures.  A .pdf of his lecture is available here, “Called to One Peace: Christian Faith and Political Witness in a Divided Culture“.

Written by and to Mennonites I commend it to all – Anabaptist or other – desirous of proactive non-violent action.

Peace, dwight

Here are a couple of links to Girard speaking on the subject:
- Oxford 1997: “Violence, Victims and Christianity: The D’Arcy Lecture.”
- Innsbruck 2003: “Shakespeare on Passions.” (he begins in French but will switch to English)

Its not that I don’t do violence – I do and very often I am not even aware of my own violence. Strong arguments can be made that I do violence by my commitment to non-violence.

When we were at Andrew and Hannah’s wedding, a few weeks ago, we attended a baseball game. The ball field had a kids’ play structure where I took Pascal (he’s three years old). There was an older kid (maybe 9 or 10) who was the self proclaimed king of the playground. Pascal was sitting on the stairs waiting for his turn to go down the side when the “playground king” walked over and took Pascal’s hat.

Pascal stood up tried to get his hat and then pushed the “playground king.” The older boy played this up, “You want a piece of me?” Which is about when Pascal started to cry.

The “Playground King” returned Pascal’s hat turning it to the side slightly, then moved on to another area of the playground.

I rescued Pascal and comforted him. I asked Pascal how he was feeling, and he resumed his tears, he wasn’t angry, he was sad. He didn’t understand what had just happened.

Once his fears were relieved we talked through what happened and I promised him that I would keep him safe. We then set out to find the “playground king.” Holding Pascal’s hand we walked over to him, and I got down on a knee and said something like, “Excuse me, you scared my son and he wants say something to you.” And Pascal said, “Please don’t take my hat anymore – that made me feel sad.” The boy apologized to Pascal. Then we went back to playing.

Did I do violence? Did I permit violence? Did I redeem violence? Other? All the above?

Peace, dwight