Standing up to Spiritual Violence

I preached a well-received sermon on Sunday entitled, The Way of Reformation: Standing Up to Spiritual Violence. From the opening skit about Martin Luther to the retelling of modern reformers (Rosa Parks, Caser Chavez, and Cindy Sheehan), everything seemed to tie in nicely with the sermon. I love a good Sunday when everything "works".

Here is an excerpt from the sermon:

We don’t have to confront our bullies like I did in my youth. There are other options if we’re willing to utilize them. Let us end the pattern of using violence to end violence. As Walter Wink has explained, “Violence can never stop violence because its very success leads others to imitate it.” (Wink, Engaging the Powers, 216). Sure, it may work in the short term, but in the end, violence will be reemployed again and again, whenever we think we’re being oppressed and hurt. To end violence in the long-term, we need to employ a greater plan—the plan of Jesus. In his teachings and in his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus transcended the notion of revenge and power-over by showing us that by love we can truly bring redemption.

You can read the entire sermon by going here.