Lest We Forget

 

 

Today is November 11. “Lest We Forget” is the phrase we will hear many times. We have set apart this day to not forget something important. There are some things we have not forgotten. The horror of war, the bravery and selfless sacrifice of young men and women on the battlefield. There are other things though, that we have forgotten, and so our history of violence continues to repeat itself.

Lest we forget that all human beings, no matter what colour, creed or country are created in Gods image. Therefore we all have inherent dignity and worth and are all connected to each other.

Lest we forget that because we are created in the image of God, that means we are created to live in relationship with God and with each other. We are created to live in unity. We are created to live in the flow of Gods self-emptying love poured into us to overflowing. That love overflowing from us is to be poured out into the lives of others around us. Violence and greed are the dams which stop that flow. This goes against our design and brings collective brokenness.

Lest we forget that though a violent solution may provide temporary peace, it will not last, for violence always perpetuates more violence in the end. There is no such thing as “just war.”

Lest we forget that any civilization which glorifies and participates in violence, which practices selfishness and greed, who has an “Us vs. Them” mentality will always live in spiritual and societal brokenness.

Lest we forget that nowhere in the gospels nor in any extra biblical historical records do we see Jesus, the perfect reflection of God, the archetypal human, reacting violently to any human being—not for his own defence or for the defence of anyone else. Instead, we see God Himself forgiving, healing, feeding the hungry, refusing to react violently, preferring to forgive as violence is inflicted upon Him. The more I consider this, the more difficult it is to for me as a Christ follower to justify or condone any acts of violence upon another human being for any reason.

Lest we forget that that there are much more creative solutions to conflict than the default solution of violence that humans have settled for throughout history. Let’s find another way.

Thomas Merton writes in his book, New Seeds of Contemplation”:
“Strong hate, the hate that takes joy in hating, is strong, because it does not believe itself to be unworthy and alone. It feels the support of a justifying god, of an idol of war, an avenging and destroying spirit. From such blood-drinking gods the human race was once liberated, with great toil and terrible sorrow, by the death of a God Who delivered Himself to the Cross and suffered the pathological cruelty of His own creatures out of pity for them. In conquering death, He opened their eyes to the reality of a Love which asks no questions about worthiness, a Love which overcomes hatred and destroys death.

“But men have now come to reject this divine revelation of pardon, and they are consequently returning to the old war gods, the gods that insatiably drink blood and eat the flesh of men. It is easier to serve the hate-gods, because they thrive on the worship of collective fanaticism. To serve the hate-gods, one has only to be blinded by collective passion. To serve the God of Love, one must be free, one must face the terrible responsibility of the decision to love – in spite of all unworthiness, whether in oneself or in one’s neighbour”