We commit to the study and practice of nonviolence
1 Peter 3:8–15
Submitted by Rev. Terra Winston
Finally, all of you, have unity of spirit, sympathy, love for one another,
a tender heart, and a humble mind.
Reflection: Peter’s interpretation of the call to action in Isaiah gets to the heart of the challenge of peace for humanity. So often as Christians, we really want to follow Jesus and to do the right thing for our neighbors, but we stop short because of fear and the belief that harm might come to us. We seek to be open and do good, but then fear sets in. The act of nonviolence is not a passive action; it is often an act of pushing through fear. It is an act that needs to be renewed though study and practice. It is the act of learning of our faith in God and one another. It is not enough to just seek peace; we must pursue it again and again.
Action: In order to reclaim the power of nonviolence, we need to think through what is keeping us from claiming our nonviolence to begin with. Take a moment to reflect on times where you felt the desire for violence. What kept you from acting on that desire? Find a resource for yourself that will help you build up your resistance to violence.
Prayer: A Litany of Resistance
Leader: We do not put our trust in the rulers of this world, but follow the teaching of Jesus Christ.
All: For such a time as this
Leader: Let God’s will be done.
All: Let us resist evil where we find it.
Leader: With the politics of violence
All: We will not comply.
Leader: With laws that betray human rights
All: We will not comply.
Leader: With the bombing of civilians
All: We will not comply.
Leader: With the help of God’s grace,
All: We will struggle for justice.
Leader: With the compassion of Spirit
All: We will stand for what is true.
Leader: With the example of Christ’s love
All: We will work to build the beloved community. Amen.
(Adapted with permission from CPT’s Litany of Resistance)
Terra Winston is the Delegations Coordinator for Christian Peacemaker Teams. Through her work, she often travels to Colombia, Iraqi Kurdistan, Hebron in the West Bank as well as working with Indigenous Communities in North America. Terra also works in Donor Relations at the Christian Century magazine. She received her M. Div from McCormick Theological Seminary and a ThM. from Princeton Seminary.
This year’s Path of Peace reflections are based on the Five Affirmations to Guide the Peacemaking Witness of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Writers were recruited to help us explore the following affirmations as each week of A Season of Peace unfolds:
- Peacemaking is essential to our faith.
- We have sinned by participating in acts of violence.
- We reclaim the power of nonviolent love.
- We commit to the study and practice of nonviolence.
- We will practice boldly the things that make for peace.
Each author writes Monday–Friday, beginning with the first affirmation and ending with the fifth. The authors represent a variety of vocations and experiences in peacemaking efforts, and each week presents a new ‘voice’ to walk you through the affirmations. The weekend devotions, written by the editor, also reflect the five affirmations. Individuals and households are invited to make use of these daily reflections beginning on Sunday, September 3, and concluding on World Communion Sunday, October 1.