http://www.faithfulphillyforum.org/2007/01/02/not-peace-but-a-sword/ Walking the Talk in Philadelphia: A Ministry of the Christian Association at the University of Pennsylvania Thu, 20 Nov 2008 11:12:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 http://www.faithfulphillyforum.org/2007/01/02/not-peace-but-a-sword/#comment-584 Rev Bev Mon, 08 Jan 2007 19:07:40 +0000 http://www.faithfulphillyforum.org/2007/01/02/not-peace-but-a-sword/#comment-584 Most people are comfortable in their spiritual sleepwalking. It is easy to follow the status quo and (pretend) assume they will be taken care of by some grand beneficent government. Or, else remain in their sleep because it is too too terrifying to confront the powers and principalities. Thus, when Jesus says he brings a sword, for me it means be prepared to do battle with those who want to keep you silent so they can remain asleep. Opening our eyes and awaking to our own responsibility, to our complicity in the evils around us is a fearsome thing. If folks believed in grace then there would be no need for the swords to try to silence people. But we don't. That is my view. Most people are comfortable in their spiritual sleepwalking. It is easy to follow the status quo and (pretend) assume they will be taken care of by some grand beneficent government. Or, else remain in their sleep because it is too too terrifying to confront the powers and principalities. Thus, when Jesus says he brings a sword, for me it means be prepared to do battle with those who want to keep you silent so they can remain asleep. Opening our eyes and awaking to our own responsibility, to our complicity in the evils around us is a fearsome thing. If folks believed in grace then there would be no need for the swords to try to silence people. But we don’t. That is my view.

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