International Day of Nonviolence

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting his ear. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you not think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?”
Matthew 26:50b-53

Violence begets violence.

Incivility begets incivility.

Hate begets hate.

From escalations in international disputes to generations of grinding oppression, the truth of these words is demonstrated over and over again. Yet, as Christians, we are called to interrupt this pattern and transform it.

One time-honored way to interrupt cycles of violence and injustice is through the practice of nonviolence. Nonviolence takes action and strength. Nonviolence — as practiced by Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Thich Nhat Hanh, and, of course, Jesus — has the power to set relationships on a new trajectory, bringing freedom and reconciliation where none was thought possible. When some hear the word nonviolence, they may mistakenly equate it with passivity. But true, active nonviolence requires a daily engagement of discipline, faith, compassion and love.

United Methodists, in following Wesley’s admonition to “do no harm,” join with other Christians around the world in heeding Jesus’ call to lay down our swords and be peacemakers. And we join with adherents of other faiths in practicing nonviolence. Though the principles of nonviolence are derived from the wisdom of the world’s religious traditions, no tradition owns nonviolence. These principles include:

• Just means lead to just ends.
• We are not reducible to the evil we commit.
• Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people.
• Nonviolence believes the universe is on the side of justice.
• An us versus them mentality is a distortion of reality.

On Aug. 10, 2015, one year after Michael Brown Jr. was shot in Ferguson, Missouri, I stood handcuffed next to a police officer waiting to be processed after arrest. Though I was clear about the reason I was there — to express, along with a hundred others, a demand that the Department of Justice follow the recommendations in its report in ensuring that a pattern of racist policing and policies be reformed — I was also intent on not making the officer my enemy.

Just before he experienced the most violent of deaths, Jesus entreated his followers never to return violence for violence. He asked one of his followers who was ready to defend him with violence not to do so. He asked, “Do you not think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?” He refused to make even those persecuting him and preparing for his crucifixion his enemy.

While Jesus rejected violence returned for violence, this did not mean Jesus was in any way passive or that he did not resist. He resisted the unjust arrest, the betrayal and the violence around him with a declaration that love was stronger than hate. With all that he was and all that he had, he displayed how much more power and purpose it takes to hold back from violence or retaliation than to inflict it. And he showed us that to resist violence demonstrates the truth that in him we already have the freedom and peace we seek.

On this International Day of Nonviolence, may we follow the example of the one who calls us to the active resistance of violence, injustice and oppression with the power of discipline, faith and love.

The Rev. Kristin Stoneking currently serves Epworth United Methodist Church in Berkeley, California. She is a Ph.D. candidate at the Graduate Theological Union, focusing on interreligious studies and nonviolence education. Prior to being appointed to Epworth, Stoneking was the executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the oldest interfaith peace and justice organization in the U.S.