Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.” Matthew 26:51-52
Many years ago during the Vietnam War, the Rev. Charles Bergstrom, pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Worcester, Massachusetts (1963-1977), chose his Easter Sunday sermon to publicly speak against the war.
Pastor Bergstrom chose a packed church on Easter Sunday to speak against the Vietnam War because he said that people of the resurrection of Jesus Christ cannot be people of war. He told his hearers he offered his words not as a political “dove” (the label historically assigned to those opposed to military action), nor as a reformed political “hawk” (the label historically assigned to those in favor of military action). He told his congregation that he was no kind of bird, but he was a disciple of Jesus Christ and a child of the resurrection. As such, he could not justify the Vietnam War.
I think of Pastor Bergstrom’s Easter Sermon as the United States is once again at war on Easter Sunday. Especially disturbing about this war with Iran is that the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) received over 200 complaints from members of the United States Armed Forces about superior officers justifying war with Iran as part of a holy war to bring about Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ to earth. One combat unit commander reportedly told his troops that the war is “part of God’s divine plan” and that “President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark Christ’s return to Earth.”
Let me acknowledge a few things … international affairs, diplomacy, and decisions about war and peace are complex and policy makers must weigh countless factors. Sin exists and because sin exists there will be times when force must be met with force. Lutherans and people of faith serve honorably in the Armed Forces as a noble and patriotic duty. With that said, as a child of the resurrection let me be crystal clear:
Any belief that a self-chosen war in Iran is part of God’s holy plan to bring about Armageddon and the return of Christ is a lie from the pit of hell that is be repudiated and rejected as strongly as possible.
There is so much wrong and evil about such a narcissistic and heretical belief it’s hard to know where to begin to repudiate and reject it.
[1] First, the belief is rooted in Christian Nationalism which is a nationalistic ideology that confuses the kingdom of God with a particular government. Christian Nationalism is defined by the belief that the U.S. Constitution was divinely inspired, that Christianity should be a privileged religion in the United States, and that this nation holds a uniquely privileged status in God’s eyes.
For theological reasons, the ELCA repudiates Christian nationalism as a distortion of the Christian faith that crosses the line into idolatry.” (Pg 57 – “Faith & Civic Life” ELCA Social Statement). Lutherans teach that the kingdom of God is not a nation, not a particular culture, not a racial grouping, not a form of government, and not even a denomination or a religion. (Pg 57 – “Faith & Civic Life” ELCA Social Statement). The kingdom of God is revealed in Jesus Christ and made known in the sacraments available for all peoples of Earth. That kingdom includes peoples from all tribes, languages, and nations and is so vast it cannot be counted (Revelation 7:9).
It is idolatry, and a violation of the First Commandment, when any nation claims a special blessing or a special call from God. The belief that United States military action can bring about Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ is idolatry par excellence. Do the President and his military commanders really believe they have that much power to force God’s hand to bring about their vision of Armageddon? If so, what becomes of God in such scenario? God is turned into a servant of this nation and President! The hubris of such belief makes the Israelites and their Golden Calf seem like child’s play (Exodus 32). If Jesus himself didn’t even know the time of his return (Matthew 24:36) then how do our policy makers think they themselves can impart that knowledge into Jesus? Ridiculous.
[2] Second, the belief about Armageddon is often closely tied to the idea of the rapture which is not supported by the Bible. For a faithful Lutheran response to the contemporary imagery of Armageddon and the rapture, I encourage you to read Dr. Barbara Rossing’s book, “The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in the Book of Revelation.”
Dr. Rossing writes that while the Book of Revelation does include some terrifying imagery about what God can do, it ultimately offers imagery of what God wants to do. The terrifying imagery is a reminder that God was more powerful than the most powerful empire on Earth at the time (the Roman Empire). But this imagery does not indicate God’s desire to burn up Earth and replace it. Rather, God wants to renew and restore Earth in love and healing. Dr. Rossing points out that Revelation ends with the life-giving image of the river of the water of life flanked on either side by the tree of life bearing fruit with leaves for the healing of the nations (Revelation 22:1:2). Life, fruit, and healing is God’s desire.
Yes, Lutherans do indeed preach and teach the final return of Jesus Christ. But, Lutheran Christians do not believe in the rapture. We do not believe the faithful will be raptured away leaving sinners behind to suffer flames. Instead, Lutherans believe in an “already and not yet” theology. Already, today, Christ returns in the announcement of forgiveness to sinners received in faith, in the promises announced in the water and word of Holy Baptism, and in his real presence in the bread and cup of the Holy Eucharist. Alive in the Word and Sacraments the faithful are then sent as the body of Christ into the world to proclaim God’s love in our service, justice and advocacy. This makes the focus of Christian life not on escaping the world and looking towards the end times, but on our neighbors and world right now who need the love and mercy of Christ.
[3] Third, the belief is rooted in an Americanized, contemporary, and hyper-macho Jesus who favors war, aggression, and force that is not the Jesus found in the Bible.
The Jesus found in the Bible healed the centurion’s daughter, taught his followers to pray for their enemies, and repudiated the Old Testament doctrine of an eye-for-an-eye and a tooth-for-a-tooth. The Jesus found in the Bible told his followers to put down their swords when they attempted to defend him from arrest in the garden of Gethsemane … knelt before his disciples to wash their feet and commanded them to do likewise for each other … and then willingly gave away his earthly power on the cross in order to proclaim the way of life.
There is nothing in the Bible that justifies an image of Jesus blessing the use of American missiles, bombs and tanks as part of God’s will. There is nothing in the Bible that suggests blessing upon United States Empire over, and at the expense of, any other country in the world. There is nothing in the Bible that suggests we effect the return of Christ by murdering our neighbors.
There is in the Bible, however, the repeated judgement of the prophets against Israel when the people of God forgot the plight of the orphan, widow and immigrant. There is in the Bible the judgment of Jesus upon those judged goats who in their failure to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, cloth the naked and visit the prisoners failed to serve Jesus himself found in these neighbors in need (Matthew 25). There is in the Bible the teaching of Paul that among the fruit of the Spirit is peace, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
On this Easter Sunday here’s the truth: Jesus Christ lives! Jesus Christ defeated death by refusing to participate in the ways of sin, violence, and Empire. This good news of Christ is not a gift for, nor blessing on, one people or country at the expense of all others. Rather the life of Christ is God’s gift of life poured out upon all peoples.
As a resurrection people, we are called to participate in the resurrection of Christ in acting and speaking life in places of death. Rather than senseless war, we are called to focused actions of costly solidarity, service and justice. Rather than supporting indiscriminate murder and death through war justified with ambiguous and changing claims, we are called to be the intentional hands and feet of Christ’s love for all peoples of earth.
Because Christ lives today, grace and mercy and forgiveness live today! Because Christ lives, God’s gift of unconditional mercy and grace received in faith through no works or merit of our own lives! Because Christ lives, we live to freely spread Christ’s mercy and grace in the world.
Friends, alive in Christ, be people of resurrection! Tell the story of Jesus, nurture relationships, and do racial justice for the life of the world.
Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!
Bishop Pipho
