Red Letter Christians

Death Be Not Proud: The Easter Gospel of Non-Violence

by Shane Claiborne Thursday, April 21st, 2011

Tomorrow is “Good” Friday, the day Christians around the world remember Jesus’ crucifixion. Last year on Good Friday one of my neighbors said to me, “I thought it’s supposed to rain on Good Friday… but today I see nothing but sun.” I don’t think she meant to be theological.

The irony of the “good” on Good Friday is that we Christians believe that what makes it good is that Jesus rose from the dead a few days later (without that part it seems a bit masochistic). And as he rose from the dead he triumphed over all the bad and ugly things in this world — like crosses and guns and bombs — and things like violence, murder, hatred, racism, and all the stuff that destroys life. The promise of Easter is that after the world went dark on that Friday dripping with blood, the sun will rise again.

This Good Friday will be especially filled with light here in the City of Love. Hundreds of Christians will be gathering in Philadelphia with friends of other faiths and people of conscience, to take our services out of the cathedrals into the streets.

It’s been a year since we had our Good Friday Service outside the local gun shop – connecting the passion of Christ to the suffering of our streets.   We’re going to do it again.  This time we’ll join the other fine folks of Heeding God’s Call outside Delia’s Gun Shop just a couple of miles up the street.  The service will be tomorrow, April 22 at 4pm.  We hope to see you there (more information at the bottom of this post).  May we remember the pain, and may we trust in the resurrection.

Delia’s Gun Shop and The Shooter Shop represent places that have become profiteers of violence. They seem like good places to spend Good Friday. We go there, not to attack, but to bear witness. We go there to remember the passion of Christ and the pain of our world…. We go there to remember those who continue, like Christ, to endure torture, insults, unfair trials, and state-sanctioned violence…

Here’s a little word I shared last year in our call to worship at the Shooter Shop:

“Some of us come in the anguish of death asking with Jesus, “My God My God why have you forsaken me”? Some of us come today with the hope of resurrection. But we also remember that before Jesus died, he wept over Jerusalem because “it did not know the things that would bring peace”. And today we weep with Jesus over Philadelphia where a life is lost nearly every 48 hours to gun violence.

One of those was a 19 year old kid named Papito who was killed on February 5 just a few blocks away from where we are now… his mother and family are with us today. And another victim was a seventy-six year old woman shot yesterday about a mile from where we stand. We hold the names of hundreds of victims in our hands and in our hearts [as we lifted up crosses with the names of all the folks killed last year in Philadelphia].And let us remember today that the story of Jesus’s cross did not end on Friday. On Sunday the tomb was empty. It may be Friday now but we know that Sunday is coming. And It is our hope and our dream today that tomorrow the tomb will be empty — that their will be no more blood, no more tears, no more grieving mothers. For we are people who believe in a love the triumphs over death.”

I am excited to be alive this Easter. I see a movement in the church that is once again looking at the non-violent Jesus with awe and wonder. We are convinced that Christians should be the hardest people in the world to convince that violence is necessary … not the folks beating war drums and pushing for the death penalty. As we look at the cross, we see what perfect love looks like as it stares evil in the face. It says, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” It is a Gospel of nonviolence.

I realize the non-violence of the Gospel has not always characterized Christianity. Christians have often been the biggest obstacle to God. Forgive us — for blessing bombs, for the crusades and “holy” wars, for creating an apologetic for torture, for holding signs that say “God hates fags”, starting apocalyptic militias, and blowing up abortion clinics. These things are not the Christianity of Christ. If they are Christianity, it is a Christianity that has grown sick, sick beyond recognition. It does not look like Jesus.

On Good Friday we remember a Savior who died from a state-sanctioned execution. We remember the Jesus who was jailed and tortured with insurrectionists and terrorists and bandits … the Jesus who loved his enemies so much he died for them (for us).

On Good Friday we ponder the mystery of resurrection this Easter — when Christ rose from the dead to make a spectacle of death. He laughed at power. He winked at Caesar and the Roman cross from the heavens. And it is his resurrection that gives us the hope that, in the end, life is more powerful than death. Grace does triumph over hatred… In the end love wins.

There is a growing movement of Christians who are convinced that our faith is not just a ticket into heaven and an excuse to ignore the hells of the world around us. There is a movement of Christians who know that our Christianity is not just about going up when we die, but bringing God’s Kingdom down … “on earth as it is in heaven”, as Jesus said. We are not willing to settle for a Christianity that only promises folks life after death when people are asking… “but is there life before death?”

This “Good” Friday, I think Jesus is smiling. May we remember the pain, and may we trust in the resurrection. It may be Friday … but Sunday is coming.

**********

Good Friday Service at Delia’s Gun Shop

Friday, April 22 at 4:00 pm

Delia’s Gun Shop, 6104 Torresdale Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia, 19135 (Benner and Torresdale).

For more info, check out:  http://www.heedinggodscall.org/

—-
Shane Claiborne is a prominent author, speaker, activist, and founding member of the Simple Way.  He is one of the compilers of Common Prayer, a new resource to unite people in prayer and action. Shane is also helping develop a network called Friends Without Borders which creates opportunities for folks to come together and work together for justice from around the world.


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  • Walter

    Misguided people blaming guns for violence. That is like blaming spoons for making Rosie O’Donnell fat…blaming an object for making someone sin is flawed thinking. People, the violence is in your nature. If there were not guns, people would use swords, knives, clubs, baseball bats…anything…even a death ray if we had it. Violence never should not be blamed on an object. Just saying.

  • http://profiles.google.com/ricbooth56 ric booth

    Good word, Shane. Thanks for this on this week. this day. this time.

  • http://seeitblind.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/easter-thoughts-from-shane-claiborne/ Easter thoughts from Shane Claiborne « Waves Across Oceans

    [...] again, Shane puts it so eloquently. Read his Easter message “Death Be Not Proud” here. Feel free to contribute your thoughts as [...]

  • Anonymous

    Don’t even know where to start here. This is so carnal. If you are a Christian with the resurrection power of Christ in you, why would you resort to the same superficial methods as unbelievers who have no supernatural power and no clue as to what the real problems are? The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God…

    This is what happens when you veer from scripture and join with those who love the world and it’s ways. If you want to make a real difference then it will have to be on your knees and in your sharing of the Good News which IS the power of God. Perhaps then you will hear from heaven a strategy that will actually make a difference.

    Surely you don’t imagine that disrupting someone’s legal right to make an honest living will accomplish anything. This symbolism over substance is just one more example of the downhill slide of a portion of the Body of Christ. Yes, I know, to the godless this seems so loving and is the perfect picture of the mild-mannered Jesus. Trouble is that none of the first adherents to the faith ever succumbed to such trivial methods. Carnality is not just giving in to the flesh. It is also giving in to the thought processes and actions that people without Christ employ to solve their problems.

    Sorry if this seems harsh. I’m hoping you will rise to the full stature of your power and place in the kingdom. You can do better.

  • Walter

    Tony, take the march to the grocery or liquor store PLEASE!

    alcohol deaths per year

    drinking and driving causes over 25,ooo deaths a year. overall 100,000 deaths occur each year due to the effects of alcohol.Correction: According to the NHTSA web site (nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/pdf/nrd-30/NCSA/RNotes/2006/810686.pdf), there were 43,443 alcohol related traffic fatalities in 2005 in the USA. As a comparison, AIDS claimed 18,000 lives in 2003.

    How can alcohol be blamed for 100,000 deaths each year?

    5% of all deaths from diseases of the circulatory system are attributed to alcohol.
    15% of all deaths from diseases of the respiratory system are attributed to alcohol.
    30% of all deaths from accidents caused by fire and flames are attributed to alcohol.
    30% of all accidental drownings are attributed to alcohol.
    30% of all suicides are attributed to alcohol.
    40% of all deaths due to accidental falls are attributed to alcohol.
    45% of all deaths in automobile accidents are attributed to alcohol.
    60% of all homicides are attributed to alcohol.

    (Sources: NIDA Report, the Scientific American and Addiction Research Foundation of Ontario.) Also see Alcohol Consumption and Mortality, Alcohol poisoning deaths, CDC report,

    100,000 deaths. That’s more than a statistic. That is 100,000 individuals with faces. 100,000 individuals with lives not fully lived. 100,000 individuals grieved by mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and children. Every year.

    Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_alcohol_related_deaths_occur_each_year#ixzz1KBJ2GNvL

  • http://ihopetomorrowisbetter.blogspot.com/ Molly Bandit

    I’m glad this folks are at least following a conviction instead of sitting on their butts in front of their TV. Daystar can be just as much of a distraction as American Idol.

    I had a much longer response, but instead of spamming this board, I turned it into a blog entry on my blog. If you’re interested: http://ihopetomorrowisbetter.blogspot.com/2011/04/legal-vs-moral.html

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jonathan-Jensen/42108458 Jonathan Jensen

    I can agree that if this act was all that Shane and his compadres did to counter violence with Christ-like love, then criticizing their focus on Gun shops would be legitimate… However, Shane does approach those who do evil acts, as well as acts of criticism toward a system that allows for evil acts of people to create much more horrendous ends, with love.
    And thank you, Molly, for bringing up the point about acting morally versus acting legally… I think it is always good to remember that our allegiance is to God first, and to the worldly powers second.

  • http://twitter.com/robmille Rob Miller

    NRA convention in the comments section is a little frustrating.

  • Sixgun452

    Amen! Murder is a heart problem, not a I have a gun problem.
    rob

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1388514701 Greg Dill

    What we really need is to ban guns altogether. That would help alleviate the high number of violent crimes in America. But, that will never happen. Why? Because there are too many gun-toting, patriotic, Americans who call themselves Christian and somehow are led to believe that disciples of Christ are to own, carry, or use a gun. Somehow many Christians equate firepower with Christ’s kingdom.

  • Walter

    Greg, what was Christ communicating to the disciples in Luke 22:36?
    Murder happened LONG before firearms.

  • Bjminton

    Walter, what was Jesus communicating to us in Matthew 26:52? “Those who live by the sword will die by the sword.” Put the instrument of violence away.

  • Bjminton

    Wanted to comment on your blog and my connection wouldn’t let me. You and I think a lot alike. Thanks for articulating it so well.

  • Anonymous

    You might be right, Greg. Banning all guns might be the answer. It would probably have to be world-wide since the criminals would just use the black market to get their weapons of choice. If it would indeed stop innocent people from being murdered, it would be worth a try. Given the long list of countries that have banned private ownership of guns, are you aware of whether or not those actions have actually led to a decrease in violent crimes? I would hate to think that we took some kind of drastic measure like banning all guns only to discover that the crime rates increased.
    As for Christians, you are so right. Using a gun against another human being has no place in the Body of Christ.

  • Anonymous

    Enjoyed your blog page, Molly. Nice to hear from someone who has the discernment to look at all sides of the issue.

  • peterjosephgarcia

    The sole purpose of a gun is to harm and take life.

    A gun in the white, middle-class suburbs and rural areas means something entirely different than it does in Philadelphia.

    If only we could beat our guns into spoons to feed the hungry.

  • http://wmii.org Edwardd Alvarez

    Thank you. I really admire what you are doing and what God is doing in you and your work. This is a challenging article for me, but I know it is something God is stirring up in my heart.

  • Walter

    BJ, Violence is not an instrument…it’s an attitude and conscience choice. Should we outlaw hammers too? Please! Just because someone owns and uses a tool, that does not make them violent. Is using a gun more violent than bludgeoning someone to death with a hammer? I would THINK not. Blaming guns for violence makes as much sense as blaming spoons for making Rosie O’Donnell fat. You missed the fact that Christ instructed his disciples to buy a sword. I bet you cannot answer the reason why He instructed them to do so…can you?

  • Walter

    Great post in your blog. I believe that some people are so easily confused and distracted that they miss the point…which is the heart of man and his nature. Cain murdered. He used what was available. Man will always murder regardless of what he chooses to use. If there we were going to identify an item that causes more death, violent crimes, etc, Alcohol would top the list…not guns. But then why think about that?

  • Walter

    Peter you missed protect life, a tool that is used to provide food, and sport shooting. The sole purpose is not to harm and take life. I could easily say that cars sole purpose is to let drunks kill people…which would also be untruthful.

  • Bethany

    While I am as anti-gun as they come, I began to wonder about past gun bans and their impact on crime. I was pretty sure that removing all guns would stop gun crimes, but I wondered if it might have the same impact as prohibition in the United States during the twenties. That obviously led to the exact opposite of what the framers of that amendment intended. So I have been searching, and I can’t say I’m happy with the results. Although there is some evidence on both sides, the body of empirical data seems to suggest that banning all guns might do more harm than good and actually increase the illegal use of guns. I would ask each of you to check out the available data. Here is just one example:

    In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control.
    From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated

    In 1970, Uganda established gun control.
    From 1971 to 1972, 300,000 Christians, un…able to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated

    In 1938, Germany established gun control.
    From 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated

    In 1935, China established gun control.
    From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated

    In 1964, Guatemala established gun control.
    From 1964 to 1981, about 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated

    In 1956, Cambodia established gun control.
    From 1975 to 1977, 1 million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated

    Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated

    Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 Million

    During WWII, the Japanese decided NOT to invade USA because they knew most Americans were ARMED!

    Switzerland issues every household a gun!
    Switzerland goverment trains every adul and they issue each a rifle.
    Switzerland has the lowest gun related crime rate of any civilized country in the WORLD!

    Take note before it’s too late! The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history.

    Guns in the property of honest citizens save lives and property and YES, gun control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens (most criminals who use guns to kill, don’t even register their guns).

  • Sam

    I spent some time looking at the work that Shane and his group are doing and am very impressed. I’m not sure about this particular stance. It’s probably a much different issue to those in urban Philly than it is to those of us in rural America. What stands out to me about your response Greg, is a statement that Shane made when his ministry was in the beginning stages. He said, “We’re gonna stop complaining about the church that we’ve experienced, and work at becoming the church we’ve dreamed of”. Pretty good advice for us all, don’t you think?

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