Jesus stormed into the temple...
Illustration
Object:
Jesus stormed into the temple, overturned tables, ran people off. He got people thinking, and he got people riled. Many people resented Jesus' actions and refused to be engaged, while a small majority thought through those actions and set out on an entirely new direction, a direction we as Christians inherit today.
Stanley Hauerwas, professor at Duke University, believes and teaches that as a Christian, we have no other option than to be pacifists. He stated, "As faithful followers of Jesus, we cannot imagine being anything other than non-violent in a world of war." This in light of 9/11. His comments challenge our way of thinking and our way of life. He went on to say, "Their [9/11 terrorists'] willingness to die stands in stark contrast to a politics that asks of its members in response to September 11 to shop." Hauerwas was stating that Americans are more American than Christian. Question is: Do we simply dismiss Stanley Hauerwas and his words, or do we think through them and see if and where they apply?
Stanley Hauerwas, professor at Duke University, believes and teaches that as a Christian, we have no other option than to be pacifists. He stated, "As faithful followers of Jesus, we cannot imagine being anything other than non-violent in a world of war." This in light of 9/11. His comments challenge our way of thinking and our way of life. He went on to say, "Their [9/11 terrorists'] willingness to die stands in stark contrast to a politics that asks of its members in response to September 11 to shop." Hauerwas was stating that Americans are more American than Christian. Question is: Do we simply dismiss Stanley Hauerwas and his words, or do we think through them and see if and where they apply?
