“I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. “ ( Leviticus 26:6 )
First let me say that the verses that follow this verse sort of veer off the path of peace and non-resistance. “In fact, you will chase down your enemies and slaughter them with your swords. Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath your sword.” (verses 7-8) Not quite in keeping with the theme of Mennonite peace and non-resistance. The Confession says, “Prophets and other messengers of God continued to point the people of Israel toward trust in God rather than in weapons and military force .” If verses 7-8 point to “weapons and military”, verse 6 points to protection through God and upheld by God’s promise to the people of God.
It seems to me rather contrary to promise no sword in the country and then to extol the power of the swords that God’s people wield. Mennonites have emphasized one part of this passage, the peace part, and have left the latter verses alone. This has been an ongoing issue for Mennonites, when verses that support the might of God’s people in battle are in conflict with the peace stance that Jesus presents. Mennonites have chosen peace. In the commentary section of the article on peace, the Confession says, “There is no simple explanation for the practice of war in the Old Testament. The Old Testament repeatedly points toward peace (Exodus 14:13-14; Judges 7:2; Psalm 37; Isaiah 31; Hosea 2:18). Both the Old and New Testaments proclaim the vision of a coming peaceable kingdom (Isaiah 9:1-7), preached and revealed by Jesus Christ (Acts 10:36).“
I could, gentle reader, explain some of the different ways that Mennonites and others have tried to explain the dichotomy – but I will not. One reason is that amongst all Mennonites there is not consensus on the issue, and I think it would be more of my own explanation based on my beliefs and those who believe as I do. The bottom line is that the official stance of the global Mennonite church is one of peace. There have been too many Mennonites who have suffered for the peace stance of me to try to bridge any gaps between that belief and the variations you will find amongst individuals. Not to mention the pain and suffering, loss and destruction that war brings. But the peace, justice and non-resistance stance is more than just absence of war. But since war and the absence of war is the focus of this verse, again I will refrain from more comment.
You are, gentle reader, always welcome and encouraged to engage in dialogue with me on this and any other issues.
May you gentle reader live in peace with all that are around you, avoiding the sword that maims both the user and the victim. Selah!
