060917 Steeple Article - Do No Harm

Last Sunday afternoon, Annemarie and I met Jerry Levin at the Huntingdon College Interfaith Children of Abraham Conference on World Violence in Flowers Chapel. Jerry was not one of the panel speakers (Jewish Rabbi, Christian Professor of New Testament, and Muslim Imam), but we struck up a conversation with him at the closing reception. This “one time completely secular Jewish American atheist and mainstream television network foreign correspondent gave up that career to become a full time volunteer member of CPT (Christian Peacemaker Teams).” His kidnapping by the Hizballah in 1984, while running CNN's Middle East bureau in Beirut changed his firmly held belief that there were certain situations when violence is justified. After ten days of captivity and intense contemplation, Jerry came to a miraculous saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior. He refused to view “Jesus as a nationalistic tribal God of war,” by “rationalizing violence.” Instead, he follows the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount and believes that his salvation is secured through Jesus’ pure and redeeming sacrifice on the cross.
Janeth I. Medina of Valle del Cauca, Colombia was under siege by guerrilla fighters when she accepted a confession and desire to follow Jesus from one of her enemies. He wanted to desert the guerrilla forces, but was afraid he would be killed. Janeth could not help him, but offered him Jesus Christ. He wept and accepted Christ into his heart.
God told Jeremiah, “Surely I know the plans I have for you. [I have] plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Many great Christian martyrs like St. Augustine and Dietrich Bonhoeffer have wrestled with the concept of justified harm to others. Bonhoeffer said, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." This does not rationalize or justify violence, but it recognizes the possible and often probable cost of discipleship with Jesus. Most of us do not have to deal with terrorists like Jerry or guerrilla fighters like Janeth, But we do have to work out our salvation in more subtle ways that will reflect the Prince of Peace and usher in the Kingdom of God.
John Wesley’s understanding of Christian discipleship was to “Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.” His instructions to all those desirous of salvation was to show their sincerity "First, by doing no harm, by avoiding evil of every kind, especially that which is most generally practiced . . ." (Book of Discipline, 103). Dan R. Dick is Director of the United Methodist Congregational Planning and Leader Development for the General Board of Discipleship. Dan focuses on five important ways to "do no harm:" (1) refuse to gossip, (2) avoid unfair criticism, (3) rely on fact rather than rumor, (4) be respectful, (5) deal with disagreement openly and honestly.
Dear Heavenly Father, forgive me for my lack of faith in Your power and strength to bring about peace through my weakness. Show me how You would love others through my actions, through my willing hands and heart. Make me a true instrument of Your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, let me sow pardon; where there is despair, hope; where there is doubt, faith, where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. In the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, Amen.