Why join one of the Historic Peace Churches? Jesus is at the center of this question. Jesus is at the center of this passage (Romans 5:1-11). Jesus at the center of our faith. Jesus is the source of our strength. Jesus is the source of our peace. Jesus is the source of our hope. We are forgiven and reconciled through Christ. Our very life is in him. Forgiveness is hard to come by in this life. That’s why forgiveness is so countercultural. Do you remember the West Nickel Mines School shooting? On October 2, 2006, a 32-year-old milk tank truck driver went to a one-room Amish schoolhouse and murdered five girls aged 6-13. The universal forgiveness the local Amish community showed the shooter’s family – to the point of attending his funeral and starting a scholarship fund for his children – took the nation by storm. It baffled us. It amazed us. It warmed us. It angered us. How? Why? …Faith. Jesus. We are often far slower to forgive others than God is. Sometimes we even find it hard to forgive ourselves. I struggle with this. Do you? It is so easy for me to ruminate on past failings. Shoot, I perseverate on failings I have not even failed at yet! Acknowledging one’s faults is certainly good. But, we must also remember how truly and completely our sins are washed away by Christ’s sacrifice. Christ’s victory. Should we not bask in God’s forgiveness? Should we not relish his mercy? Amazing grace, how sweet the sound! Right? These are some of the most familiar words not only in the Church but in the English-speaking world. The words were written by John Newton in 1773 during his years as an Anglican clergyman. Before becoming a man of the cloth, however, Newton was the captain of a slave ship. Of his wretched past, Newton remarked, “How industrious is Satan served. I was formerly one of his active undertemptors and had my influence been equal to my wishes I would have carried all the human race with me. A common drunkard or profligate is a petty sinner to what I was.”1 Perhaps truer words were never spoken. Newton and other so-called slavers were, indeed, doing the devil’s work. Our fellow Peace Churchman, Quaker Elias Hicks famously, and correctly, wrote, “[slave owners] were dark and hardy enough to profess themselves the followers of the meek Lamb of God, the humble, self-denying, crucified Savior, while at the same time, by their works and fruits, they proved themselves to be the most cruel, proud, and unjust nations under heaven.”2 Still, God was eager to forgive Newton when Newton turned to him. This was not a simple apology, mind you. Newton experienced a true conversion. He gave his life over and became an abolitionist. God remains eager to forgive those who earnestly and completely turn. He is eager, still. Perhaps you are not a slaver. But what are you? For we all fall short of the glory of God. For what do you need forgiven? To whom do you need reconciled?
In Romans 5:1-5, Paul writes of peace and hope in Christ. Hear these words of the Lord:
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Praise God! Amen?
Justification not only saves us but, in so doing, blesses us with peace and hope. As we know, the curses in this life and death in the next are our consequences for wrongdoing. Paul explains the consequence of justification. This time, it is far more positive. In Christ, we can experience shalom. What a privilege! What a joy! All this comes from God and God alone. In him, there is great joy. In him, there is reason for boasting. If you read multiple translations or look into the Greek, you will notice that the words for rejoice and boast are interchangeable here. This is important. In 3:27, Paul wrote that boasting was excluded. In 4:2-3 he continued this theme by purporting that not even Abraham had cause for boasting. Still, in God, there is, indeed, something to boast about. Rejoice in the Lord always! And, again, I say rejoice! Glory to God from age and age. Glory to the highest. Glory, eternal. Amen?
But joy is not just for the good times. Joy is not just for the easy times. Paul continues to encourage the Romans to be joyful even in the midst of suffering. Even in the midst of pain. For many Christians throughout history – even unto death. My God. It can be hard to relate to this sometimes. Do we understand the significance of crucifixion imagery for the Early Church? Honestly, we are so far removed from that sort of radical understanding of Christ’s suffering. Jesus was executed. We don’t wear electric chair necklaces or get gas chamber tattoos. Yet, we use crosses ornamentally. But, when Jesus called his disciples to carry their own crosses, they knew exactly what he meant. Many of them died as a result of their faith. Many of our Anabaptist ancestors were martyred as well. This is our heritage. In fact, this very weekend marks the anniversary of the deaths of two women who were secretly beheaded in the Gravensteen Castle in Ghent, Belgium. Their names were Tanneken Delmeere and Lynken Claesdochter. What was their crime you ask? Being rebaptized as adults. Might you pause in their honor? [pause] Yet… Now… We are comfortable. In fact, we are so comfortable that any sort of push or pull or prod toward radical witness feels violent to us. Jesus was far from safe, however. Jesus calls us to risk. Jesus calls us to sacrifice. Jesus calls us to, well, live like him. And, if called, to die like him. But, in so doing, we are assured to rise like him! How awesome is that? I mean, how truly awesome is that? We can pretty easily find joy in the midst of economic stability. We can pretty easily find joy in the midst of relational tranquility. But, are you finding joy in the midst of this never-ending pandemic? Are you finding joy in the midst of governmental transitions? Congregational ones? Relational ones? God. Is. Bigger. Than our temporal circumstances. Still, Paul is not exhorting us to be joyful in the midst of sadness, stress, or worry. Paul is exhorting the Church to be joyful when we are oppressed. When we are persecuted. Even when we face certain death. Do we have that kind of joy? Community, church, sisters and brothers – Would we even know? Have we stepped out in radical, dangerous faith enough to actually know?
In verses 6-11, Paul writes of love and reconciliation in Christ. Hear these words of the Lord:
At just the right time Christ died for ungodly people. He died for us when we had no power of our own. 7 It is unusual for anyone to die for a godly person. Maybe someone would be willing to die for a good person. 8 But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 The blood of Christ has made us right with God. So we are even more sure that Jesus will save us from God’s anger. 10 Once we were God’s enemies. But we have been brought back to him because his Son has died for us. Now that God has brought us back, we are even more secure. We know that we will be saved because Christ lives. 11 And that is not all. We are full of joy in God because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of him, God has brought us back to himself.
Still praising with me?
Suffering. Perseverance. Character. Hope. …Hope. Hope. Hope. We gotta have hope. I will readily confess to being mighty overwhelmed right now. Sometimes, I even feel helpless. But one thing the Holy Spirit never lets me feel is hopeless. I believe God is a promise keeper. I believe God will make a way where there is no way. I believe in the cross – the perfect representation of God’s great love for us. I stand on the cross. I cling to the cross. No greater sacrifice. No greater love. Paul writes we were powerless. Oh yes! But in Jesus – There is power. In the cross – There is power. In the blood – There is power. Maybe you are reading this alone. Maybe you are in a crowded coffee shop. Turn to your literal or metaphorical neighbor and hit ‘em with a “His blood still works!” Jesus died for us. And his death reconciles us with the Father. How gracious. How merciful. How truly sweet it is. Let us put this reconciliation – this forgiveness – in context. Remember Luke 23:34? Jesus is on the cross. Jesus is in excruciating pain. Jesus has been rejected. Jesus has been humiliated. And, what does Jesus say? He petitions on our behalf, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Can you believe it? Have you ever loved somebody that much? Have you ever shown someone that much grace? Doubtful. Right? Yet, this is how God loves us. Even though we were his enemies! I am not so foolish to think I was not an enemy of God. I was! Deep down, you know you have been too. I do not wanna be God’s enemy, though. I want to be who God has called me to be. And, in Christ, that is actually possible. Just think… In Jesus, God has brought us back to himself. Let me write that again. In Jesus, through Christ, God has brought us back to him. We had gone astray. But God redeemed us. We turned our backs. But, he turned us back around. Do you understand? Do you appreciate what has been done for you? Do we live like we do? Really and truly? May our refrain forever be – Bind my wandering heart to thee. May our refrain forever be – Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound. For. It. Is. Amazing. Amen? Amen.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils, and snares,
I have already come;
’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Will be forever mine.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun.
What aspects of our Brethren, Mennonite, or Quaker heritage do you hold dear? For me, as someone who was not born into this tradition but, rather, chose it. This idea of integrity, even unto death, is far and away the most cherished and, frankly, compelling aspect of our faith. I do not want to seek death. That is not faithful. That is not biblical. But, I want to have zeal, integrity, and character so great I will follow – I will be faithful – even if it costs me my very life. Perhaps the most famous and universally beloved Brethren is John Kline. He was an abolitionist in Virginia. And, even though he provided medical aid to Confederate soldiers he was imprisoned for having Union sympathies. Some years later, after he returned home, he was ambushed and murdered by these same Confederate soldiers he had faithfully witnessed to. Sisters and brothers… What are you willing to die for? Organized Religion is seeing people like me leave in droves. I am asked all the time why, given my demographics, I want to be a part of a church. Well, this – this radical, zealous, and dangerous witness – is why I want to be a part of this Church. Why do you?
- Broadcast. Amazing Grace with Bill Moyers. Public Affairs Television, Inc., 1990.
- Hicks, Elias, and Paul Buckley. “Lamentations and Weeping and Great Mourning.” Essay. In Dear Friend: Letters & Essays of Elias Hicks. San Francisco: Inner Light Books, 2011.
Rev. Chibuzo Nimmo Petty is a creative, organizer, and minister whose passion is the intersection of cultural competency and pastoral care living with family in Cleveland, Ohio. You can find Chibuzo’s writing and editing work in the Church of the Brethren’s bi-annual academic journal Brethren Life & Thought or more regularly on its affiliate blog DEVOTION.
What does it mean to be a gathering space for thoughtful and creative reflections on the history, theology, and modern practices of the Church of the Brethren and related movements? Brethren Life & Thought has a long history of working to be such a space. We’re excited to bring our content online through DEVOTION: A Blog by Brethren Life & Thought. Here, you’ll find sermons and other writings from Brethren, Mennonite, and Quaker writers from a variety of theological and social contexts. Some weeks, you might read a piece that resonates with you. Some weeks, you might read a piece that challenges you. Some weeks, you might read a piece you think is heretical. For good or for ill, the Anabaptist and Peace Church movements are remarkably diverse in faith and practice. This blog attempts to expose our readers to the vastness of that diversity – even when it makes us uncomfortable. As you comment, which we highly encourage you to do back on our Facebook page, please remember to do so in light of our membership in the Body of Christ. Let us be different than the world for Jesus truly does invite us to another way of living.