April 29, 2008

Preaching on God's Response to Violence and Injustice

by Steve Mathewson

Hey, I’m back! After a month-long hiatus, I’m back in the blogosphere. Last week, my journey through the book of Judges brought me to an incredible story which addresses the issue of God’s response to violence and injustice. It was timely for our church because twenty-four students have been murdered so far this school year in the Chicago Public School system. Although we live in a relatively safe North Shore neighborhood, issues of violence and injustice are never far from peoples’ minds. If you plan to address this issue at some point (and you should!), you might preach this story.

I’m referring to the story of Abimelech in Judges 9. While some OT narratives communicate so subtly that it’s hard to pin down their big ideas, the narrator clearly interprets the meaning of this story at its beginning (verses 23-24) and at its end (verses 56-67). My big idea for this sermon was: God makes sure that guilty people face payday someday for their evil deeds. The “payday someday” phrase comes from a well-known sermon (at least in some circles) by R. G. Lee.

This idea, though, needs to be run through the grid of the gospel in order to give listeners the whole picture. So, after working through the story and stating its big idea, I offered four perspectives or points about God’s vengeance:

1. God would not be worthy of our worship if he did not wield the sword to end violence!

2. God has created an “escape” for evildoers by taking sin upon Himself at the cross of Christ! (See 2 Corinthians 5:19-21).

3. God has to take vengeance on those who ultimately refuse to be reconciled in order for nonviolence and peace to be realized.

4. God’s vengeance makes it possible for me not to take vengeance when I am wronged! (Romans 12:19).

By all means, read Miroslav Volf’s chapter on ‘Violence and Peace’ in his book Exclusion and Embrace. It’s one of the most clear, profound, compelling reflections on God’s retribution that I have ever read!