Are we witnessing more turmoil and conflict today than in times past? We are consistently being informed that we are more divided than ever before. Maybe, we are just more “aware” of our differences than in the past? Afterall, our continued advances in technology have allowed our opinions and views to be more visible and exposed, maybe even beyond our own willingness to admit. Let’s scope our response to the question, within the frame of 1) living as a Christian and 2) are we called to fight?
Recently I decided to tackle a Hemingway novel. One of greater length than his novella, The Old Man and the Sea. Did you just ask what a novella was? I too had to recently investigate that word, not having anything closely related to a literary education. I learned that a novella is a designation for a story that is slightly longer than a short story, yet shorter than a novel. The etymology of the word comes from the Italian for novel, so, I’m not clear how the Italians differentiate this “concept”? Oh well…. On to what Hemingway has to do with my response to the question of turmoil and conflict in our current society.
I chose to read Hemingway’s, posthumous publication of his work, Islands in the Stream. Early in the novel a story unfolds involving a group of men and boys out for a day of deep-sea fishing. One of the boy’s “hooks” a very large fish, and Hemingway undertakes a multi-page long narrative of the adrenalin induced environment onboard the fishing vessel. As with most male bonding activities centered around fishing, “stories” would live indefinitely in the lives of these comrades. One of the members of this adventure, Eddy, a crew member of sorts on the boat, gets into a fight(s) that evening because others would not believe his story related to the fishing trip that day. The next day as he is relating the events of the previous night, another character in the story encourages him not to get in any more fights about that trip and implores him to understand, “It doesn’t do any good.” Eddy responds in agreement and adds the following, “I kept waiting for truth and right to win and then somebody new would knock truth and right right on its ass.” Yet, the truth that Eddy was telling was still truth even with no one buying his story. This conversation caused me to pause, and reflect, on what is often seen in a larger context of our culture today. What are we fighting, or maybe more direct, WHY are we fighting? And possibly to even focus the reflection even narrower, SHOULD I as a Christian be “fighting”? While this narrative in the novel was a physical altercation between individuals, I call into consideration a fighting in our culture that is more related to the “tone” of my conversations; that perspective focuses the challenge more directly at my personal reflection on my daily interactions with others; both actively and passively.
Paul said in his second letter to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight….”1. In our English language the word fight carries within its definition words like “violent struggle” and “exchange of physical blows”, words that no doubt associate very well with our mental image of a fight. However, this is exactly why context is so important in understanding word(s). Not only the context in this one statement, but with regards to scripture, I find it important to understand it in the context of all scripture. That being understood reminds us to read Paul’s letters and teaching in the context of the teachings of Jesus. After all Paul himself often admits and teaches in his letter that he, nor anyone, should add anything to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So, back to that “good fight”. I will consider two “rails of the track” regarding my meditation; 1) “the fight” and 2) the commandment Jesus gave us in His new covenant.
So, the first ‘rail” I suggest is a proper meditation on Paul’s comment of his good fight, that is found in the target of his “fight”, his faith. Paul was not mounting a campaign against the Roman government, or even his individual oppressors. He was not quarreling2 with his fellow believers (or non-believers even) over cultural, social, or political disagreements. He was struggling, as I do as well, with evil influences impacting his personal faith.
So, this “rail” of Paul’s faith journey is paralleled by the “rail” of his journey to obey the commandments that Jesus imparted through His new covenant, to love God and to love one another.3 We must admit that if we are to love one another as Jesus demonstrated His love for us, we cannot accomplish obedience through quarreling with, demeaning, disrespecting, or detesting others. Let’s not forget that Jesus did not command us to only love those like us, but to also love our enemies, perceived or otherwise.4 We cannot gossip, jeer, mock, or judge and simultaneously experience obedience to His command to love.
So, can I not examine myself in consideration of these two “rails” I have mentioned? I may ask that we undertake this examination within the context of the teachings of Jesus and His command to love one another, and to love God first. Maybe we even ask ourselves how does my “fight” change, so good can come from it? A good that is manifested in our love for one another. What would that society or culture look like?
1 2 Timothy 4:7
2 2 Timothy 2:14; 1 Timothy 3:2,3; Titus 3:9-11 (just to site a few)
3 John 13:34,35
4 Matthew 5:43-48