So, Pope Francis tweeted: “Do we really want peace? Then let’s ban all weapons so we don’t have to live in fear of war.” Once I got passed the lack of proper punctuation (I am really no fan of Twitter), I was saddened by the Pontiff’s seeming lack of understanding. I am all for peace. I pray for peace. Seemingly, however, Pope is not bible literate. Likewise, he appears blinded by politics and unable to see that the problem of war is not the presence of weapons. Rather ours is a Spiritual warfare.
The answer to peace is not to eradicate weapons. Sure, we can dispose of bombs and nuclear weapons. We can melt down our guns to make plowshares. UNLESS there is a change in the heart of man, there will be cause for war. As long as there is cause for war, man will find his weapon.
I had in my mind that Cain killed his brother with a knife. (I remarked to others—“Take my steak knife from my cold dead hand.”) Apparently, I have forgotten some of my bible study, as well. We don’t know with what weapon Cain killed his brother. It is a sure bet, though, that it was not a gun. A rock, perhaps? (Good luck banning those!) David slew Goliath with a stone. Maybe it was a farming tool? We don’t know.
Samson comes to mind. He killed a thousand men with a donkey jawbone (Judges 15:16). A thousand men! A jawbone!
It seems pretty clear to me that we can’t legislate peace. Man will always find the tools to kill, if that is his desire. The same tools that might be used to kill can be (and mostly are) used for good. Dare I make a list.
Pope Francis, if you (we) want peace, you (we) must lead the hearts of the people to the path of peace. If any of us wants peace we must first be peaceable. We do not overcome evil with evil. This is true. We overcome evil by doing good (Romans 12:21).
We cannot take out of context the words of Jesus, when he said: “Do not suppose that I come to bring peace to the earth. I come not to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10: 34). Those who “draw the sword will die by the sword” (Matthew 26:52, NIV). I believe the sword in Matthew 10 to be metaphorical. It is a sword of the heart to overcome evil—much of which there is in this world.
The mere banishment of weapons (as if this were possible) is not the path to peace. Of course, neither is an arms race. There must be a third way to peace—one that can only come from discourse and standing up to evil.
To “speak softly and carry a big stick” (Theodore Roosevelt) need not imply that one must use the stick in a violent manner. Indeed, a big stick can be used to pull one up, as well as to knock one down. It is not the tool itself but how it is used that makes all the difference.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!