Gangsta of Love

I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. - 2 Corinthians 10:2-4

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 27-29; 2 Corinthians 10

If it’s not already abundantly clear, Paul was a spiritual gangsta.

Does anyone else hear the swagger in his voice when you read those words? Maybe it’s just me but good gracious. Paul wasn’t playing games with nobody.

But you know what this makes me think of? It makes me think of the idea of turning the other cheek.

It is one of those ideas that sounds totally and completely crazy on the surface but it is what Jesus instructed folks to do. We saw this strategy at work in the civil rights movement as folks braved police dogs, lynch mobs, sit ins and fire hoses without fighting back. They allowed their love to be the weapon used to defeat hate.

And when it comes down to it that is the foundation of the weapons that Paul is talking about. When we have love in our hearts combined with the faith necessary to fuel our actions then the terms of our battles change. We make all conventional weapons of this world obsolete. Their power melts in the face of love.

And through this love it is possible to fight battles and wage wars that build rather than just destroy. Through violence we can never accomplish peace. All we can do is destroy and then dominate what we have taken over.

But with love we may break down walls and destroy strongholds. This isn’t done with bombs or bullets. It is done through forgiveness, sacrifice and grace.

I wonder what the world would be like if all of the disgruntled and frustrated folks decided to fight their situations with love. How would the world change? What would the new rules of engagement be? I believe this world would be one of boundless possibilities. New horizons would be cut out of old, desolate landscapes of unforgiveness. And the rays of new hope would shine brightly to warm the mornings of tomorrow.

I’m foolish enough to believe that these kinds of things are possible. I believe in the power of each individual to change the world around them. If each of us decide to stop living in fear, and start living in love, then we can’t help but to start a cleansing fire that will overtake the world. The old trees of fear that choke the futures of so many of us will make way for new seedlings of hope for our future.

Today is a new day. Plant a seed and watch it grow.