Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. -- Jesus Christ, John 3:20-21
In response to my It Better End Soon post, Jettybetty brought to my attention a recent article in Newsweek. In the article, the author makes this statement concerning U.S. action against the Iranian nuclear threat:
All options have dangers and drawbacks. But inaction might bring the harshest verdict of history: they knew much, and they did nothing.
What if our actions against threats were, instead of military or covert, truth and light? What if we used our intelligence community and the information it generates for world education rather than military or covert purposes? What if we disseminated the information openly with no spin and no bias, willing to show our own faults inthe process? An Amber Alert for peace.
Where then would the evil and violent hide? How then would they couch their motives and intentions in validity? Where then would the world majority sentiment lie if their purposes and actions were seen clearly and left unbiased by the retalitory actions of others?
Jesus, Gandhi, and MLK used this weapon and in the process robbed their enemies of credibility. Those against them had to stand in the light and show themselves completely for what they were because the victims stood firm in truth. These men stood firm in public, saying, "if you attack us, you will do so in the light where all can see and judge for themselves what is right and what is wrong."
Such actions stripped those in the wrong of their power leaving no room for false validity generated by retaliation. Those that choose to side with the wrong could not hide in clouded arguments and accustions. Even silence on the issue was revealed as weakness and complicity.
Truth and light are the most powerful weapon because they are God's weapon.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. ... And the God of peace will be with you. -- Paul, Phillipians 4:8, 9
If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. -- Jesus Christ, John 8:31-32
Gethsemani Homilies by Matthew Kelty, O.C.S.O.
8 comments:
Tony, this might work, if people/authorities weren't more concerned with keeping their places of prominence and power than for truth and peace.
Sure shows where their real motives lie doesn't it?
Tony
I thought the article just was full of *scare* propoganda. My favorite statement in the article was "as long as the Middle East remains a bitter and backward mess, America will not be secure." Do you feel secure? I do like your plan a lot better--I'm ready to give it a try. I do think it's really interesting--I know more and more people that would agree with you. I just don't think the *religious right* is any where near what it used to be.
Good comments JB.
I don't feel secure because we are spending billions on "for show" security methods and on waging war, while we are not funding real research and development on security methods and processes that would actually work.
It is documented that funding for security R&D into better screening methods, specifically for liquid explosives was withdrawn due to the need to hire more inspectors and to fund the war effort.
Today the government announced that it will cut the budget of the organization that does such research by half. They say the organization is suffering from mis-management and disorganization and they may consider killing entity altogether.
Sounds just like the FEMA mess. Appoint bad managers, underfund, and then critize the results.
This administration continually does the wrong things for the wrong reasons, doing things for effect and visibility rather than doing real changes that would make a difference. The bad expenditures then guarantee that the problem will continue.
And the supporters arguement that we had do to do something is not a valid reason for doing the wrong things.
It's a great concept and would work if a government decided to operate in complete integrity.
Where then would the evil and violent hide? How then would they couch their motives and intentions in validity?
Just proves that our government is full of duplicitous people who operate only to benefit themselves. Those few who try to expose wrongdoing and waste are stiffled at every corner.
JMG, I agree. However, I do want to clarify that my post was not intended to bash America or our government. However, if the shoe fits... .
My intent was to ask why our government doesn't use truth instead of force to fight terrorism and to thwart threats to world peace?
Fighting a guerilla war in foreign countries against unseen enemies using their methods just gives them credibility and also does not stop them. Broadcasting to the world every evil deed in Iraq, Iran, Africa, etc. would be must cheaper than waging war and probably more effective.
I am convinced that to fight evil, you can only do it in the open with resolute truth,peace, and love, but still being harsh in calling evil "evil". And part of the resolution must be the understanding that it will likely result in death, but the world will see it for what it is.
We are so afraid of personal sacrifice and of death that we do not use the powerful weapon of truth. And innocent people die anyway.
God clearly spoke in scripture that light and truth are the enemy of evil. We need to use this weapon.
You make a good point though in the fact of how can we use truth on others when we will not use it in our own system?
Yeah, and that's what the prophets did with Israel, just pointed out the injustices.
Of course, you know what they say: Nobody likes a tattletale.
Tony,
What positive things do you think, as Christians, we should do as Americans that feel this way right now?
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