Followup to "A Better Way" Post
After talking to several others this week about my previous blog post, A Better Way, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is a deep cultural chasm between "power as force" and "power as surrender". Many people, even good, faithful ones, get stuck on the idea that peace and love are idealistic unless they’re backed by violence, strength, or deterrence.
But the life of Jesus (and of people like Gandhi, MLK, Mother Teresa) challenges that assumption head on. Jesus redefined power, not by destroying enemies, but by dying for them. The cross is the ultimate rejection of force. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." - Luke 23:34
Many still believe that force is the only way to protect what matters. But Jesus showed us something radically different. He didn’t crush evil with a sword. He absorbed evil on a cross. His answer to injustice wasn’t vengeance. It was forgiveness. And He didn’t “secure peace” by destroying enemies. He made peace by loving them, even unto death.
That’s not weakness. That’s the strongest love the world has ever seen.
The Kingdom of God will never be built with the tools of Caesar. Only with the heart of Christ.
Jesus didn’t teach His followers to live reactively. He taught them to live proactively… with intentionality, wisdom, and love. He didn’t wait for people to come begging for help. He sought them out. He walked toward the sick, the lost, the angry. He built relationships, not just responses.
Some will say there’s just too much brokenness to fix. But what if that’s because we’re pouring all our energy into building walls and prisons instead of tending the soil?
A Kingdom mindset invites us to plant seeds of peace and healing before the storm, not just scramble for solutions after it hits. That means building lives and communities that reflect the way of Jesus.
But the life of Jesus (and of people like Gandhi, MLK, Mother Teresa) challenges that assumption head on. Jesus redefined power, not by destroying enemies, but by dying for them. The cross is the ultimate rejection of force. "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." - Luke 23:34
Many still believe that force is the only way to protect what matters. But Jesus showed us something radically different. He didn’t crush evil with a sword. He absorbed evil on a cross. His answer to injustice wasn’t vengeance. It was forgiveness. And He didn’t “secure peace” by destroying enemies. He made peace by loving them, even unto death.
That’s not weakness. That’s the strongest love the world has ever seen.
So if we say we want peace, we can’t just talk peace. We must live peace. If we say we want love, we must become love."Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." - Romans 12:21 And what Jesus says: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." - Matthew 5:9
Walking the Better Way
So what do we do? Wait for the next crazed shooter? For the next serial rapist? Stock up our police departments with more guns and armored vehicles?The Kingdom of God will never be built with the tools of Caesar. Only with the heart of Christ.
Jesus didn’t teach His followers to live reactively. He taught them to live proactively… with intentionality, wisdom, and love. He didn’t wait for people to come begging for help. He sought them out. He walked toward the sick, the lost, the angry. He built relationships, not just responses.
Some will say there’s just too much brokenness to fix. But what if that’s because we’re pouring all our energy into building walls and prisons instead of tending the soil?
A Kingdom mindset invites us to plant seeds of peace and healing before the storm, not just scramble for solutions after it hits. That means building lives and communities that reflect the way of Jesus.
- Supporting mental health before it spirals
- Cultivating healing, grace-filled community
- Listening to understand, not just to reply or correct
- Teaching our children a better way now, not when it’s convenient
- Investing in emotionally healthy families over the image of perfection
- Unplugging from screens to live fully present in real relationships
These are just a few examples... but the better way is personal. What’s your next step in submitting to Jesus and walking in His way?
Prayer
Jesus,
You walked a path of peace in a world obsessed with power. You chose love over force and forgiveness over revenge.
Teach us to follow You. Not just in belief, but in the way we live. Quiet our hearts. Slow our anger. Soften our need to win. Replace our fear with trust and our pride with humility.
Help us sow peace before the storm. Help us be light before the darkness. Help us raise our families, love our neighbors, and heal our communities. Not with the weapons of the world, but with Your heart and the Holy Spirit in us.
Show us our next step and give us the courage to take it. In Your Holy name,
Amen.
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