They treat the wound of my people as if it were nothing: “All is well, all is well,” they insist, when in fact nothing is well. They should be ashamed of their detestable practices, but they have no shame; they don’t even blush!
Therefore, they will fall among the fallen and stumble when disaster arrives, declares the Lord. — Jeremiah 8:11-12
History does repeat itself because us Homo sapiens seem to have an ingrained attitude that “might makes right.” We seem to feel that, if we can’t resolve things, then violence will make it better. Currently, it’s estimated that there are 56 armed conflicts happening across the globe. What’s happening in Iran is but one example. And what has been the cost?
Jesus blessed the peacemakers, not the warmakers. And that work entails a lot more effort than moving armies like chess pieces. I can’t imagine all that’s involved in addressing underlying histories and issues in such a way that peace can be made. Maybe that’s the price we pay for not resorting to the illusion that violence settles things. I only know that this is what Jesus imagined and commanded.
War is always a regrettable last resort. It’s a reflection of humanity’s failure to live up to God’s standards. It’s a blush-able offense to our creator. A little blushing would at least show that, deep down, we know that violence only breeds more of the same.
We can’t be peacemakers and unblush-able warmakers at the same time and still think that we’re following in Jesus’ footsteps.