Redemption

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Commemoration of the USA Twin Towers bombing, 9-11-2001

(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)

Redemption

To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well.

Jesus meant it when he told us to love our enemies.

Do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you.

As Walter Wink said, redemptive violence (revenge) is the “real world religion, one of the oldest continuously repeated stories in the history of the world.” But, he continues, “This myth is the simplest, laziest, most exciting, uncomplicated, irrational and primitive depiction of evil the world has ever known.”

It’s obvious to me that Jesus’ teaching and this “myth” cannot co-exist. Wink points out what is also obvious, that children (especially boys) “select this mythic structure because they are led to resonate with its simplistic view of reality.” This creates an inside-outside, judgmental view of the world. I’m right and you’re wrong. Vanquishing my own inner demons takes a back seat to closing down an enemy, turning that enemy away, protecting myself and my “loved ones.”

But doesn’t Jesus say we are all brothers?

Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Be merciful, even as your Heavenly Father is merciful.

This is a special day to remember this mercy. After the bombing of the Twin Towers in New York City, Americans united in support of the victims but also in animosity toward the Muslim bombers and Muslims in general. This of course is what we would expect, unless we re-read the Sermon on the Mount.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you. Rather, love your enemies and do good to them.

Here’s what a pastor in New York, Brian McLaren, did about this, praying on September 11, 2001.

I felt a voice speaking, as it were, in my chest: Your Muslim neighbors are in danger of reprisal. You must try to protect them. The next morning, I wrote and made copies of a letter extending, belatedly, friendship toward Muslim communities in my area, and offering solidarity and help if simmering anti-Muslim sentiments should be translated into action. I drove to the three mosques nearby—I had never visited them before—and tried to deliver my letter in person. The first two were locked tight—no doubt for fear of reprisals….

When I arrived at the third … I clumsily introduced myself as the pastor from down the street…. I then handed [the imam] my letter, which he opened and read as I stood there awkwardly…. Suddenly, he threw his arms around me—a perfect stranger…. I still remember the feeling of his head pressed against my chest, squeezing me as if I were his long-lost brother. 

“It means so much to me that you have come,” he said. “Please, please, please come inside.” My host welcomed me not with hostility or even suspicion, but with the open heart of a friend. And so that day a friendship began between an Evangelical pastor named Brian and a Muslim imam we’ll call Ahmad.

A few days later, the youth group from our church made a colorful banner expressing their desire for there to be friendship between the youth of the mosque and the youth of our church…. The mosque began hosting community dinners to which our people were invited along with people from other faith communities in the area.

The friendship between our congregations grew through a series of interfaith dialogues … and Ahmad and I began meeting for lunch every month or so…. If Ahmad wanted to talk about something or arrange for our next lunch meeting, he knew one place one day each week where I could be found—Sunday mornings at church.

Some people were, I imagine, a little shocked at first to see a Muslim cleric walking through the church lobby as people chatted over coffee and bagels. But because our congregations had developed a friendship, he was soon recognized and welcomed…. There was something wonderfully right about Ahmad feeling so at home that he could come find me before or between services on a Sunday.

McLaren calls this “subversive” friendship, when boundaries are crossed in order to offer and receive hospitality. In this way evil is prevented and good grows in power. Real redemption is in the air. Every time a young child can watch his parents do this, the Kingdom of Heaven grows on earth. Whether it’s on the highway when I get cut off, or on a battlefield on Christmas Eve (when an impromptu truce ends in a soccer game and meal together on the front), God wins, and we do too.

Stop judging and you will not be judged.

Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.

Forgive and you will be forgiven.

Give and gifts will be given to you;

a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,

will be poured into your lap.

 (Colossians 3, Psalm 150, 1 John 4, Luke 6)

(posted at www.davesandel.net)

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