Maybe the worst moment in church history was when the Pope around 1000 A.D. declared that the Crusades were just and heaven would be granted to all who fought and were killed during the wars. By justifying the Crusades, in one small declaration, the Church had bowed to the spirit of the age, that is the spirit of domination, and we still live under its shadow.
When Jesus died on the cross his words were "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." He did not use violence to overcome evil for violence is evil. Instead, he used love and forgiveness to conquer death. We are instructed to do likewise.
Stephen, the first Martyr of the church, proved to us that it can be done. When being stoned he ask for the Father to forgive the stone throwers. This act of nonviolence is the call of the church and has been since the Crucifixion.
Yet in the name of security, we wage war against terrorist and Christians seem to be okay with this. But we cannot overcome evil with evil. If we use violence to dethrone the god of violence, even if we win, the god of violence still rules...only now he rules in us.
Jesus and Stephen were not passive in their resistance to the authorities. Instead they were overcoming evil with good, understanding a larger picture was at stake. That larger picture was the truth that the men who pinned Jesus to the cross or who threw the stones at Stephen really were victims of a greater and more evil power that they unwittingly succumbed to. To destroy them would not destroy the power that ruled them but would be to submit to that same power.
By forgiving them they were not overcome by evil, and through the Resurrection of Christ they defeated those powers with good.
