I’m going to begin this post by saying my answer to this question is a work in progress.
That said, I do want to share what I currently mean when I refer to nonviolence, especially as we move toward exploring this subject intentionally in this online space.
Currently, when I refer to nonviolence, I mean three things.
- Nonviolence means protecting the innocent. A whole lot of violence exists in the world, and most of it is brought against innocents. Whether the innocents are young girls sold into brothels, young boys made into soldiers, civilians hit by falling missiles, families swindled into slavery, or fifth graders stuffed into lockers, nonviolence says the innocent deserve their dignity. This is part of the ethic of nonviolence committed to social — and interpersonal — justice.
- Nonviolence means loving our enemies. Just as nonviolence looks at injustice and is willing to stand up and say “no,” nonviolence is also, at one and the same time, unwilling to hate the unjust. We do not diminish the humanity of the offender. We take the incredibly audacious stance of choosing to love our enemies. We might even say the nonviolent way of life means refusing to name anyone an enemy.
- Nonviolence means examining and purifying our hearts. It’s easy to keep nonviolence on the back burner or in the history books or news headlines when we don’t personally encounter violence in daily life. And yet violence lodges itself in each of our hearts every day. In split-second flashes, we judge, hate, criticize, demean, condescend, covet, envy, and dismiss other human beings. For much of our days, we think of ourselves more than others. We blur the lines and choose the path of least resistance. We instinctively compete and are altogether dedicated to our self-preservation. These, too, are issues of violence. The nonviolent journey is committed to purifying the muddy waters of the heart.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but these are the considerations that continually come to mind when I reference this term and as I consider what it means for me to be a person committed to nonviolence.
What would you add to this list?
It seems to be implicit in what you’ve written here, so I’m not sure it qualifies as an “addition” to the list, but I would say it also means embracing humility. Engaging in an attitude and a lifestyle of non-violence is necessarily an unselfish act. As you stated, we’re conditioned to seek our own good and comfort. We tend to seek our own self-preservation at any cost.
Seeing the lowly, the innocent, the small; turning an eye toward the horrifying realities of trafficking, child prostitution, slavery and the like, requires that we let go of all those things that would make us safe and happy and comfortable. It requires us to adopt the mind of Christ as iterated in Philippians 2: He emptied Himself and made Himself nothing.
This movement toward humility seems to be an implicit and necessary step in this journey.
Kirsten, I love what you’ve shared here about humility. So many times I bump up against the darker edges of my humanity — the places in me that want to protect myself, defend myself, or simply be seen … and that’s when I’m faced squarely with the question: “Will you choose the nonviolent way here, too?”
Thanks for adding a great perspective to this discussion. You’re right — it’s implicit in the list, but your explicit articulation brings it to the forefront in a really helpful, necessary way.
I keep thinking about this but I don’t really have any idea how to answer that question. I think there’s something about telling the truth that comes into nonviolence–seeing the injustice that is done and stating it, acknowledging it, but also acknowledging that returning it isn’t going to solve things.
Sarah, thanks for sharing that thought on telling the truth. I agree with you! Being willing to speak the truth about what is happening takes courage … but anyone committed to nonviolence has to be willing to see truth, embrace it, and speak up.
I find that difficult sometimes, especially when I’m struggling to embrace my own humanity in a world that seems bent on crushing the human spirit. That’s when I find myself in self-protection mode, and I become a chameleon instead of a champion for truth.
Thanks for sharing, Sarah.
Non violence means embracing naivety, even when the still small voice says “remember when?” It means risking again, and being burned possibly again. It means teaching your neighbor about themselves, while searching inside yourself.
Non violence means purifying our motives and asking ourselves constantly “Do I love this person, can I say I love them as Christ loves me?” “Do I know how much Christ loves me?”
Implicit in the answers you find is a map to your own spiritual condition. Boy do I have work to do.
Me too, Carl. I always appreciate your willingness to share your perspective while sharing your struggles.
It’s so true that our answers to those questions speak to our spiritual condition. When we look upon another and ask ourselves how we truly behold them, we get a real glimpse into the state of our soul. Thanks for sharing that perspective, Carl.
Hey Christianne.
I swear I think it is not meant for me to leave a comment on this blog. I just lost the whole comment. I am on the computers at school because of the blocker on my computer at home has blocked it??? Go figure.
One thing I really love about you Christianne is the intense way that you look deeply into things. I would have to copy and paste that whole #3 to make my point, but I am not going to do that. Basically, that whole comment made me stop and think about how I see the “less fortunate” which is a little off your topic, but still it ties all together.
Sometimes I tend to think that the person in need is the person in Haiti- the one that is “existing in the beyond.” But after reading what you wrote there, it makes me stop and wonder if the “one who has fallen among theives” is not in my back yard and not so much one million miles from me- the one that the priest and Levite have left bleeding to die because they did not fit the criteria for compassion.
I love what you have written here, ” We instinctively compete and are altogether dedicated to our self-preservation.” So true. So true. I think you are living in such a way as to war against that nature. I am pretty sure that I am not, but I can respect the decision and the ones who do.
Tammy, I love the reflection you’ve given to things here … that it prompted you to rethink who you consider the “less fortunate.”
I wonder how you would personally identify those that the priest and Levite left bleeding to die, if you were to bring the analogy into your present-day life. I think for me it would be a combination of different individuals I encounter, from the homeless men and women that I see at the intersections on my drive home to the individuals around me who are hurting with internal or interpersonal struggles that I don’t take the time to really see and hear because I’m too busy trying to get things done in my own world.
PS: I’m glad you won the computer conspiracy. It was making me sad to imagine you not being able to visit here for an inexplicable reason!
So much for blocker consistency. Now I am on my home computer and it has not blocked your blog today. It is all part of the computer conspiracy. Yesterday, it was in a bad mood.
You know Christianne, my “Haitian” is probably the people I am critical of. When I read your blogs I begin to see how unloving I am and that bothers me.
I have a really odd example: There is this professor at school that looks, well, weird. I am always joking about how he reminds me of Norman Bates and that he probably has dead bodies buried under his house. For a long time I just assumed he was the janitor- no joke. And it is funny and everyone laughs, but it is becoming a lot less funny to me.
Actually, it is starting to make my cry. I would not want someone being mean like that to me or saying bad things like that about me. I see the evil intentions in me and it is sickening really.
I can’t really explain what it is about these blogs Christianne, but they are intense. The word of God cuts to the heart of the matter. And it is the one who learns to wield that sword in love that bears the most fruit. The bible talks about it being sharper than a two edged sword and able divide the intentions of the heart. It is a dangerous weapon.
When I think of you and this blog, a scripture comes to mind.
James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
Your meekness will keep you hidden, but in the eyes of God it will keep you great. When Jesus said “who is the greatest among you?” He was the example- he girded Himself with a towel and washed the disciples feet.
The things I said there may not make sense to you- they seem jumbled. What I mean is, there is a balance or blend of meekness, truth, and integrity in these blogs that cause the words to be fueled by the spirit. They are powerful. They sear the heart.
Love to you.
Love to you, too, Tammy.
Thank you for sharing your stories. They always teach me so much — about you, but also for my own growth.
I appreciate your candor about the professor at your school. Especially striking to me was your statement that it is less and less funny to you now.
It reminds me of the journey I was taking into forgiveness of someone in my life. For a long time, it felt good and even justly vindictive to speak of this person in a certain way, to tell my story through a certain slant. But gradually, over the course of a couple years, that began to sit less well with me. I knew then that God was preparing me for the Big Forgiveness.
It makes me wonder how God is moving in you, what is happening in the soil of your heart because of God’s work that is making you more and more sensitive to things like this story with the professor.