The Sadducees and the Gun Violence Debate

(thoughts from the Daily Office 12/7/15 Matt 22:23-33)

In today's Gospel reading we have another encounter of the temple establishment picking a sparring match with Jesus. In the Daily Office on Friday we read of the tactics by the Pharisees to entrap Jesus with the question “should we pay taxes to the Emperor?” The Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus, but I do think there is a possibility they wanted to know the answer. It might have been asked in malintent, but it was probably a question they themselves wrestled with; the Sadducees here are quite different. Today, we read the Sadducees questioning Jesus on if a wife has seven husbands on earth, who will be her husband after the Resurrection? The catch is this: the Sadducees don't believe in the Resurrection. The entire question is an intentional rouse. At best it is cynical jest, at its worst it is a malicious intent to trap or undo one they see as their adversary; they don't care about the answer at all. With this in mind how can we reflect on this passage to gain any wisdom from it? I refer you to this nation's current debate on “Gun-Control/Gun Violence.”

With copious amounts of gun violence, not just in mass shootings, but in acknowledging a long history of gun crime, added to the current threats of “terrorism,” and a divisive political atmosphere, the stage is set for a never-ending desperate “debate” on gun control. The media is giving minute-by-minute updates of where the threats are, who might be a threat, including live coverage of the invasion of private property for first looks at the terrorists' home(we have all passed judgment on them already). Then there is the line-up of  gun-control and 2nd amendment advocates that sound more like a broken record by now than anything else. Social media helps fuel the storm by producing a flurry of memes and tweets aimed at asserting and convincing(?) others how intelligent their side is (hence the clever memes and tweets), while how ignorant the other side is. The nation is in a fury at how right our side is, how wrong the other side is, and furious at how they just won't listen.

The reality is there is no dialogue, there is no listening. Like the Sadducess, everyone enters this “debate” at best with cynical jest, at worst with malicious intent. Both claim their ends to be noble of course, but their means...our means are not noble. We are not interested in hearing what the other side says, we are interested in being right. Now, this blog is NOT intended for everyone. It is intended for those open and interested in spiritual topics with a Christian Context in the Episcopal Tradition (small audience perhaps). With that said, I know ask the question: what is our response? What is our response as a Church? And what is our response if we want to accomplish peace through the wisdom and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth?

I must admit I am concerned, but not surprised that there are some vocal leaders from the Episcopal Church marching for gun-control laws without having a context. We hate violence; guns are causing this violence; let's make guns harder to get and we will curb violence...or so the reasoning goes. There are some in the Church, that are on the other end of the gun-debate (and we shouldn't forget this) saying: criminals get guns anyway regardless of legislation, so why have legislation; guns can and are used as a means to defend innocent life...or so the reasoning goes. What I don't hear being asked is: “What is the cause of this violence?” or worse, “what is my role in the cycle of violence?” If it is asked, then it is quickly dismissed with more pointed fingers: it is the Islamic Terrorists, the Arabs, the mentally-ill (if they are white), cops, inner-city gangs (black)...THEM, THEM, THEM!!!

In the spirit of the prophets we have been reading may I suggest the problem is not THEM, THEM, THEM, but US, US, US!!! This is not a complete placing of blame here; the point is I think we are called to look at ourselves in how we contribute to violence, how we support violence, how tolerate and benefit from violence. In what ways to do we encourage/admire/worship violence? I think it is important to ask what causes others to act out in violence that is against the law (such as mass murders), and what makes us okay with violence that is done within the law (the bombing of hospitals to kill a terrorist); and to ask what is the difference? And I think it is important to ask these questions with a genuine openness to let the answers and the experience change us.

This may be seen as a cop-out, but it is not. The reality is, this debate is essentially secular and intensely divided, and it will rage on regardless of what we do. What we CAN do is change the questions, change the approach and the attitude towards one of healing and reconciliation. Remember the prophets and Jesus do not call THEM to change, but US to change. The question is will we hear and answer their call?

Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29).