Jeremiah was Right

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Why do the nations so furiously rage together?
Because they know they will perish and hope to prolong their existence through violence.

But length of life is a poor way measure life, even for an empire. The quality of the lives of individual inhabitants is the true measure of its greatness. Only in peace does that quality of life have a chance to flourish.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The hills are alive with the music of life.
The rivers make their way through familiar channels in ever-changing patterns.
My path leads through your fields of magic.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“You money changers pay a lot for setting up your tables here in the temple courtyard. Maybe you should raise your rates.”

[Uh-uh, no way He said that.]

D. Blog: Jeremiah

Perhaps he was right. Perhaps the nation that loses its humility and acts with arrogance as if it is favored by God is doomed. Perhaps the nation that enslaves people who are different from those in power, oppresses those who are poor, discriminates against and humiliates those who sojourn in its midst – perhaps that nation is damned in the sight of God.

Perhaps Jeremiah was also right in offering hope and promise. If a nation re-affirms its place as a people of God, re-commits itself to being a compassionate nation establishing justice within and peace without, to offering hope to other nations and being a good neighbor and seeking peace with all of creation instead of trying to dominate and lord it over others – perhaps that nation is a light that provides hope in the world.

Perhaps Jeremiah was right.