When I was in grad school the first time, I took a number of law classes. I remember well my Criminal Law & Procedure class, taught by a pair of Secret Service agents. One night, in a conversation about Constitutional rights, one of them quoted "the Constitution is a shield, not a sword." (A recent Internet search has turned up no definitive author of this quote, but suggests James Polk.) The line has always stuck in my mind.
In subsequent years, I came to study the Bible with some great seriousness. I discovered that many people wield the Bible as a weapon against others (notably against other Christians). This grieved me greatly (and still does). In my own mind, I began to apply the Constitutional quote to the Bible, thinking (and saying), "the Bible is a shield, not a sword."
That's what troubles me about this week's lectionary text: Ephesians 6:10-17. It speaks powerfully about the "whole armor of God," which is to keep us safe as we take the Gospel of Peace into a hostile world. What's not to love about the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness? I want that shield of faith and helmet of salvation!
But then Paul shifts gears. To all this protective armor is added the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Here's where Paul's metaphor breaks down for me, as I see the word of God (or the Word of God, for that matter) not as a weapon, but as a force of grace, healing, peace and protection.
The armor of God is essential if we're to take the Gospel of Peace out into the dark places. I just don't know why we need the sword.
I think I'll leave mine at home.
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