Shalom

The Psalm says, “Seek peace and pursue it.” In Hebrew, peace is “shalom.” It means much more than the absence of conflict or tension with others. Shalom is rooted in the harmony and health of the whole community. It leads to collective liberation. I hear a lot of white Christians, both conservative and liberal, lamenting the polarization of society and the politicizing of everything. Many of these folks preach that our ultimate duty is to stop arguing with each other and stay unified in Christ (or America).

This white Christian version of peace sounds great, but so often it serves as a substitute for the main goal. Shalom. The assurance that all God’s children are protected and provided for—no matter what they look like, who they love or how they worship. Peace is not about staying silent so we won’t fight with friends and family. Peace is a spiritual paradigm shift proclaiming that it will be impossible for us to get along with each other until everyone is cared for. Peace demands that we openly disagree with those dishing out deception and disinformation to justify their peaceful lives.

A Scalpel

In high school and college, my Campus Crusade for Christ leaders literally referred to our bibles as swords. Quoting the bible itself, they said that the Word of the Lord was the most powerful weapon in the armor of God. Our swords defended supremacy stories that scripted the innocence of America, the wealth of white folk, the sin of gay people and Christianity’s everlasting monopoly on heaven. I remember feeling the rush of entitlement. Because I was in possession of The Absolute Truth and it could slash any liberal argument. At least in my mind.

In seminary, I studied the bible in its original languages. I learned that, in the ancient world, the same Greek word (machaira) was used for both “sword” and “scalpel.” This revelation was great news. Because it seems to me that instead of manipulating sacred texts to militarize the truth, they should be prepping us to perform soul surgery. The biblical accounts are literary creations, not literal history. They are intended to be read critically and carefully. Not used to clobber others, but to carve out the supremacy that causes spiritual cancer.