Ah, here is is, Matthew 10:34, the classic verse so often quoted against pacifists: "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."
But, in fact, I don't believe this verse can/should be used against pacifists at all. In fact, quite to the contrary. I believe these are some of the only "fightin' words" that we can really grab onto and appreciate. These fightin' words aren't against anyone in particular, aren't about initiating a war per se. Instead, these verses outline the importance of choosing a 'side', a 'side' where everyone is welcome, unlike the wars we're familiar with: a side where we choose God over family, the cross over our own desires, and others before ourselves. Since these are contrary to mainstream culture, it may just take a "fight" for us to really hold true to these "fightin' words".
Fightin' Word #1: God Before Family
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’
37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ~Matthew 10:34-36
People often read this verse to view God as a warring God, but what I see in this verse is the need for all individuals to make a decision to love the Lord above all and remember that the Lord God is one. All means even above family, who we should respect, according to the commandments. But even with that respect given to God, with even that love and obligation for respect given to the marital relationship, God reserves His place above all others. Jesus makes no mistake about it... you cannot serve two masters. You must only serve the Lord Your God.
Especially at a time when Christianity was so new, this was very important. Some people believed; many did not. The country was split. Families were split. But these "fightin' words" urged individuals to take a stand even against their dearest and most-respected family members. After all, if they didn't confess openly their faith in Jesus, they were doomed, they were "not worthy of Jesus" (v.36), because He gave up everything for us. While God blesses us with wonderful parents, loving siblings, admirable cousins, amazing spouses, we must remember that they are all blessings... a gift from our Father who is perfect and Holy and so much more wonderful than that which He created.
This must be an especially powerful illustration for people with children. I've only heard from others that when you have a child, you love that child so much, instantly. Take that love. Multiply that by 100. Now we're getting somewhere. That's how much more we she love the Lord. He, after all, brought that precious child into this world. He is the giver of all good gifts. Would we rather thank the box that carried the Christmas gift or the one who gave it to us?
Fightin' Word #2: Cross Before Life
38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. ~Matthew 10:38-39
In His next words, Jesus continues to talking about what we read just yesterday... taking up "our" crosses and following Him. But it is not separated by a paragraph or a chapter or a heading or anything. In fact, this is related. Whatever you love will influence your decisions. That is why we must love the Lord before even our own family. Our relatives, well intentioned as they may be, often may influence our decisions... and this is not always bad. Sometimes we want and need their input, because, quite frankly, it's hard to hear God's answer... and sometimes God's answer comes from them!
But there are times when they will discourage certain things that may be part of God's plan... pastoral ministry, missions work, moving across the country, etc. They want the best for us, but they may not know "our" cross. If instead, we have our eyes fixed on the Lord who we love above all and the cross (mission) He has specifically laid out for us, we are set. We can lose our own desires for our individual lives and seek instead the mission/the cross/the work that God has set before us. We may have the loftiest goals for our personal lives, want the highest positions, most beautiful home, most perfect family... but if it is not the cross, the life that Christ has designed for you, it will never be fulfilling.
"'I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11) And so we come back full circle to the theme of God's Eternal Purpose. When we truly believe that God's plans are good... to prosper and not harm us, we can jump in to the ministry He has given to us in our lives, even when it seems strange to others.
Fightin' Word #3: Others Before Self
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.” ~Matthew 10:40-42
The "sword" or "fightin' words" elevated God over family and God's plans over our plans. But there is more. It also elevates our concern for others above ourselves in this last passage. At this time many visiting pastors/disciples depended on the hospitality of those in the town where they visited. While this is not a common practice any more, I interpret the meaning of "you" and "disciple" very broadly. For a disciple is simply a follower of Jesus. Couldn't then a disciple be a little 6-year-old in the DR just as much as a grad student in Biomedical Engineering or a pastor of a Hispanic Church in Tucson?
We are called to "welcome" and not just welcome. We are supposed to welcome all prophets as prophets and all righteous people as righteous people. As it says in other places, we do not know when we are "entertaining angels," so we're better off to err on the safe side... treat everyone as prophets, as righteous, as children of God (which they certainly are).
We are called to "give". In verse 42, the "even" makes it clear that a cup of cold water is the very least thing we could give. We are called to give without thinking of what to give, but to be generous. And the "water" symbolizes the needs which we should care for.
When we are welcoming and giving and showing our love to others, we are losing our own concern for ourselves... choosing to love others above ourselves. And in a very self-centered society that wants things "my way, right away," these may just be "fightin' words".
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