Our Call to Nonviolence

Nonresistance has been a primary facet of Mennonite beliefs from the beginning and has its own article in our Confession of Faith. It is not a term known well outside Mennonite structures. In fact, it is often misinterpreted to mean passive resignation. A word more commonly used is nonviolence. Use whichever your congregation is more comfortable with. This Sunday may again be the time to reaffirm the stance.

Bible verses: Matt 5:39
Deut 30:15-20; Matt 5:1-48; 12:9-14; 23:1-36; 26:36-75; 27:1-56; Mark 14:32-72; Luke 9:51-56; 22:39-71; 23:1-56; 24:1-53; John 2:13-22; 13:1-17; I Peter 1:13-16; Rom 12:21; I Pet 2:21-24

Sermon outline:

• I. Recognize our society's addiction to violence (list)
• II. Define nonviolence simply: to resist evil without violence
  • Jesus is the model
  • Sermon on the Mount
  • Jesus was not passive--he often provoked trouble
  • Resurrection: ultimate act of not submitting!
  • John Dear's definition:
    • Nonviolence Means Remembering We Are All God's Children
    • Nonviolence Flows from Unconditional, Active Love
    • Nonviolence Invites Solidarity with the Poor and the Oppressed
    • Nonviolence Involves Resistance and Truth
    • Nonviolence Is Rooted in Prayer
    • Nonviolence Is a Way of Transformation
    (from "Disarming the Heart" by John Dear)
• III. Prayer is the basis of nonviolence (Dear)
  • Begins with an admission that we too are addicted to violence
  • Best way to seek out the truth of reality and to live the truth of nonviolence
  • The development of our relationship with God, without which we give way to despair and violence
• IV. Often we assume nonviolence doesn't work (list successes)
• V. Active love willing to suffer disarms the cycle of violence.
  • Practice acts of nonviolence.

Developed for Peace Sunday by Susan Mark Landis,, then Partner at Large for Intergenerational Peace Education, Mennonite Board of Congregational Ministries