Violence and the kingdom

National Catholic Reporter, April 27, 2007 by David J. Walker

I recently filed my federal income tax return, paying my share, even though I am told that about half my contribution goes to support the profitable business of killing and maiming human beings. For me to choose not to contribute in that way to that business would be to risk financial ruin, even jail time. I don't really feel up to that.

Jesus, though, if I am to believe the Gospel accounts, taught that the road to the kingdom of God included refusing to participate in violence, as he did. A strong argument can be made that using violence is God's will under certain circumstances. If that is so, then Jesus was flat out wrong--a compelling teacher, maybe, but wrong on a crucial issue.

If Jesus was right, however, then my paying my taxes impedes the coming of God's kingdom. And Nigerian Christians countering "violence from the Muslim side with violence of their own" impedes that coming, and the use of force advocated by Nigerian Archbishop John Onaiyekan--force that in the context of John L. Allen's story (NCR, March 30) can only mean shedding blood--impedes the coming of God's kingdom. But that's only if Jesus was right.

Those of us who aren't totally up to the Jesus thing might be better off taking some responsibility. We can say: "Jesus was right on the violence issue, but I am choosing not to follow that teaching." Or we can say: "Jesus was wrong, and I am choosing not to follow that teaching."

DAVID J. WALKER

Wilmette, Ill.