Walking the Way of Love A journey through

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Walking the Way of Love: A journey through the Baptismal Covenant Session 2 Turn:

Walking the Way of Love: A journey through the Baptismal Covenant Session 2 Turn: Responding to Sin and Violence

Introductory Questions Persevere in resisting evil, repent, and return to the Lord ● How

Introductory Questions Persevere in resisting evil, repent, and return to the Lord ● How do you live out this promise? ● What does the step Turn mean? ● How does our church live out this promise to turn as a community of faith?

Bible Study Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he

Bible Study Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. 1 Peter 5: 6 -9

Bible Study Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good

Bible Study Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news. ” Mark 15: 14 -15 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2: 38

Bible Study ● Evil ○ What does it mean to resist evil? ○ What

Bible Study ● Evil ○ What does it mean to resist evil? ○ What does holding on to sin or evil do to people? To you? ● Repentance ○ What are ways that people express repentance? ○ What are examples of ways I have repented? ○ How does it feel to repent? ● Return to the Lord ○ What does it mean to be with Jesus, to walk in his ways? ○ What does it mean to return to Jesus? ○ What is Jesus’ attitude toward people who return to him?

Human Rights What is sin?

Human Rights What is sin?

What is sin? Individual Sin ● What we actively do, or fail to do

What is sin? Individual Sin ● What we actively do, or fail to do which hurts or neglects others or ourselves ○ Physically ○ Emotionally ○ Spiritually ● Examples?

What is sin? Corporate Sin ● How a society, institution or group sins ○

What is sin? Corporate Sin ● How a society, institution or group sins ○ Props up injustice, violence, or oppression ○ How our collective way of life harms others and the world ● Examples?

What is sin? Historical Sin ● How past injustice continues to disadvantage certain groups

What is sin? Historical Sin ● How past injustice continues to disadvantage certain groups ○ Historical oppression or violence ○ Genocide, slavery, segregation ● Examples?

What is violence?

What is violence?

What is violence? “Violence is here defined as the cause of the difference. .

What is violence? “Violence is here defined as the cause of the difference. . . between what could have been and what is. Thus, if a person died from tuberculosis in the eighteenth century it would be hard to conceive of this as violence since it might have been quite unavoidable, but if he dies from it today, despite all the medical resources in the world, then violence is present according to our definition. ” -Johan Galtung

Galtung Violence Triangle Direct Violence Visible Invisible Cultural Violence Structural Violence

Galtung Violence Triangle Direct Violence Visible Invisible Cultural Violence Structural Violence

What is violence? Direct Violence ● Committed by one person/group against another ● ●

What is violence? Direct Violence ● Committed by one person/group against another ● ● ○ The use of physical force, like killing, torture, sexual assault, etc. ○ Verbal or psychological abuse There is a clear victim and victimizer Personal, visible, and manifest Easy to identify Examples?

What is violence? Structural Violence ● Unequal social, political and economic systems ○ Unequal

What is violence? Structural Violence ● Unequal social, political and economic systems ○ Unequal distribution of wealth, power, resources, opportunities ○ Favors certain groups, classes, races, etc. ● Difficult to identify a single “responsible party” ○ “Invisible” ○ We must reflect on the structure as a whole ● Examples?

What is violence? Cultural Violence ● Violence through hate, fear, and suspicion ○ Expressed

What is violence? Cultural Violence ● Violence through hate, fear, and suspicion ○ Expressed through cultural institutions like religion ○ Prejudice ○ Racism, sexism, ableism, adultism, etc. ● Difficult to identify a single “responsible party” ○ “Invisible” ○ So pervasive it feels natural ● Examples?

Addressing Violence How do we respond to violence and sin?

Addressing Violence How do we respond to violence and sin?

Addressing Violence Primary Prevention ● Prevent violence before it occurs ● Victims ○ Preventing

Addressing Violence Primary Prevention ● Prevent violence before it occurs ● Victims ○ Preventing situations from making people more vulnerable ● Victimizers ○ Limiting the ability and likelihood of committing a violent act ● Examples?

Addressing Violence Secondary Prevention ● Reduce the impact of violence ● Victims ○ Help

Addressing Violence Secondary Prevention ● Reduce the impact of violence ● Victims ○ Help escape a violent situation ○ Provide care to mitigate the ongoing effects of violence ● Victimizers ○ Prevent them from continuing to harm victims ● Examples?

Addressing Violence Tertiary Prevention ● Minimize lasting damage and likelihood of repetition ● Victims

Addressing Violence Tertiary Prevention ● Minimize lasting damage and likelihood of repetition ● Victims ○ Help them live with the lasting effects of violence ○ Receive reparations ● Victimizers ○ Address the root causes of victimizers’ motivations ○ Rehabilitation programs ● Examples?

Resist, Repent and Return Resist Repent Return

Resist, Repent and Return Resist Repent Return

Resist, Repent and Return Resist Evil ● Preferable to resist evil in the first

Resist, Repent and Return Resist Evil ● Preferable to resist evil in the first place ● Prevent harm from being done ● Resist sin as a community ● Primary Prevention

Resist, Repent and Return Repentance ● Name the sin we have commited ● Stop

Resist, Repent and Return Repentance ● Name the sin we have commited ● Stop committing the sin in question ● Secondary Prevention

Resist, Repent and Return to our Creator ● Live according to Jesus’ teachings ●

Resist, Repent and Return to our Creator ● Live according to Jesus’ teachings ● Change the way we live ● Not only not sinning, but actively doing good ● Tertiary Prevention

Resist, Repent and Return How does Jesus treat sinners? ● Jesus accepted and forgave

Resist, Repent and Return How does Jesus treat sinners? ● Jesus accepted and forgave sinners, restoring them to dignity ● Jesus welcomes the sinner who repents ● We live out our repentance by changing the way we live Turning to our Creator, or walking with our Creator means living in accordance to Jesus’ teachings about love.

Responding to Corporate and Historical Sin

Responding to Corporate and Historical Sin

Responding to Corporate and Historical Sin ● Learn more about corporate and historical sin

Responding to Corporate and Historical Sin ● Learn more about corporate and historical sin ● Be in relationship with the victims of these sins ● Public declarations of repentance are also possible: ○ Services on the anniversary of the assassination of Oscar Romero ○ “Liturgy of Listening” to lament sexual harassment in the church ○ Clergy lament the church’s role in the genocide of Native Americans and ceremonially burn a copy of the “Doctrine of Discovery”

Spotlight Ministry: Prism Prison Ministry

Spotlight Ministry: Prism Prison Ministry

Discussion Questions: Prism Prison Ministry ● ● ● ● How does this ministry incorporate

Discussion Questions: Prism Prison Ministry ● ● ● ● How does this ministry incorporate human rights into their work? What kinds of sin can we identify in the example? What kinds of violence-prevention can we identify in the example? Who are the rights-holders in this example? Who are the duty-bearers? How does this ministry connect this baptismal promise with their work?

Discussion Questions: Resist, repent and return Journal, take notes, collect your thoughts: ● Key

Discussion Questions: Resist, repent and return Journal, take notes, collect your thoughts: ● Key ideas that influenced me ● Where do I see these ideas in my own life?

Discussion Questions: Resist, repent and return ● How do we understand the connection between

Discussion Questions: Resist, repent and return ● How do we understand the connection between Scripture, human rights, and our decision to Turn? ● How do we understand the relationship between sin and violence? ● How do we understand the relationship between repentance and return and violence prevention? ● How can we apply this in our lives? ● How can we transform our mission and ministry as a community of faith using these concepts?

Walking the Way of Love Join us next session for: Bless: Living Liberation Proclaim

Walking the Way of Love Join us next session for: Bless: Living Liberation Proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ