The congregation also supports our nonconformity to the world. The world is violent. Open your newspaper, turn on your TV, walk down the streets of your community. When the world has a problem, violence is most often the answer. Walter Wink calls this the myth of redemptive violence and a lie.
Violence begets violence begets violence.
The only way to stop the cycle is with God's love for enemies. The congregation models nonviolent resolution of conflict and supports members as they decide not to use the violence of the world and to use the life-giving way of Jesus. In Sunday school or small group meetings, we struggle with what God's vision for peace means for how we live and spend our time and money . This happens for all ages. Youngsters grapple with their choice of toys.