People Who Serve God Act Differently (or, At Least They Should)

by Eric Elkin

“You will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between those serving God and those not serving him.”

— Malachi 3:18

This past Monday, I reached my threshold for violence and violent language. The reports coming out of Gaza and Israel were so disturbing. They reminded me of the war in Ukraine and the wars raging in nations not covered by the American media. News of these conflicts made the rhetoric of our elected leaders even more concerning. Are we headed in the same direction? And when will the gunfire, death, and hatred stop?

Like most North Americans, I've become somewhat numb to the news of rockets being launched in Israel. Armed conflict and battles between Hamas and Israel seem to happen every week. What is so different this time? Yet, this action is entirely different. Hamas militants did not attack soldiers. The armed terrorists attacked civilians living in their homes. They even gunned down people at a music concert.

Due to the nature of the attack, the impact of war on innocent civilians was central to the reports. Most citizens directly impacted by the attack were not responsible for the actions of terrorists or soldiers. People living on a kibbutz are typically peace-minded people. Every day, Palestinians do not embrace the radical practices of Hamas. Yet, they are the ones who bear the brunt of the violence.

Following the news on Monday morning made me feel like anger, hatred, and violence are winning. Even though I live in a peaceful neighborhood with very little possibility of bombs or gunfire disturbing my day. But, we all need to remember most acts of violence begin with angry rhetoric. And I can find angry words all around me. It leaves me wondering, like the author of Malachi, is serving God useless?

“...Jesus did not advocate nonviolence merely as a technique for outwitting the enemy, but as a just means of opposing the enemy in such a way as to hold open the possibility of the enemy’s becoming just as well.”

— Walter Wink

The disheartening part about reading the book of Malachi is the realization that violence for political control of Israel has been taking place for thousands of years. Since the stories we read come from the Bible and the invading forces bring their own gods to the conflict, we think of these wars as religious. They are not. Since the beginning of civilization, Israel has stood at the crossroads of Eastern and Western cultures.

The real culprit in this mess is the human desire for authority and control. Our craving for getting things our way makes us quickly lose sight of what is good and give in to hatred. As I survey the landscape of humanity, I see this happening in Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, and the United States. Maybe this day's reading is a "come to Jesus" moment for those with ears to hear.

There is a distinct difference between those who serve God and those who do not. People who serve God give thanks. Grateful people are filled with joy. They see good things all around them and take time to express their gratitude. People who do not serve God are always poor. You can hear poverty in their words. The world is falling apart, and everything is being taken from them. It is a small step for them to take violent action to take back what they "deserve." Warning: some people who identify as religious speak bold words of poverty.

People who serve God pray. People who pray learn to speak their fears and anxieties into loving ears. They do not need to shout them to angry crowds. People who pray also learn to listen for still, small voices. They learn to both speak and listen. Most importantly, they discover through prayer they are never alone. People who do not serve God never seem to get the listening part and always feel lonely.

People who serve God love their neighbor and their enemy. They do not resort to killing and acts of violence. One could counter this with the long history of religious wars. My response would be, do you think those who killed in the name of God were serving God? If they were, why didn't Jesus kill anyone?

We can't change the world, but we can change the world in us. And, by changing the world in us, transform the world around us. Commit yourself to giving thanks, praying, and serving neighbor and enemy with love. If you do these things, I am confident you will begin to see the difference between serving and not serving God.

Click to read Malachi 3:13-18

Reflection Questions:

How do news reports of violence shape your soul?
What can you do to stay engaged with the needs of the world without becoming overwhelmed by them?
Is there a difference between serving God and saying that you serve God?
What does serving God look like to you?

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