There are many things that Jesus told us to do that just don’t seem to work. I mean, they don’t appear very helpful in achieving happiness, safety, comfort or respect, let alone wealth or power. I’m referring to things like turning the other cheek, blessing those who curse you, not worrying about tomorrow, not seeking after even basic needs and staying married even when you don’t want to, just to name a few (all of which can be found in Matthew 5 & 6).

Most of these commands pretty much ensure humiliation, discomfort, and perhaps poverty for the obeyer. Still, most Christian will at least acknowledge that they are legitimate commands (or at least helpful ideals and beautiful language) as long as they are looked at as for the individual. But what about when a whole bunch of individuals become a community and that community becomes a nation? Do these things Jesus instructed us in still apply at that level?

What is it, really, to practice peacemaking (i.e. pacifism) or selflessness if you live in a society that takes care of those issues for you (fights your wars, exploits poorer countries to get you cheap products, etc.)?  What would it look like if a society–a town, a nation, a continent–practiced these mandates of Jesus? Could it work? My roommate brought up this question last night and we both just kind of stared at the carpet and sighed. I think we were a little relieved that we didn’t have the power to find out.