A local conference/retreat center has regular movie nights. Last night they showed the documentary Favela Rising. I invited some of the students I work with to go see it as well, as I thought it would illustrate the kingdom of God in a more tangible way than the lessons and explanations I try to give. The film
- “…documents a man and a movement, a city divided and a favela (Brazilian squatter settlement) united. Haunted by the murders of his family and many of his friends, Anderson Sá is a former drug-trafficker who turns social revolutionary in Rio de Janeiro’s most feared slum. Through hip-hop music, the rhythms of the street, and Afro-Brazilian dance he rallies his community to counteract the violent oppression enforced by teenage drug armies and sustained by corrupt police.”
One of the points I have been trying to communicate lately to the students I work with, especially in regards to the kingdom of God and the revolutionary methods and message of Jesus, is that his movement was one of non-violence…and somehow that overthrew the dark strength of Rome. But I’m not sure they get it.
I’m not sure I even get it.
We’re so ingrained with the idea of ‘just wars’ and ending violence with even bigger violence. Tragically, it seems to be the American way. To end WWII we dropped cataclysmic destruction on top of Japan, which obviously isn’t right. But the quick justification appears: “But if we hadn’t, how many more of our troops and citizens would have been killed? It was unfortunate, but had to be done to end the violence.” But did it? Has it? As far as I can tell (and history seems to be a pretty concrete indicator), violence just seems to spawn more violence. ‘Shock and Awe’ may cause just that…but it doesn’t last forever. Soon anger and revenge are in the hearts and mouths and hands of those who were attacked. It never ends.
But to take something that seems so weak as peace? Non-violence? How does that stand against a sword or AK-47? How practical is that, really? It’s not. And I suppose that’s why we so quickly cast it aside as an option. If we want to stay on top of the heap, then we have to do a little pushing. But we’ve lost the plot. We’d rather defend the top of the dung pile than be doorkeepers in the house of YHWH.
In light of all that, this film helped flesh out in a tangible way the concept of non-violent resistance, of hope springing forth from the cracks of a bleak and violent soil. Of death being swallowed up in life. Through music, through creating a new form and structure that children and people in the community can put their hands to, Anderson Sa and the members of AfroReggae are doing something that logic and our polluted intuition claims to be impossible. But it is possible, and it’s happening. It’s spreading. Like yeast in dough and a vine through a garden.
This was a great reminder that the kingdom is here…but not yet and even more.
