Thanks to Vernon Broyles for this article in the latest edition of Presbyterians Today. A More Excellent Way. Here is a snippet:It has always been right there in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” We even quote these words of Jesus with some regularity.
So why are we bombing villages in Afghanistan to root out bands of terrorists? Why did we supply banned weapons and encourage the continuation of the Israeli destruction of Lebanon over the capture of a few soldiers? Why are we dealing with a growing Shiite/Sunni civil war in Iraq by giving more arms to Sunni insurgents to counter the stronger Shiite militias? Why have we thought that arming the Fatah wing against the Hamas wing and isolating the latter in the seething cauldron that is Gaza would enhance prospects for peace between Israelis and Palestinians?
The truth is that in the long arc of history, in this “Christian nation” of ours (Presbyterians included), we have paid far more homage to Biblical passages such as Romans 13:4: “If you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer.”
We have nurtured the doctrine of a “Just War” and clung to it as our rationale for engaging in all sorts of “righteous causes,” some of which have turned out to be disasters for us, for our putative adversaries and for those we set out to help. (Read More)
Other Peace News:
Aric Clark is doing a series on Christian pacifism.
End the War Rally in Johnson City, September 22nd...
Sandra at ConcernedTNcitizens is signed on to One Million Blogs for Peace. I signed on too and am waiting confirmation. So can you if you make this pledge:
"I believe in the immediate withdrawal of all foreign combat troops from the nation of Iraq. I believe in using my blog, in whole or in part, as a tool toward this end."
Bless Vernon Broyles for saying it. I agree with him. Now prepare your raincoats and galoshes for the storm about to materialize over his head.
ReplyDeleteI harass my Congressman (probably unnecessary as he is one of the co-chairs of the Out of Iraq Caucus) and Senators (who do need two swift kicks in the rear). I've also sent them (and various executive branch offices) my concerns about Iran.
ACT NOW:
Call or fax (don't snail-mail) your members of Congress. With few exceptions, you as an American citizen have one House member and two Senators representing you:
www.house.gov (use your address to find your rep)
www.senate.gov (look up your Senators by your state)
202-224-3121 (Capitol Switchboard--will help you identify your members of Congress and connect you)
Thanks for posting all the pieces about peace! And also for the plugs for the work we are trying to do here in NE TN. I hope we have a great turnout for the rally on 9/22.
ReplyDeleteThis is no longer a party issue. Simply and selfishly put, we Americans cannot sustain this smorgasbord for war profiteers very much longer.
We are already seeing the devsatating losses to our environment, our civil and human rights, and our heathcare.
Add to that the very long-term risks of increased violence and terrorism and it is easy to see that war cannot be sustained.
I cringe every time I hear a self-professed Christian claim that this is a Holy war that must be faught for the very survival of Christianity. I truly think that fight will hinge on how we as a predominantly Christian population work with the world to bring about peace. And that does not require - on the contrary I think it precludes - a theocracy.
This is a great idea. I'm already signed on.
ReplyDeleteSo there, I agree with flycandler on something. He'll never live it down! :-)
Snad said I cringe every time I hear a self-professed Christian claim that this is a Holy war that must be fought for the very survival of Christianity.
Tell that person that the "very survival of Christianity" does not depend on us otherwise it wouldn't be CHRISTianity.
Good for you all!
ReplyDelete