November 16, 2007
I pray that God can express to you what I cannot. It is incredibly painful to me that MCC would tell the church not to support the military. More than ever we need, covet, your prayers and support. If I think about Esther's article too long I may cry again. I sat next to Jules MacKenzie at our Ship's Christmas dinner 6 months prior to her death. Her Griffon helicopter crashed off Labrador the next summer. Her equipment was old, needed repair. If only the government had increased spending earlier. New equipment saves soldier's and sailor's and pilot's lives. No boasting about progress in Afghanistan saves lives. That's why we don't hear about schools, and communities being built. It invites Taliban to destroy what has just been made.
I had a 3 year old and was 5 months pregnant when my husband was sent to the Persian Gulf on board Her Majesty's Canadian Ship Vancouver. I remember to this day how Prime Minister Chretien proclaimed that Canada did not support the war on terror yet, he was sending my husband, the father of my children born and unborn, away to support the American actions. I can not convey to you the betrayal I felt. i never expected to feel this way concerning my church. We, the military, need your support. To encourage people to withhold their income taxes from the military is to hold back support to those families with small children who are alone—living like widows and orphans.
Though war mongering is evil. Pacifism is a deceptive philosophy that strokes self satisfaction in our own righteous acts. What if God called us to kill? Would we obey like Abraham did when he put Isaac on the altar? Or would we fall into the sin of disobedience? If David's men were outside our door, would we be like Abigail's husband and ignore them? I feel like the MCC is encouraging the church to pretend like the military does not exist. Jesus came to minister to those rejected by the church. I think in Canada today that would be our soldiers.
Christian Patchell
Halifax, Nova Scotia
A response from Esther Epp-Tiessen:
Dear Christian,
Thank-you very much for your message. I am thankful to you for writing. I wish I had more space to respond to your challenges and questions. Let me say this:
1— MCC's questioning of military responses to conflict is not a criticism of individual Canadian soldiers, even though it might appear that way to you. I know that many soldiers are very dedicated and committed individuals, who make great sacrifices (you clearly know about that). I have much respect for them as individuals and I pray for them regularly: that they they may come to no harm and also do no harm. MCC's concern is more about what we see as an increasing resort to military solutions to global problems. MCC's experience working in conflict zones around the world convince us that military solutions, while offering short-term security for some, usually increase hostility and insecurity in the long run. MCC suggests that there are other ways of building a long-lasting peace.
2— You are surprised that a Christian organization would raise questions about the military. MCC is a christian organization owned by the Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches of Canada and the U.S. These churches are known as "historic peace churches." They believe that Jesus calls his followers to forsake violence, to love our enemies, and to do good to those who would harm us. Not all churches preach this regularly, and not all individual Mennonites and BICs hold to this, but it is part of the church's confession. You can find the MB Confession online.
3— You mentioned the Bible and how God sometimes seems to command violence. This is true and it is hard to know what to make of such texts. Many Christians believe that it is our calling to read the Bible through the light of Christ. As God's fullest revelation to humanity, Christ teaches us about the nature of God and shows us how to live. We need to read the Abraham-Isaac story through the lens of Jesus; reading the story in this way, I wonder if we can say that God really did intend for Abraham to kill Isaac (obviously, this gets us into bigger questions of biblical interpretation, which we can't deal with here!). You also mentioned the story of Abigail's husband. What I find significant about the story is that Abigail chooses to feed and give gifts to David's soldiers; by demonstrating friendship and caring for the enemy, Abigail and her husband are saved. I think this is very much in keeping with Paul's words, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them . . ." (Romans 12:20).
Sincerely in Christ,
Esther
January 4, 2006
The website is very well done. If only our church members would read and act on it! Thanks for a job well done.
Gerhard Neufeld
Winnipeg, Manitoba
December 10, 2006
This has been weighing on me, though I had not realized it was so bad. I fear we are too complacent as a people and need to do more to work against the militarization of Canada.
Bruce Hiebert
Abbotsford, British Columbia
December 6, 2006
It would be great to have a link to a .pdf file containing this information. We still have a number of people with limited internet access and I'd love to get this info in their hands.
Norm Dyck
Graysville, Manitoba
Note: We believe this would be beneficial as well and have included a condensed and printer-friendly version of the items on this website.
November 21, 2006
Great site! Clear, incisive and provocative. Good info and concrete ways to respond.
I will promote it to our membership across Canada.
Dave Wiebe
Winnipeg, Manitoba
November 3, 2006
Congratulations on an excellent website, to which I have drawn the attention of our members. Can I suggest that under 'Take Action' you add a paragraph encouraging readers to seek out and join their local peace group? The more membes there are in the peace groups, the more work can be done. Most Canadian peace groups are listed on the website of the Canadian Peace Alliance.
Michael Murphy
Chair, Saskatoon Peace Coalition
Note: Thanks for the excellent suggestion, Michael! We have added the link to our Take Action page.
November 3, 2006
I am really impressed with this site.It is simple and wise, the arrangement of steps through it were exactly right for me, no gee whizz and wow, no intellectually exclusive or offensive language,a gentle and inviting approach to the faith-base of your concerns and observations-and a beginning way to do something about the ache in our hearts over world violence and killing.
Gordon Jardine
Saskatchewan
October 30, 2006
A clarion call to all Canadian folks who oppose war-making. It's time we stop pointing our fingers at the Empire south of the border and realise how much we are implicated. Thanks for a well-written and creatively-designed site.
Tim Schmucker
Toronto, Ontario
October 27, 2006
In the ever increasing 'murkiness' of global peacemaking, this site helps add clarity from a New Testament faith perspective. Thanks for your reminder that Canadian Christians are also citizens of a larger world.
Jon Nofziger
Abbotsford, BC
October 26, 2006
Please send your comments and questions to this site. We really want to know what you think about the information we have posted. Are you concerned that Canada is increasingly armed and ready? Let us know.
Esther Epp-Tiessen
Peace Ministries Program
MCC Canada
