.jpg "O Canada: Armed and Ready")
Who would Jesus bomb?How do Canadian Christians – especially those in the peace church tradition – respond to the increasing militarism in Canada? What theological insights do we bring to our reflection and discernment? What does scripture say about the pursuit of peace and security? The prophet Isaiah notes that security is the result of people practicing justice and righteousness. “Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. The effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust for ever.” (Isaiah 32:16-18). Security is not to be found through warfare or military might but through right relationships. The Psalms call on God’s people to trust in God rather than weapons of war. Psalm 33:16-17 reads: “A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.” Psalm 37:3 says, “Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.” Trusting in military might to provide security is a form of idolatry. Jesus taught his followers to love their enemies, and to pray for those who were bent on harming him. (Matthew 5:43-48). Jesus practiced this ethic of love as well (1 Peter 2:21-23), even at the point of crucifixion, torture and death. Loving enemies seems incompatible with waging war against them. Paul wrote that evil is overcome not through vengeance or violence, but is overcome by goodness and kindness. (Romans 12:14-21). He says our response to enemies should be to offer them food, drink, and find ways to meet their needs. In doing so, he echoes the words of the wisdom tradition (Proverbs 25:21-22). Does the biblical call to love enemies apply only to individual Christians or to governments as well? Some, quoting Romans 13:1-7, would say that God intends nations to suppress evil, using lethal force if necessary. While Romans 13 speaks of an ordering function of government, its focus on punishing the wrongdoer seems to suggest a policing role and judicial processes. This text should not be used as a blanket authorization for war. Rather, God’s vision for creation is that nations will also love their enemies. As Isaiah suggests, “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4, see also Micah 4:3).
"We live in an interdependent world, and part of the task of the church is to help us understand that invulnerability is not an option. Our well-being depends on others, as well as ourselves. We can’t isolate ourselves within an armed fortress; instead we have to be active participants in transforming the world into a place where interdependence is not regarded as a threat but as the fundamental ingredient of community." - Ernie Regehr |
|
|
