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Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of
God (Jesus)
These are difficult times. It is only a few months ago that we, as Mennonite
Church Canada congregations, prayed through the Beatitudes of Jesus. Lois
Barrett, the author of the Prayer Week materials, reminded us that the
peacemakers are those who are "taking action on behalf of peace,
doing their part to bring about peace." That's what children of God
are like.
In these last days we have also walked with Jesus on his way to the cross,
we have celebrated the power of God in Jesus' resurrection, and we have
affirmed our commitment to walk in that same way.
And now our nation is at war. Canadian participation in the NATO - Yugoslavian
war is increasing. It is evident that the NATO objectives: 1) to prevent
suffering, 2) to subdue genocide, and 3) to provide dignity and justice
to the Kosovo Albanians, have not been reached by the strategy of war
chosen by NATO. It seems that the historic issues that have generated
hatred and suspicion will not be resolved from 30,000 ft. up in the air.
What does Canadian participation in this war mean for Mennonite churches?
This is a moment when the biblical teachings that have been dear to us
are under attack and suspicion. Is it realistic to promote a nonviolent
way of the cross in a situation where violence, genocide, and human depravity
are so evident? What word from God can help us to understand what we are
experiencing? We need to affirm anew our biblical understandings that
have guided us in the past.
- God is present in our suffering world. This assurance comes to us
through the gift of Christian hope and in the knowledge of Jesus who
knows suffering and is with people in their suffering.
- Violence is sin. We cannot watch the refugee faces flooding our television
screens without a renewed conviction that violence really is evil; it
cannot represent God's will for the world.
- Violence breeds violence. The reason used to justify genocide and
war in Albania, Serbia, and Kosovo is the Serbian defeat in battle in
1389 a.d. The biblical teaching that violence is sin and that its effects
will visit succeeding generations is again confirmed by this war.
- The spiral of violence needs to be broken. Violent strategies will
justify future violent rebuttals. The message of Jesus' cross is that
at some point violence must not be escalated. Creative ways must be
sought to end the upward spiral.
- Principalities and powers are at work. Paul, in writing to the Ephesians,
reminds us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against
principalities and powers. These powers leading to violence are very
evident in this war. Truth is a victim. Racism and stereotyping are
prevalent. Dehumanization is evident. Communication is manipulated.
Violence is assumed and justified. Commercial interests are at stake.
No one side is "pure."
- Creative nonviolence needs to be encouraged. The Albanians in Kosovo
were in a long process of nonviolent resistance to Serbian occupation.
They requested help in this struggle. Not until the violent liberation
army (KLA) was organized did the world nations pay attention to the
plight of the Albanians. Our country and our church did not respond
to the pleas for nonviolent resourcing.
- Bold initiatives and risks are required. Accepting the road that led
to the cross was a bold initiative by Jesus. We need creative risk-taking
initiatives. We are a people of the resurrection with the faith that
God's power will continue to reveal itself in unexpected ways.
- The role of the Good Samaritan is important. Unfortunately, as we
seek to live and proclaim a different way of dealing with conflict,
others continue to put their faith in the power of violent solutions.
The victims in the ditches continue to require unrelenting generosity
to bind up their wounds.
- Obedience to God's way of love is our responsibility. Our social responsibility
is to love the way God loved. Our political relevance is to present
God's way of love as an alternative to hatred, violence, and revenge.
Our religious faithfulness is to take God's Word and God's Servant as
our model for correct living. The church has been chosen as an instrument
to live out this alternative. We teach this way and we proclaim the
possibility of love to our world. The attached letter to our government
leaders is one way of proclaiming this love. We encourage each congregation
to seek ways of teaching, living, and communicating God's suffering
love for humanity. Why not release our testimonies, confident of the
strength they have to transform difficult situations.
We wish for you, the congregations, pastors, and leadership of the Mennonite
Church Canada, the wisdom to discern ways to teach that Jesus Christ is
our Lord in this situation of distress, deception, and violence. May God's
Spirit guide and keep you in the way of the cross and the resurrection.
In the name of Christ, the Prince of Peace,
Jeremy Bergen;
Robert J. Suderman
Helmut Harder
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