Witnessing as a sacred trust and vocation |
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The Prince of Peace, the Beast of War and a United Methodist Bishop's call to witness December 20, 2002 Friends -- The following is a commentary by a retired United Methodist bishop on the "sacred obligation" Christians have in response to the potential of war, or indeed a war itself, against Iraq. And because it addresses itself from a call "in defense of creation," it can be read to include all calls from within to be courageous and even resolute in peacemaking, to bear witness to the call that comes from within creation itself, regardless of the cost. Bishop Dale White, the writer, calls it a "kairos moment," an especially adventitious moment in time. Coming now as it does, and as we feel it, I see it as an advent within this time of Advent -- the Prince of Peace facing the "beast of war." * * * Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 4:16 PM Subject: UMNS #593-Commentary: Methodists are called to witness for peace Commentary: Methodists are called to witness for peace By Bishop C. Dale White* Once again we are a nation bedeviled by the ancient curse of war hysteria. Once again in this holy season, the followers of the Prince of Peace are called to a courageous witness for a just peace. We are stewards of the cosmic dream of the Creator God for shalom on planet earth. Surely this is a "kairos" moment for Christian peacemakers. Since the end of the Cold War, it has proven difficult to arouse anyone's interest in matters of war and peace. Suddenly a "teachable moment" has been forced upon the church. Many United Methodists have been asking for guidance from their leaders. They want to know: What does the church teach about war and peace? What is the United Methodist heritage? For the first four centuries of Christendom, Christians were mainly pacifists. They refused to participate in all killing, military service and warfare. A strain of pacifism has continued in Methodism. The founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley condemned all war as the prime example of human depravity. For decades, the moral witness of the General Conference, the denomination's highest legislative body and the only entity authorized to speak for the church, has been clear and concise: "We believe war is incompatible with the teachings and example of Christ. We therefore reject war as an instrument of national foreign policy and insist that the first moral duty of all nations is to resolve by peaceful means every dispute that arises between or among them." Now some are saying that pacifism is unrealistic, and that the just war theory must be the norm for Christians. The General Conference of 2000 for the first time confessed: "We also acknowledge that most Christians regretfully realize that, when peaceful alternatives have failed, the force of arms may be preferable to unchecked aggression, tyranny and genocide." Remembering how Jesus said, "He who takes up the sword will perish by the sword," the Methodist witness is to be profoundly skeptical that any war is just. Once the beast of war is uncaged, it becomes very difficult to restrain. Wars in the past century have spawned an excess of barbarism. Moral restraints have been overwhelmed. Nations have used poison gas, fire raids, nuclear weapons, and napalm against civilians and military personnel alike. For five decades the world has lived under the nuclear threat of "mutually assured destruction." Christians have a sacred obligation to lead in the search for a just peace. Our covenantal obligations as members of the body of Christ are clear. We are the followers of the Prince of Peace. Our Lord's assurance that peacemakers are especially blessed reassures us. Our Christian compassion motivates us. Our essential concern for justice and righteousness goads us to act. The Holy Spirit guides and empowers us. Although we may feel inadequate to address complex global issues, we should remember the charge that Jesus gave to the 12 disciples when he sent them out on the first missionary journey. He said: "You will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time." (Matthew 10:18.) Courageous witness will be guided and blessed by God! In the pastoral letter "In Defense of Creation," the Council of Bishops asked United Methodists "to become evangelists of shalom, making the ways of Jesus the model of discipleship, embracing all neighbors near and far, all friends and enemies, and becoming defenders of God's good creation, and to pray without ceasing for peace in our time." # # # *White, now retired, was chairman of the Council of Bishops committee that produced the widely used "In Defense of Creation" letter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |