Modified 23 Oct 2001

Last Sunday, as the British public digested Sunday lunch and the church-goers forgot the morning sermons, the 'free world' went to war.

How can Christians respond in this situation? Like virtually everyone, we are appalled by the attack on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon and the dreadful loss of life.

We grieve not only for those individuals but for all their families and friends. Does that mean that Christians can embrace a military response to this evil?

Most Christians have rejected any attempt to see this issue in terms of a Muslim/Christian divide. Our concern for the well-being of the people of Afghanistan has been shown in the strong response to the appeal of Christian Aid, Oxfam and other organisations.

But how do we, who believe 'Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God' react to the war? We have attached a contribution to the discussion from Dave Brubaker on the possible responses of peacemakers.

Individual Christians may be strongly against the bombing of the innocent in a desperately poor country in order to drive out a particular group of murderers, who must surely be the best protected people in the population. However what message do we give as churches? As Christians we are not called to be an arm of state policy. Jesus requires us to be salt to prevent the world from going bad and light in the darkness. His call to love your enemies does not say 'depending on how bad the enemy is' (and no doubt the Zealots in Jesus' time could powerfully argue that the occupying Romans were a great evil also.) Romans 20 gives a recipe for defeating evil that seems particularly appropriate. "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head."

We are called to have a prophetic voice in the world. At this time, how can we fail to take a stand against this war? Jubilee 2000 has shown that for a righteous cause, ordinary Christians will stand up and add their voice. Now is the opportunity for churches all over the country to express the deep disquiet which many people are feeling about this war. It is sad that at the peace events we have attended over the past few weeks, there have been a number of individual Christians, but few banners showing the commitment of a church or Christian organisation.

Here are some of the things you could do:

Discuss - Set up church meetings to talk about how Christians should respond to this war. Dave Brubaker's document is a good place to start.

Preach peace - Unless clergy give the lead, their congregations may not feel able to voice their concerns. Are we afraid that our congregations may not be able cope with Jesus' demands? Last Sunday's lectionary passage said: 'God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.' (2 Tim 1:7)

Write - e-mail or fax Tony Blair and George W. Bush speaking as Christians or church-leaders. Both of these leaders identify themselves as Christians and they may be more responsive to an authentic Christian opposition to this war than to other voices. (Even Archbishop Carey was unable to state unequivocally that this is a just war.)

You could write or fax Tony Blair 10 Downing Street, London SW1(fax 020 7925
0918) or e-mail George Bush at president@whitehouse.gov 
 

Demonstrate - There are a number of opportunities to demonstrate around the country - but do so as Christians, and as churches, not just as individuals.

The big national demonstration is this Saturday (October 13th), gathering at London's Hyde Park at 12 noon. This has been called by CND as part of the multi-agency Stop the War coalition

Pray - A Week of Prayer for World Peace has been called for 14th-21st October. Some of the organisations involved in this are: Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, Brahma Kumaris, Buddhist society, Campaign Against Arms Trade, Fellowship party, Justice and Peace Commission, National Council for Hindu Temples UK, One World Week, Pax Christi, Quaker Peace and Service.

Within this, we are calling for an evening of prayer on Thursday 18th October. You might set up a prayer meeting, but we are encouraging people to pray that evening wherever they are - that the war may end and that alternative solutions may be found.

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