Faith Forum: How should Christians react to violent attacks? Jan. 7, 2012 |
Frank Mansell, pastor, John Knox Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis. If we have never been persecuted for practicing our faith, we cannot relate to that kind of suffering or tumult. No matter the faith, when believers experience violence and terror due to their religious beliefs, it changes them forever. The Christian experience in the United States is nothing like what Christians experience in places such as Burma, Nigeria, China, India and Pakistan. The same can be said of other faiths that are small minorities elsewhere in the world. When terror strikes at people for what they believe, it is rooted in fear; to create fear in others so that faith might be weakened, or worse, fanaticized. And yet, we do not believe in a God of fear, but a God of hope and faith. When terror strikes, we are empowered with the knowledge that God "makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45). Evil and good are both present and exist in God's good creation. But God is the Lord over all, and God's love encompasses all that is in God's kingdom. In the Christian faith, we are told by Jesus: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:44). Faced with murder, violent crime and terror, in human eyes this message does not always seem just or fair. Ultimately, though, that is not a responsibility we have to bear, for such judgment is left to God alone. Responding to violence with further violence only leaves brokenness and division. To meet terror with radical love is a great challenge, indeed. But it is a challenge we must embrace if terror and persecution are to be eradicated from this world. The Rev. Levi C. Williams, a United Methodist minister originally from Liberia. He is founder of the Center for Peace and Development and an adjunct lecturer of theology at Marian University. The reports of church bombings, especially on Christmas in Nigeria, show that while conflicts between Christians and Muslims are not new, there are organized attempts to terrorize Christians. To prevent more conflict, in addition to prayers, Christians can adopt a two-part strategy. First, Christians can apply the principle of "turning the other cheek" as Jesus practiced it. When the high priest interrogated Jesus in John 18: 19-24, one soldier did not like the way Jesus answered the high priest; he slapped Jesus and said, "How dare you talk like that to the high priest!" Jesus turned the other cheek by saying, "If I have said anything wrong, tell everyone here what it was. But if I am right in what I have said, why do you hit me?" Jesus showed "turning the other cheek" really means making people accountable for their violent behavior through seeking explanations for their conduct. Questions of this nature will allow Christians to seek meetings with Islamic and other leaders in discussions toward peaceful coexistence. Second, Christians can apply the method of "just peace." Just peace is a Christian proactive process that begins with acceptance and respect of others, followed by programs that build healthy relationships among social groups. This might require that Christians and Muslims work together to heal communities while collaborating on community development projects. Although this two-part approach is extensive and demanding, the benefits are incomparable because making peace is more difficult than waging war. http://www.indystar.com/article/2012010 ... t-attacks- ------------------------------------ Post message: prole...@egroups.com Subscribe : proletar-subscr...@egroups.com Unsubscribe : proletar-unsubscr...@egroups.com List owner : proletar-ow...@egroups.com Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: proletar-dig...@yahoogroups.com proletar-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: proletar-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
