I had the privilege this past weekend of actually attending a Youth Annual Conference where there was some substantive offerings for our young people (something I hadn't witnessed in the past). The first workshop I attended was on violence. This got me thinking even more about some swirlings I already had in my head - mainly regarding the war in Iraq. In doing some quick research tonight, I've discovered that XBox's Halo 3 is being tested by our soldiers in Iraq as "recreation." Of course, this is a whole other blog entry, so I won't digress...
Back to task: I have recently found myself still receiving what is, essentially pro-war messages packaged in a different way (but surprisingly still involving country musicians). It seems to me the strategy has changed. I no longer see a direct buffet of support for the war (such as the case was 4 years ago with songs such as Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue). Instead I'm seeing a sentimental use of our soldiers to support the war effort in Iraq. In a popular and prominent e-mail video (I've received it four different sources!) entitled, If I Die Before You Wake, there are images from Iraq as the song progresses. The images the song can conjure up are swept away while the viewer is spoon fed images of troops doing their jobs, a Muslim woman offering the Peace Sign, young faces of Iraqi children and soldiers mourning the loss of fellow soldiers. Let's take a closer look at the song. "I heard about all them folks protestin'/As if I really want this war/But that don't stop me from believin'/There's just some things worth fightin' for." In this instance, the country singer - NOT an American soldier (as it propagates) - seems to ignore the fact that 1) more and more protesters are those family members of soldiers and 2) many protesters are protesting the very fact this war is an unfair, unjust and abusive play of power that, in the end, is using soldiers and, worse, taking their lives. A lot of protesting revolves around the very fact that the protesters care about the soldiers so deeply that it is their desire to end the war before any more young women or men are injured or killed. As for "there's just some things worth fightin' for," what are those things exactly? The song goes on, "...A good look at what God's given us/That we could only understand,/everything is in his hands/All we need is a little faith and trust." Perhaps, this particular country singer should leave his theology where it belongs - on his armchair.
Bad decisions too frequently arise out of fear - fear for our families, for ourselves, for our property. When we are fearful, we are ripe for manipulation by those who promise that, if only we will trust them, they will keep us safe. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, changes our lives. As is often the case, the fear created by these attacks led us to accept policies that offered to reverse our newfound vulnerability. It is essential, however, that as Christians we take a step back from our fear, remembering who it is we ultimately trust, and ask the harder questions aimed at getting to the roots of terrorism. That will help us offer a better response than those that spring only from fear.
History teaches us that few things are more dangerous than the potent combination of religious fervor and nationalistic zeal. The temptation to appeal to God to further our own interest is a blatant misuse of religion. Yet such appeals are too often made from all sides of the political spectrum. Our fears cloud our judgment, and we become ensnared in the civil religion that arises from the marriage of God with national interests and agendas. We are vulnerable to embracing actions and policies that we normally would never consider. As British historian Lord Acton observed, "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely." That observation seems to hold true for countries as well as individuals. Being the world's only "superpower" seems to have had a negative effect on the United States' ability to conduct foreign policy in an ethical manner consistent with international law.
Things aren't about to end in the Middle East. The tension is arising between Iran and the United States. As I type this, many U.S. religious leaders are preparing a delegation to begin the peace talks. For more information on this delegation, which includes The United Methodist Church, and how you can get involved click here. This type of effort gives me great hope and faith. It is too often the case that people don't begin to ask questions about peacemaking until a crisis point is reached - or worse, until after soldiers start to fall. Genuine peacemaking, however, recognizes that conflict can occur any time there is a human encounter (and isn't that hard to avoid?) and it seeks proactively to sow the seeds of peace prior to crisis.
Now, Christ....Jesus the Christ is a fairly well-known guy -- at least he should be in Christian circles and yet, sometimes, it's the last place we find him! Jesus, for some strange reason, is not very well known for his loving presence in spite of war and conflict (so many churches have used Christ as an excuse for war). We are taught from an early age that Jesus died on the cross for everybody. We are also taught that Jesus never attacked a person and didn't encourage his followers to be violent. And now take a hard look at us...
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:43-45) The battle against "evil" in our world sounds good to our ears, but it's not Christlike. He proclaims a revolutionary message, "Love your enemies..." War always says that the enemy is evil, but Jesus takes the reason away, when he says that we should do good to evil ones.
So what is our Christianity? Who is our Christ? How shall we be Christians? What is violence? Who is our God?
In closing, here are some words from another country/folk singer: "Through the ages I have watched all your Holy Wars, your Jihads, your Crusades. I have been used as inspiration; I've been used as an excuse for the murder and the misery you've made. I thought I made it clear in the Bible, in the Torah and in the Qu'ran: what is it in my teaching about loving your enemies that you people don't understand?" (Not In My Name)
Back to task: I have recently found myself still receiving what is, essentially pro-war messages packaged in a different way (but surprisingly still involving country musicians). It seems to me the strategy has changed. I no longer see a direct buffet of support for the war (such as the case was 4 years ago with songs such as Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue). Instead I'm seeing a sentimental use of our soldiers to support the war effort in Iraq. In a popular and prominent e-mail video (I've received it four different sources!) entitled, If I Die Before You Wake, there are images from Iraq as the song progresses. The images the song can conjure up are swept away while the viewer is spoon fed images of troops doing their jobs, a Muslim woman offering the Peace Sign, young faces of Iraqi children and soldiers mourning the loss of fellow soldiers. Let's take a closer look at the song. "I heard about all them folks protestin'/As if I really want this war/But that don't stop me from believin'/There's just some things worth fightin' for." In this instance, the country singer - NOT an American soldier (as it propagates) - seems to ignore the fact that 1) more and more protesters are those family members of soldiers and 2) many protesters are protesting the very fact this war is an unfair, unjust and abusive play of power that, in the end, is using soldiers and, worse, taking their lives. A lot of protesting revolves around the very fact that the protesters care about the soldiers so deeply that it is their desire to end the war before any more young women or men are injured or killed. As for "there's just some things worth fightin' for," what are those things exactly? The song goes on, "...A good look at what God's given us/That we could only understand,/everything is in his hands/All we need is a little faith and trust." Perhaps, this particular country singer should leave his theology where it belongs - on his armchair.
Bad decisions too frequently arise out of fear - fear for our families, for ourselves, for our property. When we are fearful, we are ripe for manipulation by those who promise that, if only we will trust them, they will keep us safe. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, changes our lives. As is often the case, the fear created by these attacks led us to accept policies that offered to reverse our newfound vulnerability. It is essential, however, that as Christians we take a step back from our fear, remembering who it is we ultimately trust, and ask the harder questions aimed at getting to the roots of terrorism. That will help us offer a better response than those that spring only from fear.
History teaches us that few things are more dangerous than the potent combination of religious fervor and nationalistic zeal. The temptation to appeal to God to further our own interest is a blatant misuse of religion. Yet such appeals are too often made from all sides of the political spectrum. Our fears cloud our judgment, and we become ensnared in the civil religion that arises from the marriage of God with national interests and agendas. We are vulnerable to embracing actions and policies that we normally would never consider. As British historian Lord Acton observed, "Power tends to corrupt; absolute power corrupts absolutely." That observation seems to hold true for countries as well as individuals. Being the world's only "superpower" seems to have had a negative effect on the United States' ability to conduct foreign policy in an ethical manner consistent with international law.
Things aren't about to end in the Middle East. The tension is arising between Iran and the United States. As I type this, many U.S. religious leaders are preparing a delegation to begin the peace talks. For more information on this delegation, which includes The United Methodist Church, and how you can get involved click here. This type of effort gives me great hope and faith. It is too often the case that people don't begin to ask questions about peacemaking until a crisis point is reached - or worse, until after soldiers start to fall. Genuine peacemaking, however, recognizes that conflict can occur any time there is a human encounter (and isn't that hard to avoid?) and it seeks proactively to sow the seeds of peace prior to crisis.
Now, Christ....Jesus the Christ is a fairly well-known guy -- at least he should be in Christian circles and yet, sometimes, it's the last place we find him! Jesus, for some strange reason, is not very well known for his loving presence in spite of war and conflict (so many churches have used Christ as an excuse for war). We are taught from an early age that Jesus died on the cross for everybody. We are also taught that Jesus never attacked a person and didn't encourage his followers to be violent. And now take a hard look at us...
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5:43-45) The battle against "evil" in our world sounds good to our ears, but it's not Christlike. He proclaims a revolutionary message, "Love your enemies..." War always says that the enemy is evil, but Jesus takes the reason away, when he says that we should do good to evil ones.
So what is our Christianity? Who is our Christ? How shall we be Christians? What is violence? Who is our God?
In closing, here are some words from another country/folk singer: "Through the ages I have watched all your Holy Wars, your Jihads, your Crusades. I have been used as inspiration; I've been used as an excuse for the murder and the misery you've made. I thought I made it clear in the Bible, in the Torah and in the Qu'ran: what is it in my teaching about loving your enemies that you people don't understand?" (Not In My Name)
3 comments:
The United States often seems rather gung-ho to get involved in places like Iraq. And yet, in Sudan, we stand by and watch genocide occur with little active involvement by the world's largest country. In Uganda, we see the LRA abduct young children and the civil war that rages on in that country is devastating to its citizens. Billions of dollars get poured into the war in Iraq, and yet, there are still people in this world dying of hunger daily. It seems that for a country founded on a least minimally Biblical values, our priorities have been skewed by greed and the pursuit of happiness at all expenses.
Thank you for this call to action! I couldn't agree more. Would anyone like to begin a discussion from this framed with the question, what is the purpose and role of the church in calling the government to action? AND, what is that action?
The Church could have a huge impact on the politics of our nation and world. I think that people need to become more educated on some of the issues that get downplayed. I guess that I have talked to a number of the middle aged Christians who are unaware of the some of the crisises that the world faces today. I think awareness is one of the first steps. We have to understand the problem at hand. You can be ignorant and not feel guilty. If you are aware of an unjustice, as a Christian, I don't think that you could just sit around and do nothing. Well, at least Jesus didn't. He is pretty important in this whole faith bit...I would maybe challenge you to ask people what they know about issues like human-trafficking, Uganda's civil war, Darfur & the Sudan, AIDS and orphans (every 12 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS), Population Control in China that leaves girls being orphaned and left to die, Global Poverty.. these are just a few of the issues that we need to be educated about.
After awareness, you have to do something. It's pointless to be educated and not do something about the problem. The Church could have a tremendous impact on world issues. I feel like sometimes Christians are to divided on what they believe and get weighed down in doctrine that we miss some of the main things that we all believe in...love, compassion, service, being the hands and feet of Jesus in the world today... that should unite us if anything. I don't know.
I guess maybe when you stare into the eyes of a child who lives in poverty and who's mother fights the AIDS virus that ravages her body, it hits you. It hits you that this kid at just 3 has no idea that he will be orphaned someday...that's inevitable. Or that he will probably live in poverty due to that. He is completely unaware that he lives in a country ravaged by civil war and AIDS. When he is older, he will expect to die of one of three things: AIDS, Malaria, or Diaherrea. How can you not want to be like Jesus when you see something like that? How can you not want to be an adovacate for the poor, the widowed, and the hungry? But maybe we have more important things to do...like I said, I am just a college student, what do I know.
Sorry it took me awhile to post again.
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