A new confession of Christ in the face of "a theology of
war"[10-20-04]
Over 200 Christian theologians and ethicists have joined
in writing a statement "confessing Christ in a world of violence,"
making five strong affirmations about Christ and his meaning for us today,
and rejecting five false teachings that oppose his message.
The signers are listed on the Sojourners website.
Presbyterian theologian George Hunsinger, the Hazel
Thompson McCord Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton Theological
Seminary, is among the early signers of the confession.
The
document, titled "Confessing Christ in a World of Violence," warns
against use of religious rhetoric in the U.S.-led war on terror,
including the language of "righteous empire" and America's mission
to "rid the world of evil."
Spearheading the effort were Glenn Stassen, a professor at Fuller
Theological Seminary; Richard Pierard of Gordon College; Richard
Hays at Duke;
George Hunzinger at Princeton
and
Sojourners Editor Jim Wallis.
We reported on this a few days ago, and we present it now
as a document worthy of attention and support.
Scroll down a bit for the full text -- or you can also
find it at
the Sojourners website.
George Hunsinger, a Presbyterian who was deeply
involved in the drafting of the "Confessing Christ in a Time of Violence"
statement, has sent a short note giving his own perspective on the
statement, and encouraging Presbyterians to join in supporting it.
The cover letter
that was sent with this Confession is also posted below.
Please share your thoughts on this
statement.
Just send a note, and let's talk about it here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Confessing Christ in a World of
Violence
Our world is wracked with violence and war. But Jesus
said: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of
God" (Matt. 5:9). Innocent people, at home and abroad, are increasingly
threatened by terrorist attacks. But Jesus said: "Love your enemies, pray
for those who persecute you" (Matt. 5:44). These words, which have never
been easy, seem all the more difficult today.
Nevertheless, a time comes when silence is betrayal. How
many churches have heard sermons on these texts since the terrorist
atrocities of September 11? Where is the serious debate about what it means
to confess Christ in a world of violence? Does Christian "realism" mean
resigning ourselves to an endless future of "pre-emptive wars"? Does it mean
turning a blind eye to torture and massive civilian casualties? Does it mean
acting out of fear and resentment rather than intelligence and restraint?
Faithfully confessing Christ is the church's task, and
never more so than when its confession is co-opted by militarism and
nationalism.
- A "theology of war," emanating from the highest circles
of American government, is seeping into our churches as well.
- The language of "righteous empire" is employed with
growing frequency.
- The roles of God, church, and nation are confused by
talk of an American "mission" and "divine appointment" to "rid the world of
evil."
The security issues before our nation allow no easy
solutions. No one has a monopoly on the truth. But a policy that rejects the
wisdom of international consultation should not be baptized by religiosity.
The danger today is political idolatry exacerbated by the politics of fear.
In this time of crisis, we need a new confession of
Christ.
1. Jesus Christ, as attested in Holy Scripture, knows no
national boundaries. Those who confess his name are found throughout the
earth. Our allegiance to Christ takes priority over national identity.
Whenever Christianity compromises with empire, the gospel of Christ is
discredited.
We reject the false teaching that any nation-state can
ever be described with the words, "the light shines in the darkness and the
darkness has not overcome it." These words, used in scripture, apply only to
Christ. No political or religious leader has the right to twist them in the
service of war.
2. Christ commits Christians to a strong presumption
against war. The wanton destructiveness of modern warfare strengthens this
obligation. Standing in the shadow of the Cross, Christians have a
responsibility to count the cost, speak out for the victims, and explore
every alternative before a nation goes to war. We are committed to
international cooperation rather than unilateral policies.
We reject the false teaching that a war on terrorism takes
precedence over ethical and legal norms. Some things ought never be done -
torture, the deliberate bombing of civilians, the use of indiscriminate
weapons of mass destruction - regardless of the consequences.
3. Christ commands us to see not only the splinter in our
adversary's eye, but also the beam in our own. The distinction between good
and evil does not run between one nation and another, or one group and
another. It runs straight through every human heart.
We reject the false teaching that America is a "Christian
nation," representing only virtue, while its adversaries are nothing but
vicious. We reject the belief that America has nothing to repent of, even as
we reject that it represents most of the world's evil. All have sinned and
fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).
4. Christ shows us that enemy-love is the heart of the
gospel. While we were yet enemies, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8, 10). We are
to show love to our enemies even as we believe God in Christ has shown love
to us and the whole world. Enemy-love does not mean capitulating to hostile
agendas or domination. It does mean refusing to demonize any human being
created in God's image.
We reject the false teaching that any human being can be
defined as outside the law's protection. We reject the demonization of
perceived enemies, which only paves the way to abuse; and we reject the
mistreatment of prisoners, regardless of supposed benefits to their captors.
5. Christ teaches us that humility is the virtue befitting
forgiven sinners. It tempers all political disagreements, and it allows that
our own political perceptions, in a complex world, may be wrong.
We reject the false teaching that those who are not for
the United States politically are against it or that those who fundamentally
question American policies must be with the "evil-doers." Such crude
distinctions, especially when used by Christians, are expressions of the
Manichaean heresy, in which the world is divided into forces of absolute
good and absolute evil.
The Lord Jesus Christ is either authoritative for
Christians, or he is not. His Lordship cannot be set aside by any earthly
power. His words may not be distorted for propagandistic purposes. No
nation-state may usurp the place of God.
We believe that acknowledging these truths is
indispensable for followers of Christ. We urge them to remember these
principles in making their decisions as citizens. Peacemaking is central to
our vocation in a troubled world where Christ is Lord.
The signers urge:
Take action: Share this important theological statement with your friends,
family, pastor, and church!
Please share your thoughts on this
statement.
Just
send a note, and let's talk about it here.
