"Getting in the Way": a Christian Response to War
1 Comments Published by Michael on Thursday, March 23, 2006 at 8:28 AM.
I did a little CNN.com reading this morning, and the top story captured my attention for the majority of the morning. There has been yet another rescue of hostages in Iraq (....Pres. Bush breathes a sigh of relief due to some much needed positive-press, no doubt), but it is the nature of the hostages' dealings in Iraq that fascinates me. They are members of CPT, a Christian organization whose mission is: "Getting in the Way".
This is the first time that I have even heard of these people, and I've only spent a little time this morning reading about them, but allow me to paint an imperfect thumbnail-sketch of what they are about. They are professional pests, going into harms way to both preach the gospel and stand as a beacon of nonviolence and peace. They are admittedly not a missionary organization. Their tents, as given on their website, are listed as follows:
A strategy developed thoughtfully over the years has taught us that:
- trained, skilled, international teams can work effectively to support local efforts toward nonviolent peacemaking;
- “getting in the way” of injustice through direct nonviolent intervention, public witness and reporting to the larger world community can make a difference;
- peace team work engages congregations, meetings and support groups at home to play a key advocacy role with policy makers.
That was my first thought, but now I'm torn. Their mission is not strictly evangelical. They are an organization devoted to peace in the name of Christ. They do not hand out water and rations to refugees who will listen to the gospel first. They are not secret in their motives. No, they seem to stand in the way of tanks and guns, living the message of Christ. They love their brothers in the name of Christ. Their tactics are strange and certainly contreversial, but I don't know if I can fault them for them.
Perhaps I'm just a bit convicted at seeing people act on their beliefs, not just blogging them and then living no differently afterward.
This is definitely an interesting topic and a bit of a touchy subject amongst both believers and non-believers. I think that's why your last post has so many comments (most of them by yours truly) and this one has virtually no response. No matter the opinion, there is biblical reasoning for the other side. All of 1 John proclaims loving your brother being the basis of Christianity, while the Torah and even much of Romans proclaim God's justice. You're a brave soul for bringing this up Michael.