A very interesting article exploring the relationship between stewardship of the planet and peace (to use positive terms) or between poverty and terrorism…
As people of faith we need to shift more towards dealing with the causes of evil – ie. injustice, rather than wasting energies on patching up the effects…
via Ben’s blog
but is injustice really the
but is injustice really the cause of evil? Isnt the heart of man wicked? The worst genocide of this century was perpetrated by Germany, a wealthy society that had been a leading cultural and economic power. Evil is not restricted to those who have nothing left to lose.
Interesting that the Peace movement is actually more of an Apeeasement movement. That worked so well for Neville Chamberlain. Peace requires equal enthusiasm from both sides; failing that, peace can best be obtained at the barrel of a gun…
no. yes... injustice is the
no. yes… injustice is the result of humanity’s wicked heart.
I agree wickedness is not restricted to those with nothing left to lose, in Germany’s case (and I would suggest the US’ too), the desire to maintain power results in the injustice that we see in war and trade and non-compassion just as much as the desire to gain power.
Maybe we need to look at peace from a 3rd party dimension – like a parent pulling 2 children apart and then standing them face to face and pointing out the hurt that both parties are doing… very theoretical I know because we so often pick sides… based upon our own power agenda… which stems from our wicked hearts… and around we go…
I like your suggestion, BUT,
I like your suggestion, BUT, who will be the third party? Unfortunately the world looks to the US to be the policeman when it suits, but is quick to condemn when the US actually takes the role on! The UN is pointless because politics intrudes.
The absolutely shameful situations are in places like Zimbabwe, Nigeria etc where aid has been forthcoming, and despots have stripped the money away and the ordinary people are left to suffer. The solution is difficult to find, because for every Mandela there are several Mugabes, and removing a Mugabe doesnt guarantee another wont take his place. Clearly aid without strings attached wont help, and NGO’s dont have the resources to make much of a dent in the problem.
I have just seen United 93, and the sheer futility of terrorism, and the incredible difficulty of ever stopping it has profoundly upset me. And what i hate most is that there is no solution…
Great post. Part of the
Great post.
Part of the reason we pray “Let your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” is because Jesus wanted us to want what God wants on this earth.
We should desire to be engaging with the world around us and concerned for things the way God is. God is concerned about justice, about welcoming every sinner into His kingdom, and wants for the world to have an alternative to the destructive way of life that we see around us. On the peace front, it takes a really deep understanding of God’s grace to motivate us to really want peace. I have to be willing to say “my name is Rodd Jefferson, and I am the reason Jesus died on a cross” before I am able to look at others the way God does. And if I’m the reason, which is so true, then I’m far less likely to judge, and far more likely to be accepting of others as God is of me.
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