Archives For Peace

(Because of the declarative and perhaps even controversial nature of this post, I’ve sat on it for a few weeks.  I hope you’ll read it in its entirety, and in it’s spirit of seeking how Christ-followers are to live in a time of war.)

In the midst of the news of the death of bin Ladin was the story of the reactions of the millennials.  Across the country, college students who have never known anything but an America at war with a shadowy religious army exploded into celebration.

My parents, surprised by the stories of young people taking to the streets in celebration, asked if bin Ladin’s death meant anything to me.  I was a sophomore at at my small Christian college, on my way to chapel, when I overheard people talking about the first tower falling.  I hadn’t really thought about the question.  So, after a long pause, I responded:

“Bin Ladin is why I’m an Anabaptist.”

Now to be fair, I’m probably jumping the gun in describing myself as an Anabaptist.  I neither grew up in an Amish or Mennonite church, nor have I really wrestled with the writings of theologians like Yoder (it’s on my list, I promise.)  However, I always have felt a sense of camaraderie with the anti-mustache peace lovers.  The tradition I grew up in placed a high value on adult baptism, and even stood against the Civil War.  I remember family members saying they would have rather gone to Canada before he than be drafted.  So Third Way thinking has always been in my blood.

A day or so after September 11, a giant American flag was draped across the back wall of the stage of our chapel.  Everyday, when we came to chapel for a time of worship, the flag filled most of our vision.  It remained there for months to come, and made frequent appearances in the coming years.

Part 2

War is Over (If You Want It)

Chris —  December 22, 2009

Over the last few Christmases John and Yoko’s Merry Xmas (War is Over) has become my favorite Christmas carol.  It asks us all, do we want to live in peace?

As I’m writing this blog post, I’m sitting and watching Braveheart with some friends.  I love a good, violent war movie as much as the next Y chromosome, but I can’t help but think that even the most inspiring heroism of war is a twisted misrepresentation of the promise that came into earth at the birth of Jesus Christ.

In our world, we can’t seem to get out of Iraq or Afghanistan. I’ve been living paycheck to paycheck. I know people who are sleeping on the streets and in mud huts. The best that our most creative minds can imagine is blue cat-monkey people fighting our wars for us. It’s hard to imagine the truth of Christmas:

War is over.

If you want it.

I have chosen to trust the counter-intuitive promise of the gospel: a Jewish child, born the son of oppressed peasants in a cave full of animals, is the Prince of Peace.  His birth heralds the end of all wars.  I want it.

Believing in this prince means living in and for peace: seeking peace between within yourself, and between you, God, and your world.

As you come together for Christmas this year, you have to ask “So this is Christmas, and what have you done?” By next year, I hope answer: “I lived for peace.”

And so this is Christmas (War is over)
For weak and for strong (If you want it)

For rich and the poor ones (War is over)
The world is so wrong (Now)

And so Happy Christmas (War is over)
For black and for white (If you want it)
For yellow and red ones (War is over)
Let’s stop all the fight (Now)

A very merry Christmas
And a happy New Year
Let’s hope it’s a good one
Without any fear


Waging Preemptive Peace

Chris —  March 31, 2009

I first heard the term “waging preemptive peace” from Derek Webb.  He was describing how, when we serve the poor, not only are we carrying out God’s by caring for “the least of these,” but we are also insuring future friendships.  A good case can be made by the  scary reality that the devastation WWI was a breeding ground for Hitler, or that the Taliban grew out of an Afgani civil war fought by factions that the U.S. armed. 

Who are the enemies that just need to be won over by love?  Mind you, this love may be just as hard as war, but not nearly as devastating.  What future genocides or 9/11s could we prevent?  Here’s a few I came up with.  Please add your own.

  • Innovative cradle through college education programs for South Central LA, where few boys live to see 18.
  • Earthquake proof housing in Iran
  • Sustainable farming practices in Africa
  • Orphanages in the slums of India
  • Education and employment opportunities for impoverished Muslim immigrants in Europe.