Mennonite Weekly Review

Comments

• In response to MCCs latest apology for their political actions:

  Well for the first time Jewish leadership was invited... BUT my theological critique still holds - this is not cruciform-peace-making...

  MCC dialogue toward peace with Iran

  (Parenthetical statements) and bolding are mine

  Arli Klassen and Daryl Byler September 30, 2008

  Strong opinions have been expressed over Mennonite Central Committee’s participation in the September 25 dinner and dialogue that included Iranian President

  (Kingdom of the world leader - Caesar for Iran)

  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Some news media spread incorrect information about the event’s purpose. Our goal was respectful, peace-building dialogue, not to honor the president or any other individual. In sharing a meal with such a controversial figure, we were drawing on both the deep spiritual roots that sustained our persecuted ancestors and on Jesus’ example

  (Um not so fast - Jesus did not engage politicians in this way, only after doing something that caused the rulers to feel threatened by his alternative lordship!).

  Last week in New York City, a simple oil lamp glowed

  (aesthetics of warm-fuzziness - seriously folks!)

  on the podium before the gathering of people of diverse faiths. MCC gave such a lamp to President Ahmadinejad last year. Similar lamps yield gentle yet insistent light in many Mennonite and Brethren in Christ worship services. In every situation, we look to the light of Christ to lead us

  (UM or political liberalism with a christ-veneer - Christ got on the cross).

  MCC has been given a mandate to carry out relief, development and peace work by Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in Canada and the United States. Together we hold to the “peace position,” a commitment to obey Jesus by loving one’s enemies and responding to aggression with positive action (Luke 6:21-36)

  (that action is towards the oppressed not the political leadership geesh guys re-read the NT).

  Our work in Iran, including (NOT INCLUDING !!!) these meetings with its president, focuses on building bridges of peace between countries that see each other as enemies

  (How is this actually doing this? It’s more like avoiding the Gospel-based peace witness by bait and switch with a nebulous political-based peace process. When did MCC become a PAC?).

  Counsel to converse MCC’s meetings with President Ahmadinejad grew out of nearly 20 years of on-the-ground program experience and trusting relationships with Iranians

  (Built by doing the real peace work, the next level should have been preaching conversion and evangelism - being light instead of lighting lamps!).

  Some have suggested that MCC should not meet with such a controversial political leader

  (Nor any political leader - Jesus said my kingdom is not of this world. He came to expose and de-throne the powers and principalities. Our battle of love is not against flesh and blood - WHERE ARE THE ANABAPTISTS?!) .

  MCC has sought the guidance of church leaders. On balance, the counsel has been to continue the conversations. Leaders believe it is important for the church to talk about the practical meaning of peacemaking in our world. At the September 25 event, the Rev. Dr. Patricia Shelly, professor of Bible and religion at Bethel College, North Newton, Kan., gave a powerful reflection on how Anabaptist peacemaking is rooted in the example and teachings of Jesus

  (Yes and again this was not Jesus approach with the religious-political leadership of his fellow countryman, nor of the Roman overlords).

  U.S. government officials also have encouraged MCC to continue the dialogue

  (Well bless their hearts - the US government is not our source either! This is not a conservative vs. liberal political debate).

  The United States has not had diplomatic relations with Iran for nearly 30 years and teeters on the brink of military action against it

  (Yes and Iran has been threatening and building weapons to wipe Israel off the map, so what, they are kingdoms of the world that’s what they do, that’s why we work for another kingdom).

  In this context, the consequences of not talking seem to greatly outweigh its risks – especially until the governments of Iran and the United States begin to speak directly to one another. Relations between Canada and Iran also have been deteriorating and conversation is often difficult.

  (Trying not to hack on this statement- the consequences of being co-opted by either or a lust for kingdom of the world power is greater than both of the above concerns. Loosing your center. All the devil needs to do to defeat the church is to get the church to become another version of the kingdom of the world in power and approach - MCC is co-opted - that is the great danger and loss of historic Anabaptist witness!!!!)

  Progress and challenge MCC has now held four meetings with President Ahmadinejad, all initiated by him. Has anything changed as a result of these conversations? It is difficult to assess the long-term impact, but several things stand out.

  First, we better understand each other’s points of view. President Ahmadinejad knows that MCC, which has partners and programs with both Israelis and Palestinians, believes the Holocaust is an historical fact and one of the great tragedies of the 20th century and that we want him to change the way he talks about it. He knows that MCC is deeply concerned about the situation for Palestinians but also about his rhetoric regarding the State of Israel. He knows that we believe that any solution to the conflict must provide peace with justice for all.

  (Well I am glad MCC can now discern motives, chosen mental assent and the soul of despots! MCC should be running the world!)

  Second, we believe that the president’s public comments have moderated somewhat over the past two years. When challenged regarding his comments about “wiping Israel off the map,” Ahmadinejad has said to us in previous meetings and, at last, in interviews with both CNN and the Los Angeles Times in late September, that he is not talking about a military solution. Rather, he supports the “one-state” solution, a political resolution in which Israelis and Palestinians elect a single government to represent both peoples.

  (Hmm not sure that reflects the most recent statements, trust but verify).

  Third, the circle of conversation has expanded. The most recent meeting included, for the first time, several Jewish representatives as well as government policymakers. This is a hopeful direction.

  (Yes if you are hell-bent on political-peace-making at least that reverses some of the image of being anti-semitic!)

  Still, our conversations with President Ahmadinejad sometimes feel like ships passing in the night. Both participants in the dialogue seem to see themselves as “prophets” to the other. MCC and the other faith groups that have met with the president are compelled to challenge his controversial comments and call for greater freedoms inside Iran. President Ahmadinejad emphasizes the dominating U.S. role in the world and the Israeli occupation of Palestine. He consistently calls on the powerful nations of the world to show respect in relating to Iran.

  And we are greatly troubled by reports of increased religious persecution in Iran and the expanding use of the death penalty to punish religious converts. Last week, we asked President Ahmadinejad to allow Iranians to make their own choices as to which religion they will follow. We were able to say this to him because of this meeting. Face-to-face conversations create space to clarify perspectives and raise hard questions.

  (Yes, but we should be working for conversion as well, so the face-to-face is as more and more turn to Christ and are martyred. This is cruciform peace-making in the face evil, exposing it fully through blood of true peace-makers. E.g. the Assemblies of God pastors and National leader martyred in the 90s - a cruciform biblical truly Anabaptist peace-maker!! MCC should look to them for it’s guidance - instead of some over fluffed liberal political ideology of peace-making, smeared with Jesus-talk and Bible thumping narcissism.)

  Following Christ’s light We too can be skeptical about the value of these meetings with the president of Iran. But when the doors are opened for us to be agents of Christ’s peace, we cannot step away. God calls us to engage those with whom we disagree.

  (I am more than skeptical - I am down right calling them a sham and an affront to Anabaptist theology and Biblical cruciform peace-making!)

  Please pray with us and for MCC, that we may be wise in the way of Christ, and foolish in the way of the world, as we follow Christ’s light toward peace with Iran.

  (You have not been foolish enough that is the problem.)

  - Rev. Shel Boese (oct 2 at 8:10 p.m.)

• I caution against believing newspaper reports over first hand witnesses as were the attenders at this meeting. Re: what Ahmadinajad said.

  I also urge people to look up the use of "antichrist" in the New Testament. "Many antichrists have already come." If you want to quote the New Testament, it should be an accurate quote and context, not?

  I also ask the critic how many persons he has won to Christ this year.

  - Carl Smeltzer (oct 9 at 8:20 p.m.)

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