MWR : Our peace witness treasured

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Sept. 13, 2010 issue

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Tags: Church to Church by Gingerich Stoner War and peace issues

Our peace witness treasured

By Andre Gingerich Stoner

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When I learned that Mennonite World Conference and the Vatican were working on a joint statement on peace, I wrote Larry Miller, MWC general secretary, and asked: What, pray tell, will you say together?

Gingerich Stoner

An international group of seven Catholics and seven Mennonites, including Nancy Heisey from North America, worked on the document. The eight-page joint statement, submitted in January 2008 to the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence, is remarkable. It is Jesus-centered and biblically based.

On the last page is the stunning sentence: “We affirm Jesus’ teaching and example on nonviolence as normative for Christians.” This is the joint Mennonite and Catholic word to the rest of the Christian world!

While the Catholic church would still make room for ambiguities and exceptions, holding up nonviolence as normative reflects a profound development.

But most Catholics — and Mennonites — are hardly aware of this document or the shifts it represents. That is why later this month Mennonites and Catholics will gather in northern Indiana for a day of reflection on this statement.

This growing convergence around Jesus’ way of nonviolence is also reflected in the draft of an “Ecumenical Declaration on Just Peace” being written in preparation for a culminating gathering of the Decade to Overcome Violence in Jamaica next May. This statement affirms that “Jesus himself chooses the path of active nonviolence.”

It states further that “we firmly consider the use of force in situations of conflict to be an obstacle on the Way of Just Peace.” It emphasizes that our commitment to peace dare not be a passive acceptance of injustice, but an active hunger and thirst for right relationship.

This is a challenge to Christians of the wealthy northern hemisphere. Colombian Mennonite leader Peter Stuckey was part of a broad ecumenical drafting group.

Despite these remarkable statements, tens and hundreds of thousands of Christians continue to participate in the warmaking of their nations. There is a painful gap between the words and actions of Christians on peace.

In their social witness churches still often act like lobbying groups rather than as alternative communities with alternative allegiances and alternative practices.

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Comments

In 1944 and again in 1952, Mennonite Publishing House published a booklet titled NONRESISTANCA AND PACIFISM authored by John R. Mumaw. The foreword was written by Harold S Bender, Chairman, Peace Problems Committee of General Conference. This clearly reveals that the current peace emphasis by the religious left cannot be supported by scripture. I would suggest Mr. Stoner read this. Jesus said in Matthew 10:34-36 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household’. Additional suggested reading are some of the later chapters in Revelation. The conclusion is Jesus was not a pacifist as portrayed by the Religious Left.

- Dale Welty (sep 18 at 8:25 p.m.)
Dale, you have taken Matthew 10:34-36 entirely out of context.
1. The general idea is from Micah 7:6 and part of it is a direct quote. It was in Jewish thought long before Jesus was born. 2. You miss Jesus's point before verse 34 and his words of love after v. 36. 3. When Jesus comes into a life where Christ is not Lord of the whole family, in some parts of the world the person is killed, disowned and often causes contention wherever it happens. 4. No, Jesus is not and never claimed to be a pacifist. What he did say, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it "Love your neighbor as yourself'. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matt. 22:37) is something we should take literally. That means we must weigh all we do and think by these two commandments. All of the Old Testament hangs on these two commandments. Might it also mean that we write with love for one another as Christ loves us, not label everyone as though we were right, not ridicule people, but love them as ourselves?

I'm glad I am not the same person I was in 1944, nor 1952, nor 2009. I want to be more like Christ every day. That is part of "growing in grace". The Harold S. Bender and the John R. Mumaw I knew would agree with this. Thank God for their growth and desire to "Love the Lord . . ." Just for the record: the article you refer to does not use the word pacifist.

- Les (sep 19 at 7:26 p.m.)
Les, on pages 15,16, & 17, of the Mumaw authored booklet, the word pacifist or pacifism is used 22 times. Do I need to scan it and send it online to convince you?

Thanks for confirming that Jesus is not and never claimed to be a pacifist. You must have read the suggested scripture in Revalations that speak about some violent events concerning Jesus.

- Dale Welty (sep 19 at 11:00 p.m.)
Dale, it is strange how we talk past each other. You refer to Mumaw's booklet. I referred to the article that is listed above your first writing.

It would be helpful if we used the same terms and knew what terms we use. "Article" and "booklet" are really not the same terms. Unfortunately, this is not the first time that you have not carefully read someone's writing.

Do you take every word in Revelation as literal? Is heaven going to be a place of glorious life, or a place of war? There is much in Revelation that you need to put in the context of the whole book--and the Bible--and much that we do not understand.

- Les (sep 20 at 9:52 a.m.)
Les, I responded to the article and referred to the Mumaw booklet. I would not think that should be confusing. You are correct, the specific term pacifist was not used in the the Stoner article, but it is very pacifist in nature. A rose by any other name is still a rose.

- Dale Welty (sep 20 at 8:57 p.m.)
Les, sorry but I neglected to respond to your last sentence.

There is no need to lack so much understanding as you state.

Revelation 1:3 states, "Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things that are written therein: for the time is at hand."

II Peter 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

II Peter 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction".

II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is give by inspirition of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in rightousness; that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 17Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

- Dale Welty (sep 20 at 10:58 p.m.)

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