Blessed are the peacemakers

BLESSED ARE THE PEACE MAKERS CANON GRAEME WINTERTON

HOLY TRINITY KEW

8:00 AM 31 AUGUST 2014

A good number present today will no doubt share my boyhood memories when I tell you that most mornings my mother would watch for the paper boy and then with the paper spread out before us she would scan the news and I would look at the photographs and maps which told of the progress of the Second World War. Things haven’t changed much. The main difference is that we now see all the horror of war and the atrocities of international terrorism in moving pictures transported night after night into our living rooms. Some are so addicted to the sensationalism of the media that they tune in to the 24 hour news stations and check the smart phone every few minutes.

I can live without war and terror. I am sure you can too, especially if you have lived through the experience. But a new horror has risen in our world of today, that of an insane terrorism which has no respect for national boundaries, the rule of law or the sanctity of human life. None of us can escape it’s shadow. It is a sad and tragic fact that the impact and consequences of unbridled military action knows no bounds.

The other thing that hasn’t changed is the fact of war and the permanent impact it has upon the lives of all it touches. General Eisenhower said “I hate war as only a soldier can hate war” those who have served would agree with him but it is absolutely certain that the mother’s, wives and children in Gaza, Israel, the Ukraine, and North Africa today would say, “General, that’s only the half of it, you can not hate war half as much as we hate war.” Their voices join those of the generations and of each widow gathered here who can identify with them.

The loss of all passengers aboard two Malaysian airliners of recent days has meant sorrow for the people of entire nations across the world. It means of course that when we gather in this sacred space that we honour a much greater company and are bound together by a much greater and much stronger bond.

The current Jewish operation against Hamas in Gaza to neutralise continued violence against Israel and it’s citizens has ignited the fury of the International community and people in every nation are taking sides.

The recognition of the sanctity of human life, the mission to pursue lasting peace and the right to inherit a home of safety for all people is deeply entrenched within the Australian mindset. They are fundamental values which have their foundation in the principles of the Juedeo Christian faith and they form the basis of the way of life and the freedom we cherish.

Peace, Justice and hope are Divine concerns as well as fundamental human rights.

Christians have much to say and contribute in these areas and because we are touched by conflict and are involved in many places of conflict we need to be clear in our thinking and understanding about these matters.

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Peacemaking Christians are called to be peacemakers. Jesus pointed out that peacemaking would involve vilification, libel and persecution. To be a peacemaker is costly at every level. In our Communities, between members of a family, in ones own soul.

Jesus calls us to act for peace - To do so may ultimately mean acting as he always did for others in the face of injustice, exploitation and in the honour of the name of our God. A Guide for Peacemakers Let me suggest some seed thoughts about peacemaking that arise from the Christian biblical perspective. I do not ask you to agree with me. You may well reach an opposite point of view. That doesn't matter. What really matters is that we each become mature Christians.

People of integrity, who like Jesus was prepared to accept the consequence of his beliefs and his actions even though that course ultimately proved so costly.  Turn the other cheek  If someone takes your coat, give up your shirt as well.  If you are compelled to walk a mile, then go another mile.  Put up your sword, those who live by the sword will die by the sword  Love your neighbour as yourself.

What are these statements of Jesus really saying? Did Jesus mean that they were to be literally applied to every human encounter with violence and evil?

Consider the context of his teaching: These instructions were issued to a people during military occupation by a foreign power when violence abuse and exploitation were a part of everyone's daily experience. Revenge and getting even was taught to people at their mother's knee. Compassion and forgiveness was seen as weakness. Only the strong were winners and the humble were despised. ( Nothing has changed in the Jewish and Arab world even up to this day.)

I suggest that Jesus’ views and teaching on handling violence was highly controversial, deeply opposed, misrepresented and rejected by most and by the authorities in particular.

Self discipline Jesus taught and demonstrated self denial, self discipline and respect for others as the primary expression of the Law of God -- Summed up in the words: 'Love your neighbour as yourself. Jesus taught this as the ideal and Godlike response of the individual when an individual was the subject of violence. Jesus always responded with such self discipline when the attack was directed towards himself.

This is the key to understanding the sermon on the Mount with its injunctions to - 'tum the other cheek, walk the extra mile, give up the shirt and to pray for those who spitefully use you.' It is exactly what Jesus was trying to teach Peter when he told him to put up the sword Jesus wanted Peter to choose non violence instead of the way of his upbringing - for Peter to curb his natural and impetuous temper and to act from reflection not animal instinct.

Now ask this question — Was the teaching of self discipline and acceptance of personal attack meant to be tolerated and accepted when it was levelled at others?

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A close reading of the Gospels and the New Testament indicates that action taken on behalf of another is to be understood as an action of love. (In fact Agape is characterised by selfless action.)

• Think of Jesus' action in the cleansing of the temple. From this stand point and you see it as legitimate non violent force. He was concerned for the Good name of the Heavenly Father.

• Think of Jesus' confrontation a with the Scribes and the Pharisees and the hot hard words used in his attack upon them and your understand them as words spoken in concern for the poor and exploited people around him.

• St. Paul taught the early Christians to respect and obey legitimate authority. This of course included Christian slaves and Christians who were conscripted into the army- a normal experience in his time. They like the soldiers of today represent the people of the nation and act on behalf of the people.

• Democratic government of the people and for the people of necessity imposes an obligation upon every member to act for the protection and well being of others. Let us at the very least accept that situations arise where forceful armed intervention for the protection of sovereign nations and people under extreme threat is not only an appropriate human response but a moral necessity.

Peace is a fundamental human need and finding the way to peace has remained an elusive and continuing quest. Its been like this from the beginning of the human story and it is true today in greater measure than ever before.

Christians are not "yesterdays' people" The truth is that Christians have a realistic assessment of the human condition. We know that human selfishness and evil is destructive.

We know that self interest will over ride the common good time and time again. It is a fundamental Christian doctrinal point of view arising from the witness of the scripture, the voice of the prophets, the facts of history and common human experience which bear it out.

The challenge Australia faces today is whether it will, or if it can, reinforce the fundamental Judeo Christian principles upon which our nation and it’s laws are founded.

I look for a much stronger lead from our religious leaders in matters of war peace and justice. Some have attempted to articulate their understandings but they have not been given much air space because of the heavy media bias in favour of the pacifist leftist position.

• A previous Bishop to the Defence Force, Dr. Tom Frame, has been accused of being a warmonger just because he repudiates the view that all conflict is violence and is strong enough to give a reasoned view for the legitimate use of force to restrain evil.

Peace is a fundamental human need and rightl. Finding the way to peace remains a continuing and elusive quest to which every one of us as Christians are totally committed by our Lord. .

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