Durl Kruse on
Christianity and Nonviolence
January 6, 2006
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Hello, my name is Durl
Kruse. I am a member of AWARE, the local anti war anti
racism effort. I also have been a life long member of
the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.
Today it seems many Christian churches are failing to
address a major moral and ethical challenge. Namely how
to respond to our country’s growing militarism, ongoing
occupation of Iraq, and call for endless war? Clearly
these are difficult and troublesome moral issues.
On Sunday, November 27, I stood in the rain with a small
group of members of AWARE in front of St. John’s
Lutheran Church on Mattis Avenue holding signs
proclaiming “Peace on Earth”, “Say No to War” and
“Blessed are the Peacemakers”. Some people felt this
church presence was bold, appropriate, and long over
due. Others strongly opposed it. Regardless, our goal
was not to offend but rather to inspire more thoughtful
reflection and discussion about the morality and
justification of our nation’s war on terrorism, our
country’s ongoing occupation of Iraq, and our growing
militarism in general within the Christian community.
In a recent phone conversation with the associate Pastor
from St. John’s, he stated that he was personally
offended by our actions and that members of the
congregation were likewise offended. In short he stated
that I should make a personal public apology to him and
the members of the congregation. Our presence that
Sunday morning he stated was inferring St. John’s was
some how responsible for the war.
Maybe some questions rather than an apology might be
more helpful in speaking to the difference of thought
regarding this moral dilemma.
In a free and democracy society, are not citizens
responsible for their government’s actions and choices?
Does that not make each of us at least partially
responsible for the ongoing occupation of Iraq and our
country’s expanding militarism?
Considering that we now know that misleading and false
information was used to justify going to war, should not
the church be morally outraged?
Considering that we now know how the war and occupation
has been mishandled and conducted: the use of torture,
secret and illegal detentions, unlawful governmental
spying, the curtailing of civil liberties, the untold
deaths and injuries of tens of thousands of innocent
Iraqi civilians, the unfortunate deaths and injuries of
American servicemen and women, and the extraordinary
financial costs in the billions of dollars, should not
the church be morally outraged?
Certainly the church ought to be able to envision and
promote a more life affirming national policy that would
reduce and end terrorism while leading to a more
peaceful, safe and just world?
Where is the clear unequivocal gospel voice of Jesus
proclaiming, “blessed are the peacemakers” and “love
your enemies”? Where is the transforming message of love
and compassion?
To the members of St. John’s and other Christians who
may be offended by a few people of conscience standing
in front of their church, consider for a moment that
Jesus challenged both the church and state of his day,
called for nonviolence, preached a message of hope and
life, and never apologized to either for his actions.
If the historical Jesus were alive today, where would he
be standing? Inside the institutional church or outside
challenging us to be people of peace and nonviolence. |
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