Blogging for peace
Our friend Michael Westmoreland-White has launched a new blog-ring for Christian Peace Bloggers – you can read about it here. If you’re interested in a theology of non-violence, you might like to consider joining.
Here’s a related quote from Joe R. Jones: “The church violates its own mission of witness to God when it does not have the practices for peace in the world at the forefront of its outreach practices. The peace the church works for is the peace of God’s kingdom – God’s shalom – in which people flourish without fear of violence and reprisal. The practices of making and promoting peace, even in their truncated and broken historical forms, are essential to the church’s witness to God as the Supreme Lord of peace, to Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace” (A Grammar of Christian Faith, Vol. 2, pp. 632-33).
Thanks, again, for the plug, Ben. I just want to make clear that although I am a pacifist (i.e., committed to gospel nonviolence) not all who join the ring have to be. One can be a "near pacifist" like Bonhoeffer or William Stringfellow. But one does have to believe that peacemaking is part of the heart of Christian discipleship.
Also, blogs can join that aren't by professional theologians or even ministers--as long as written by Christians. They can contribute poems, hymns, suggestions for peacemaking, announcement of events, etc.
I hope the network will help in reforming the church universal in this important area because I still believe, in the motto of Every Church a Peace Church (http://www.ecapc.org./), "The Church could turn the world toward peace if every church lived and taught as Jesus lived and taught."
Thanks for the tip. Think I might actually join.
Matt Stone
Ben, this is great! Thanks for the heads up.
(And nice Joe Jones reference!)
Ben - will you be joining? Still haven't heard your position on pacifism...
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