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Living in a world of war and violence:What shouldBy Stefan HoscheleWar and violence havebecome common in theworld today. As Christians,how we react t o it andwhat we do to be peacemakers are questions wecannot avoid.

War has broken out! Suddenly youare facing questions you never had toface before. The discussions in yourethics classes are now becoming real-ity: no more time for laid-back delib-erations, no more engaging in heateddebates just for the fun of it. It is war,and you have to make some toughd ec~sions.

What should you do? A good placeto begin is to consider what Jesuswould have done if He had facedthe challenges of war and violence.The Sermon on the Mount is repletewith pidelines on such issues. Jesusis unambiguous and clear: '"Blessedare the peacemakers, for they will becalled sons of God."' '"Do not resist anevil person. If someone strikes you onthe right cheek, turn to him the otheralso."' "'But I tell you: Love your ene-mies and pray for those who persecuteyouy" (Matthew 5:9, 39,44).'

Jesus didn't stop with just instruc-tions; He acted. When the soldiersof the high priest and leaders ofthe nation came to arrest Him inGethsemane, He did not try to defendHimself. To Peter who drew his swordin His defense, He said, "'Put yoursword back in its place, for alI whodraw the sword will die by the sword"'(Matthew 26~52) .When He was cruci-fied, He could have asked armies ofangels to free Him from the cruelty ofthe cross. But Jesus chose to die ratherthan kill.DIALOGUE 20-1 2008

a Christian do?Jesus' principles regarding war and

violence are applicable even today. Inmost countries, a Christian is underpressures of governments to bear arms.Yet there are several ways in which youcan live according to Jesus' example.Your actual course of action maydepend on your environment and yourpersonal background, but there are atleast eight options for a Christian toconsider.

1. MovingJesus clearly taught that we shouldnot answer violence with violence. ButHe did not instruct us to seek perse-cution, endanger our lives, or remainwhere we are whatever the politicalclimate is. Seventh-day Adventistsshould not run away to the mountainsthe moment slightest problems arise;however, there may be times whenfollowers of Jesus will do as the earlybelievers in Jerusalem did (Acts 8).When persecution, violent conflicts,or war activities arise, a simple reloca-tion may be the solution. Peace-lovingChristians have opted for this choicefor centuries. Mennonites, the firsthistoric Peace Church, have spreadinto the whole world precisely becausethey were looking for countries inwhich they did not have to engage inmilitary service.

Not so long ago, I was talking aboutwar with my ten-year old daughter.Her immediate suggestion? "Whydon't we just go to another countrywhere they don't fight?" Of course,such a move is not a decision you canmake lightly or easily; still I am per-suaded the idea is valid. After all, hereon earth, "we do not have an enduringcity, but we are looking for the citythat is to come" (Hebrews 13:14).Adecision to move may indeed make astatement: that God's kingdom is moreimportant to us than our earthly pos-sessions.

2. StayingNot everybody can move away, and

some will deliberately choose to stay.Sometimes fleeing may actually implydenying one's responsibility in society.Indeed following Jesus may mean stay-ing and serving right where you are.Being where you are without engagingin violence can be an encouragementto others. A Christian's firm stand ofnon-participation in war activities isa quiet yet visible testimony for thegospel.However, in some cases, staying maynot be an obvious decision. ConsiderDietrich Bonhoeffer, the Germantheologian and pastor. Born in 1906,Bonhoeffer became a university pro-fessor at the age of 24 w d had theprospect of a brilliant academic career.He was one of the few t~ recognizeearly the dangers inherent in Hitler'sNational Socialism and he played akey role in the Confessing Church, amovement opposed to state influenceon the German Protestant Church ofthe period. He was well respected asa scholar and a pastor in the UnitedStates and England, and he could haveeasily moved out of Germany to safetyabroad, and thus saved himself fromNazi persecution and eventual impris-onment and death. But Bonhoefferchose to stay in order to support thesilent opposition and let his life andministry be a witness to Christian ethicand truth. His choice cost his life, andstaying in his case proved costly. Thismay be Christ's way for some.3. Words of peace: consoling

Perhaps the most natural responseof a Christian to war should be toutter words of peace and consolation.Christ said, "'Peace I leave with you;my peace I give you. I do not giveto you as the world gives. Do not letyour hearts be troubled and do notbe afraid'" Uohn 14~27) . hetherwe move away or stay, echoing these

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words wherever the Lord places us isour first task and our highest joy.

During the Bosnian War in the early1990s, Sarajevo, the capital of Bosniaand Herzegovina, was surrounded byenemies. The siege lasted for almostfour years, and fleeing the city wasmost difficult, as was getting inside.However, an Adventist pastor, MirkoMilovanovi, decided to go to Sarajevoand serve there as a counselor, listeningto people, encouraging them, consol-ing them, and praying with them. H ecould have chosen to remain in a more~eaceful rea where his life was notendangered. But he knew it was hisduty to bring words of consolation toothers rather than merely saving hisown life.4. Words of peace: confessing,testifying, witnessing

"Words of peace" may in fact dis-turb some. Those supporting war, forexample, may think that those talkingof peace are actually fighting them!Yet Christians cannot remain silent.

As a faith community, we must speakof peace. Indeed, as Adventists wehave done the right thing in issuingseveral statements on peace.' In one ofthem ("Peace," 1985), we affirm: "TheSeventh-day Adventist Church urgesevery nation to beat its 'swords intoplowshares' and its 'spears into prun-ing hooks' (Isaiah 2:4). . In a worldfilled with hate and struggle, a worldof ideological strife and of militaryconflicts, Seventh-day Adventists desireto be known as peacemakers and workfor worldwide justice and peace underChrist as the head of a new humanity."

Such a stance for peace may involvespeaking out whenever countries engagein wars. We cannot support the use ofviolence, and we should make this clear.There can be no compromise on thismatter.As responsible citizens of thestate here and the Kingdom of God,our unequivocal position should bepromotion of peace, rejection of mili-tary actions, and rebuking those whoadvocate violence. Of course, in pursingsuch a course, we must be "wise as ser-

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pents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew10: 16, KJV).But we should make itclear that the Seventh-day AdventistChurch is a peace church.5. Actions of peace: healing

The fifth way to follow Christ intimes of war is through healing. Thishas been the Adventist approach formany generations. The American CivilWar was raging when our denomina-tion was officially established in 1863,and people were drafted into the army.What did Adventists do? A livelydebate within the emerging denomina-tion led to a consensus that Adventistswere not to serve as soldiers, butinstead serve as non-combatants, car-ing for the sick and the wounded.

This type of ministry is a directapplication of Ellen White's injunctionto avoid bearing arms, but still servingthe country. Her words spoken duringthe American Civil War are applicableeven today: "I was shown that God'speople, who are His peculiar treasure,cannot engage in this perplexing war,for it is opposed to every principle oftheir faith. In the army they cannotobey the truth and at the same timeobey the requirements of their officers.There would be a continual violationof conscience."6. Actions of peace: reconciling

While the ministry of Jesus involvedmuch of teaching and healing, Hismost significant task was the missionof reconciling the humankind to God.Thus, Christian actions of peace mustinclude the ministry of reconciliation,even among groups who are con-stantly in conflict with each other. TheAustrian novelist Stefan Zweig oncesaid, "Just like war, it needs someoneto initiate peace." Why should not thatone person be you?

It is indeed sad to note that in his-tory only few Christian leaders havestood up to work for reconciliationbetween warring parties. The SouthAfrican Bishop Desmond Tutu is oneof them. When apartheid resulted

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in violent clashes, Bishop Tutu spokeagainst the despicable policy of racialsegregation while continually workingto reconcile the warring groups. Whenapartheid ended and a new SouthAfrica emerged, he chaired the nation'sTruth and Reconciliation Commission,a novel and historic approach to dealwith past violence and crime andthe raging desire for revenge. Insteadof invoking the law of revenge andretribution, Bishop Tutu launcheda national movement of confession,forgiveness and reconciliation. Can weas Adventists be known everywhere aspeople of truth and reconciliation?7. Risking one's life

Several countries do not have theoption of a non-combatancy status forthose who have reservations againstbearing arms. Military service-drafted,voluntary, or otherwise-requirestraining in and carrying of arms. Noalternative is provided. In my country,Germany, young people now have theopportunity of serving their countryby choosing to bear arms or serve ina hospital or work in an old people'shome. This kind of freedom was notalways the case.

Where such freedom is not avail-able, what should one do? What wouldJesus do? I am persuaded that Hewould live the hard way, the gospelway. Take,Franz Hasel, an Adventistliterature evangelist. His story, asreported by his daughter Susi HaselMundy in the book A Thowand ShallFall4 is just incredible. When hewas drafted during World War 11, heturned to the Lord in prayer. "Helpme to be true to my faith," he prayed,"even in the army. Help me so that Iwill not have to kill anyone." And tomake sure he did not act against hisprayer, he exchanged his gun for apiece of wood that looked like a gun.That act could have cost him his life.In this terrible war, he was saved by aseries of miracles, some of which youcan only experience if you are ready torisk your life for your faith.

8. Giving your lifeThe eighth way of following Jesus

in times of war is the most difficultone. Risking your life is breathtakingenough, but actually giving it? Goddoes not demand this of everyone. Butone day you may be asked to decidewhether you want to kill or acceptbeing killed.

Seven years ago, I lived near Arusha,Tanzania, where the InternationalCriminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)is located. This is the court whichdeals with persons who are accused ofhaving been involved in the genocidein Rwanda in 1994. Sadly, severalAdventists also had to appear beforethe tribunal. One such was a retiredpastor and leader. The ICTR judgesdeclared that the pastor did not haveany part in planning or implementingacts of genocide. Still, he was given a10-year sentence for "aiding and abet-ting in genocide."

Why such a verdict? In the midst ofviolence, with Tutsi armies attackingthe country from the north and Hutusslaughtering hundreds of thousandsof Tutsi in the country, what could apastor really do? This particular pastorwas the moral authority in the missioncompound, a campus with a hospitaland a school. Although the judgescould not find that he was responsiblefor actively promoting injustice, theyjudged him guilty-because he had notdone all he could. In other words, heshould have stopped the militia, riskedhis life, and, ultimately, sacrificed him-self for the sake of others.I am not sure how I would haveacted in this particular case, but thejudges made a point. As Christians, wemust be ready to give our lives ratherthan kill or tolerate the murder that isinvariably associated with war or com-munal violence.What would Jesusdo?

In a world filled with violence,injustice, and war, Jesus showed nobitterness. He rather consoled. In aclimate full of nationalism, He did not

take sides; He was ultimately viewedas an enemy on both sides. In an agethat was full of fear, He did not keepquiet but spoke the truth. In a societywhere belonging to a group meant thatyou have to be against another group,He laid the foundation for reconcili-ation. And He was ready to be killedalthough He had all the power of theuniverse in His hands. Are you readyto follow Him?

REFERENCES1. Unless stated otherwise, all Scripture referencesare from the N ew Internation al Version.2. See www.adventist.org/beliefslstatements.3. Ellen G. White, Testimoniesfor the Church(Mountain View, California: Pacific Press Publ.Assn., 1948), vol. 1, p. 361.4. (Hagerstow n, Maryland: Review and He raldPubl. Assn., 2001 ).

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