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Introduction:
Blessed are the Peacemakers
Derek Poole
Comment
Mark Houston
From
the Director
David Porter
Peacemaking
Arthur Chapman
Gentleness:
An attribute of Peace
Graham Cheesman
A
Long Road to Healing
David Porter
All
Taigs are Targets
Neil Smart
God's
Holy Warrior
Alwyn Thomson
Book
Reviews
Alwyn Thomson David Porter
BLESSED
ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
Ten years ago themes like peace, justice and reconciliation were treated
with suspicion as something extraneous to the gospel. In many of our churches
and study groups the fear of raising these issues was so paralysing that
even when atrocity rattled the windows of complacency our continuing neglect
seemed to know no shame.
With the publication of For God and His Glory Alone a new confidence and consciousness found their way into the hearts and homes of many of us. It was a confidence born of revelation and repentance, and authorised by a sincere attempt to read the biblical text with integrity. There was a new consciousness that to make peace, do justice, and create hope in our broken country was not some woolly humanist agenda, but a biblical imperative from a God who loves his world. And there was also a new courage that was willing to countenance the holy insanity of learning to love our enemies and to risk engagement with those who we historically feared.
Ten years later as this issue of Lion & Lamb explores the theme of Peacemaking it seems appropriate to revisit what for many was a 'kairos' document and to read again the short but poignant section on Peace that continues to find resonance in the hearts of many.
"Having found peace with God and with each other, followers of Jesus are, by definition, peacemakers. The impetus for peacemaking lies in the doctrine of God and in our experience of his grace.
We are to live at peace with all people as far as it depends on us. This implies and demands firstly the rejection of violence, whether in the form of action, word or attitude, in all our relationships in the community. It also requires the embracing of actions, words and attitudes, which constructively contribute to peace. In following this way, we must not associate ourselves with the use or threat of violence and paramilitary force, even under the guise of self defence."
ECONI WELCOMES the submission of unsolicited articles, but does not guarantee publication, and manuscripts cannot be returned. Opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of ECONI. Permission to reprint any original article in Lion & Lamb should be sought from the Editor.
Editor
Derek Poole
Asst Editor Ruth Hutchinson
Design Colin Maguire
Cover Spring Graphics
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