NCC Launches Scathing Attack on Bush Administration (from the Institute for Religion and Democracy)
NCC 2002 General Assembly: Resolution "After September 11, 2001: Public Policy Considerations for the United States of America" (from the National Council of Churches)
Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. Titus 3:1-11 (ESV)
Let me try to respond to this resolution with the same grace shown by Paul in his epistle to Titus.
The President and others in the US government rhetorically divide nations and peoples into camps of “good and evil.” Demonizing adversaries or enemies denies their basic humanity and contradicts Christians’ beliefs in the dignity and worth of each person as a child of God. Moreover, such approaches to complex problems and difficult dilemmas risks breeding further insecurity, fear, hatred, violence among nations and peoples, conditions that could give rise to further acts of terrorism.I disagree. "Demonizing adversaries" does not deny their basic humanity or contradict a belief in the dignity and worth of each person as a child of God, unless you are a bland Universalist who believes that everybody is just fine with God, we're not sinners, we're all good people and all we have to do is just get along (and give all those poor people over there a lot more money while you're at at, why don't you?). Jesus Himself divided the nations into two groups, in The Final Judgment.
Organizations that cherish civil rights have expressed deep concern that those arbitrarily detained and investigated are selected on the basis of racial profiling. As people are detained in secret, with no access to counsel or to trial and often no contact with their families, fundamental constitutional principles of habeas corpus, the presumption of innocence, and due process have been undermined.Sorry, but we're at war, and you don't win wars by respecting your enemies' civil rights. For those who deny we're at war because our Congress hasn't declared one, my reply is that there was indeed a declaration, a fatwa from Osama bin Laden. I don't like racial profiling either, but when you're at war with people who share certain characteristics, it serves the goal of winning when you look for your enemies primarily among people who have those characteristics.
The United States dominates the world militarily and increasingly attempts to do so politically. The NCCCUSA is especially concerned that in its objectives, the US is increasingly militaristic and unilateral in pursuing political and economic goals.There's a good reason for having a unilateral foreign policy: We're the only country concerned about our own well-being. Or at least the man in the White House is, and the people who elected him.
Those killed on September 11, 2001 came from many different countries and faith communities. Yet those who attacked the United States on September 11 claimed to do so out of religious motivation. In the late 20th century and in the early 21st century, as in earlier eras, religion is used increasingly to legitimize violence, aggression, war, and terrorism. Now more than ever, the world needs for religious communities to work together for peace with justice. All religions provide a basis on which to build human communities where all can thrive, believers and non-believers alike.Here's the moral equivalence argument again: all fundamentalists are inherently evil, and all we need to do is lay our differences down and work for world peace. I guess Jesus' words "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20 ESV) will have to go. We can't risk offending those from other faiths now, can we? After all, what's more important, world peace or making disciples?
As citizens and residents of the United States of America, we give thanks to God for the rich blessings of this good and bounteous land and for our noble heritage of democracy, religious tolerance and freedom, and human rights. We hope, dream and work for the day when everyone in our nation will share fully in this prosperity and freedom. Our love of and dedication to our country require that we hold ourselves and our leaders accountable to the highest standards and ideals of a democratic society where the well-being of each person is the concern of all. As Christians, we put our security in the hands of Jesus Christ and the biblical witness that says, “perfect love casts out fear.” I John 4:18aI, too, thank God for the rich blessings of this land, and for my life as an American citizen. I'm under no illusions that this freedom is free, however. People died to give us this freedom, and people may have to die to keep it. If we do not defend this country and its liberties, I do not believe that our "heritage of democracy, religious tolerance and freedom, and human rights" will be safe, especially if our enemies, who have no such heritage, impose their will on us.
I also pray for peace for us and the world. I don't think that peace is always guaranteed to us, however, even if we strive for it, for life involves dealing with the complication of other people and other cultures, including violent ones who do not want peace.
Posted by joelfuhrmann at November 21, 2002 01:40 PM