Working for peace in a time of war – how do Christian peace and justice activists keep going?
by Sean Morris, Commission member
For anyone watching or reading the news, we are in one of the most worrying times since the end of the Cold War. Awful and destructive conflict in Gaza and the West Bank, along with regular attacks across the Middle East in the likes of Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Then there is the ongoing nightmare of the Russian invasion of Ukraine with day after day of deadly drone attacks and grinding battles on a front across southern Ukraine.
And there are many conflicts elsewhere that rarely make the headlines in the likes of Myanmar, Sudan, Ethiopia and terrorist insurgencies across many countries, such as Christians regularly being killed in Nigeria by followers of the group Boko Haram, inevitably creating then revenge attacks.
At the same time, the threat of major conflict outside Ukraine has seen all NATO members, under significant American pressure, start raising their defence budgets markedly, most pledging that 5% of national GDP will go on defence expenditure. In the UK this sees billions planned for our Trident nuclear weapons programme, on developing other weapons of mass destruction such as drones, new warplanes and cyber warfare.
As a keen reader of history, I find this current period one of the most turbulent and scary, particularly as the ‘rules based order’ of diplomacy has been dumped by the likes of President Trump and President Putin.
On the other side of this, actively demonstrating opposition to such actions has become more difficult. The previous government brought in legislation making peaceful demonstration much more challenging – in an unnecessary kneejerk response to the likes of Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil – and the current government have followed up in their recent ban of the group Palestine Action, prescribing them in the same manner as a terrorist group.
So, what should be our response as Christians to all of this pain and misery? An obvious response by many people is to try and ignore it in a feeling of hopelessness and powerlessness. It is immensely hard to watch the daily news and see all this thoughtless death and destruction.
But we need to ponder daily what Jesus would do, and I think he would want us always to stand up and be counted. But what to do?
I have some Catholic Christian friends who have got heavily involved in some non-violent direct action, some being arrested for supporting Palestine Action, or doing some more militant action as part of the campaign to tackle climate change. If your conscience allows that, and you can deal with any of the consequences that comes from that, then stand up for what you believe in.
Certainly, go on one of the regular demonstrations supporting the Palestinians, and do get involved in the climate change movement in many different ways, big and small. And join groups like Pax Christi, Sabeel International or the many local groups supporting Ukrainians living in the region.
Taking effective action reduces the feeling of hopelessness and powerlessness and you are actively standing up for peace and justice. But do be careful with yourself, take care with your mental health as these issues can really overwhelm you.
Just as important can be to write to your MP telling them that doing nothing is no option. Call them to stand up and be counted. Recent rebellions over welfare policy came about as MPs knew the high levels of public discontent, so it is a much more valuable tool than sometimes we think it is. And continue to get involved supporting foodbanks, assisting refugee and asylum seekers groups with practical aid and financial support.
Never be afraid to speak out either, it is again what Jesus would do. But do be aware not everyone is as clued in to these issues as other, and try and educate them with wisdom and kindness, even when that can feel very hard to do.
And above all, keep these people in your hearts, minds and prayers.
As Jesus says to the disciples:
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find, knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Luke 11:10 – 11).
As this lovely prayer from St Jane Frances de Chantal says:
“Every person is a child of God, who loves them infinitely: it is, therefore, impossible to want to love God, without loving human beings – the more one loves God, the more one loves people. The love of God, the love of people, is my whole life; it will be my whole life, I hope.”
That is the hope I hold on to in these challenging and hard times. Jesus insisted on saying blessed is the peacemaker, as we are true sons and daughters of God.
By loving our neighbour, challenging them where we need to, and standing up for those that ask for our help, we can make a difference, and do what our faith tells us to do.
*****************************************