Sheesh! A post on recovering a Pauline emphasis on grace gets no comments, while a brief post on the Gaza conflict gets 38 comments? I’ve been in the wrong line of business…
Grace versus Conflict
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Yes, this is a very interesting point — one worth exploring in more detail. For example, on a fairly superficial level this point could be taken as a bit of finger-wagging about the polarisation of the discussion of the Gaza conflict; yet, on a deeper and more urgent level, we are confronted with how the hell we might apply grace in situations where grace matters most — like that of the conflict between the Israeli State and the Palestinian people. That is to say, in a situation wherein civilians, women and children are being segregated, starved, and then slaughtered, exactly how are Christians — as a grace-infused and grace-inspired people — to respond?
Try posting on abortion or gay marriage. I think it just demonstrates that most Christians are not as ‘Christian’ as they think they are
By the way Dan, while I’m chasing you round the comments, congratulations on your baby. Lucky baby to have such wonderful parents.
Thanks, Steph! It remains to be seen just how lucky our baby will be with his parents but we sure as hell (wait a second… what exactly is so sure about hell?) feel lucky to be Charles’ parents.
Also, I take your point about New Zealand. Fair enough, I suppose. I’d be curious to hear how New Zealand has been voting in the UN about these things.
So would I – you’ve sent me googling and I can’t find anything. Our left wing Labour government with Helen Clark PM unfortunately changed in November – not with my vote – regrettably to a centrist government. A number of NZers were enamoured with Obama’s “change” mantra and foolishly voted accordingly and we lost a very good government. Nevertheless, both parties were vehemently opposed to the Iraq war and I know Helen Clark (now opposition spokesperson for foreign affairs) is critical of American support of Israel and has done much to support immigrants of different religious faiths. Both leaders are agnostic so they do not favour one religion over another.
Considering statements made by politicians recently I doubt either party supports Israel in the current conflict but I would like confirmation in their UN voting.
Sure as Jesus would be better wouldn’t it? I have a 2 year old nephew called Charlie – well actually he’s a great nephew but that is because his father, my sister’s son (and my nephew) is my age. Almost. Anyway it’s a lovely name.
At a little discussion I was at recently, there were a couple of ways in which Christians were trying to grapple with applying grace to situations of major conflict: One was to emphasise “personhood” rather than a substantive idea of “peace” as a commodity which can be supplied/bought by particular organisations or countries. Linked with this was an emphasis on encouraging situations in which personal contact and reconciliation can take place – as ONE element of the process – which also needs to include other levels of action.
The main speaker at this event was from an organisation called Concordis, a group that aims to set up consultations involving “mid-level” participants (ie community leaders etc) from both sides, where they aim to talk through one issue. I’ve also heard about this sort of thing happening in Northern Ireland. Of course this is not THE answer that will solve everything, but I was encouraged to see people thinking creatively about how our theology can actually translate into distinctive action.
Dan,
I remember why I don’t know how we voted – we aren’t a member of the Security Council
but the following is our policy on the Israel conflict from 2007.
http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Foreign-Relations/Middle-East/0-arab-israel-conflict.php
from FAT (department of foreign affairs and trade)
Yes, I knew that NZ isn’t on the Security Council but, over the years, the UN General Assembly has voted on various resolutions related to Palestine. Granted such votes are not binding in the same ways as a Security Council vote, but they do reflect the opinions of the nations voting.
Matthew,
Yes, I’m familiar with some grace-infused peace and reconciliation movements that deal with these confrontations at the level of policy and on the ground in person-to-person interactions. However, I was thinking more about how precisely grace might impact the recent discussion on your blog. I would be interesting in hearing you comment further on that… as I am suspicious of resorting to ‘grace’ in order to take the edge off of the partisanship that is required of Christians (partisanship which comes with concomitant conflicts and confrontations).
Indeed, I can’t help but think of Jesus who spoke tenderly to the powerless and spoke harshly to the powers (although it must be recalled that both ways of speaking are invitations to conversion and salvation — it’s just that that invitation looks very different depending upon one’s political and economic location).
Father Dan
Here is our voting record.
http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Foreign-Relations/Middle-East/0-nz-voting-UN-palestine-res.php
or rather Daddy Dan…
Hey Dan – I think this is a worthwhile but difficult question: Jesus certainly spoke harshly to the Pharisees (and occasionally Sadduccees)- and likewise Paul speaks very harshly to “false teachers”. Also, Paul seems willing to put pressure on Roman authorities: He willingly takes a beating before revealing he is a Roman citizen, and then demands that he be publicly vindicated -in Philippi asking to be publicly escorted from prison… He’s making some sort of statement which, while not violent, is also not timid or reserved: In this instance, he draws attention to inequity rather than quietly letting it go unnoticed. So I think I hear the force of what you’re saying: Sometimes Christians can be tempted to go for the quiet option because we assume it fits more with “grace” – but we may actually be just shirking our responsibilities to make a public difference.
On the other hand, I do get a little tired of some Christians justifying their consistent bitter tone by saying, “Well Jesus got angry!” I find that for myself, I need to be extra careful that when I do speak out in partisanship, it’s not actually springing from proud self-righteousness…
There is a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak.