Have We Forgotten?

Like many Australians, every year I attend and participate in two culturally significant community events - ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.  Both days are a time to honour the memory of those who lost their lives on the battlefield and are a sober reminder of the lasting scars that war leaves on our humanity.  Each year at these services the solemn sound of the Last Post played by the bugler is either preceded or followed by the recitation of the "Ode of Remembrance" which ends with the phrase "Lest We Forget".  

While it is right and proper that we remember the fallen, have we forgotten what they fell for?  Has history taught us nothing?  Have we not shed enough blood?  And in the words of songwriter Bob Dylan, "How many times must the cannon balls fly, before they're forever banned?"

The ongoing threat of terrorism, the war on ISIS, conflicts in the Middle East and parts of Africa, tensions with Russia and North Korea, all would suggest to me we have forgotten that war never has and never will bring true peace and freedom for humankind!  

The relative peace that follows when the guns are silenced leaves those who are wounded or displaced by war suffering relentless physical and mental conflict.  The freedom celebrated by some becomes bondage to others and remains elusive for most after a ceasefire is declared.  The human cost of armed conflict only really serves to perpetuate the brokenness of our humanity instead of purchasing the peace and freedom all humankind ultimately craves.

When we say "Lest We Forget" it must not just be a lament about the past but a resolution for the future!  Every time we say "Lest We Forget" it must move us beyond reflective commemoration towards a robust commitment to find a better way!  Therefore, "Lest We Forget" that ALL human beings are made in the image of God and have been created to live in shalom with our Creator, each other and the world we share.

Lest We Forget...

 
LEST WE FORGET…  the selflessness of those who put nation before person
 
LEST WE FORGET…  the service of those who left a career to join a cause
 
LEST WE FORGET…  the sacrifice of those who traded life for liberty
 
LEST WE FORGET…  the suffering of those who still carry the scars of war


 
LEST WE FORGET…  the selfishness of those who put their ideology before our common humanity
 
LEST WE FORGET…  the strategy of those who use fear to divide and conquer
 
LEST WE FORGET…  the silence of those who lack the courage to speak out against violence and oppression
 
LEST WE FORGET…  the stupidity of those who still believe that armed conflict is a pathway to peace

 
LEST WE FORGET…  the source of real peace and freedom for all humanity is found only in Jesus Christ!

International Day of Peace

Today is designated as the International Day of Peace and the following prayers are supplied by Act for Peace 

as a worship resource for churches to unite in prayer for peace in our troubled world...

Let us pray for peace in Gaza. 

God of peace,

have mercy on all your children in the Middle East:

Palestinians, Israelis,

Jews, Muslims, Christians,

both those who pursue violence

and those who long for peace

with justice and kindness for all.

Show your face to all who are suffering.

Share your tears with all who are mourning the dead.

Gather into the arms of your love all who have been killed.

Shake the certainty of those who give orders to kill.

Scatter the proud

who would rather die, and see others die,

than change their policies and practices.

Build up the courage of those who work for peace.

Person by person,

household by household,

nation by nation,

break the habits of hatred.

Lead everyone towards the new horizons of hope

which we have seen in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,

in whose name we pray. Amen.

Let us pray for peace in Syria.

God of peace,

turn back the tide of civil war in Syria.

Have pity on the six hundred thousand refugees

who have fled to Jordan and neighbouring countries.

Have pity on the countries that receive them,

and on international agencies working to protect and care for them.

Have pity on the devastated cities, towns and villages of Syria,

without safe shelter, food and medical care.

Have pity on the Christians of Syria,

displaced, threatened, almost forgotten

in the war between rival Muslim groups.

Speak peace to the Government and rebel forces.

Speak peace to the foreign soldiers

who want to come and fight in Syria.

Defuse the violence in angry hearts

with your gentle wisdom.

Dazzle those who live by the darkness of war

with the light of your truth and grace.

Bring an end to the shattering violence

and stir up the will for reconciliation and rebuilding.

We pray in the name of the one who came

to make peace by the blood of his cross,

our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Let us pray for the persecuted Christians of Iraq.

God of peace,

we cry out to you for the lives of our brothers and sisters,

the Christians of Iraq.

When they are urged to convert to Islam,

strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ,

whose Body they are, in their suffering.

When religious taxes are demanded of them,

provide for them from the abundance of your mercy.

When they are forced to flee for their lives,surround them with your strong presence

so that nothing in life or death

can separate them from your love.

Fill with your Holy Spirit

the churches, monasteries and homes

where they have prayed for so many generations,

as a witness for peace in midst of violent destruction.

Raise up advocates for Iraqi Christians,

both in Iraq and in the wider community of nations.

Find a path towards reconciliation for all the people of Iraq,

so that people of peace from every religious tradition

can work together in trust and respect

for the future of their country.

We make this prayer through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Israeli Palestinian Conflict

Like the rest of the world I have been looking upon the escalating conflict in the Gaza Strip with a great deal of concern.  War in any language is not so much an exertion of sovereign force, as it is an expression of social failure; a lesson that seems to have been long forgotten from the war that was supposed to end all wars!  Therefore, it troubles me deeply to read the polarized views, especially among Christians, about the Israeli Palestinian conflict on social media that seem to justify one cause over the other.

I don't pretend to understand the origins or complexities of the current crisis and I choose not to get into the history of this long standing conflict, not to remain ignorant, but as an attempt to remain impartial and indignant about war as a means to resolve any conflict by any nation. I do not want to allow the politics or ideology of one side or the other to distract me from the more fundamental issue of God's children - Jew and Arab - engaging in a conflict that has nothing to do with God's will or intended purpose for His most precious creation - human beings!  

Through Jesus Christ, God established a new kingdom order that redefined conflict by stating, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven"  (Matthew 5:43-45).

In Paul's letter to the Galatians he declares, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28).  While this was written for a different context, I believe it speaks a relevant truth into this conflict.

In Christ Jesus there is no such conflict!  In Christ Jesus there is no such division!  In Christ Jesus there is no such hatred!  The tragedy on both sides of this conflict is that they confess a faith that shares a common ancestry but devalues a common humanity!  They confess a faith that seeks to honour their god but dishonours God's people!  They confess a faith that calls upon a divine authority to justify a human agenda!  They seek to advance the fulfillment of a messianic prophesy but reject Christ Jesus as the promised and anticipated Messiah who has already come to restore kingdom order on earth...without taking up arms!

It seems to me that the elevation of one cause over the other misses the fact that the victory both sides ultimately struggle for has already been won through Jesus Christ by His death and resurrection.   To the Christian community, rather than seek to defend either cause, let us speak justification through Jesus Christ into this conflict instead of justification through war!

A Christmas Blessing

May the JOY proclaimed in the Angel’s song resound in your soul this Christmas Day.

May the PEACE experienced by Joseph & Mary still your mind this Christmas Day.

May the LOVE contained in the gift of the Christ Child envelop your heart this Christmas Day.

May the HOPE fulfilled in the promised Messiah prepare you to confidently embrace the opportunities of the New Year beyond this Christmas Day! 

Peace

“Loving God, compassionate and merciful,
We pray for every land, and for every daughter
And son of humankind, the right to life, liberty, and security of person;
Freedom from slavery and servitude;
Freedom from torture; freedom from cruel, inhuman,
Or degrading treatment or punishment.”

As we reflect back on the horrors of war, one can almost hear the echo of this prayer in the hearts of men and women, as they themselves went, and watched those whom they loved, march off to fight for such a dream.  It is ironic and tragic that so many had to die to achieve life, liberty and security of person.  Yet as we gather as a nation on ANZAC Day in remembrance and respect for those who fought and fell, there is a sense of pride for the courage and self-sacrifice of our countrymen and women who went to war.

The Salvation Army, like many other organisations, have long had an association with the military in their efforts for peace.  While reading a book published in 1919 called, “The Army that went with the Boys”, I found an article that was published in the Australian War Cry on the occasion of the signing of the Armistice, on November 11, 1918 written by General Bramwell Booth regarding ‘Peace’:

“The news of an Armistice - which, all can see, will lead to Peace - must fill with gratitude every lover of mankind.  No words of mine can adequately express the joy and praise which we The Salvation Army in every corner of the earth feel in the conclusion of the awful conflict of the last four years.  Dark clouds may still hang over the future, but today we can do nothing but thank God for peace.

The war is ending amid a general downfall of those who hoped to profit by it, and in a universal hatred, not of this country or that, not of this man or the other, but of war itself.  This is the hatred which is akin to righteousness.  It is a half-sister of love, and is manifestation of the spirit of Holiness.

It is not given to us to see into the future.  We know not whether the long hoped for day has dawned when wars shall be no more.  We cannot tell how far the reign of universal peace has really begun.  But we can see that a new and powerful spirit of aversion to the killing methods of settling disputes between peoples has taken possession of a large part of mankind.  Let us praise God for that!  Let us do what we can to instruct and deepen it.  Let us also value the glorious prospect of a new good-will among men, purchased for us at the cost of so much precious blood, and so infinite a sum of agony.

Let us remember, amid our rejoicings of today, the mourners.  The bells and music will be mingled in many hearts with the memory of dear voices now silent for ever.  They have lost that the world might gain - they have given freely that we might be spared.  May God comfort them - and let all who love Him share in the blessed work.

And now, my dear comrades..., need I remind you that in our war there is no Armistice - no cessation of hostilities?  The days of Peace will bring to us needs as great as the days of war.  Let us all in fuller measure give ourselves to God for bringing about a true reign of Righteousness in all lands, and amongst all peoples.  Forward with the Cross of Jesus!”

Well, many wars have passed since that celebration of peace, and many more men and women have died for the same cause.  But let us not forget the ultimate sacrifice of one man who died for the eternal peace of all humankind, Jesus Christ.  Jesus Himself says:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

As we look around us today we see a world of social, political and moral turmoil; a world without the peace that so many have died for.  Although we deeply respect the sacrifice of many, let us acknowledge the sacrifice of one - who alone can bring peace to this world.  Jesus came so that we may experience a life of fullness, hope and peace - He provided the way through His death on the cross, which we celebrated only a few weeks ago at Easter.  And by His resurrection we can experience victory over all that which is evil in this world.

One would hope that as a society who has experienced the atrocities of war, we would learn from the pain of the past and take hold of the hope of the future which is found in Christ.  In our pursuit of peace, may we embrace the words of the hymn, Peace, Perfect Peace:

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?

The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?

To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?

On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?

In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?

Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.

Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?

Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease,

And Jesus call us to heaven’s perfect peace.