We join the nation in soberly and prayerfully supporting the decision of President George W. Bush to begin military action against the Taliban government of Afghanistan. This is not an action that the United States sought out, but one in which we must respond.
Make no mistake about it, there is nothing glorious about war. Nevertheless, there are those moments, as President Bush has pointed out, when civilized people must confront "the outlaws and killers of innocents." In this instance, overcoming evil with good will take force—even deadly force.
It needs to be restated that America did not seek out this war. This war was engaged on September 11 when men with evil intents and demonic resolve murdered innocent men, women, and children in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. We have now been forced to enter the field of battle once again on behalf of peace-loving people—Muslims, Christians and Jews—and we have acted with diligence, patience, and wisdom.
President Bush has wisely stated that this war on terrorism is not with the Afghan people, Arabs, or Islam. He and his team resisted immediate bombings on September 12, making diplomatic options available to Afghanistan’s Taliban regime to avoid war. They refused. Further, the United States is dropping food and medicine upon the starving poor of Afghanistan, many of whom are refugees of fanatical Taliban policies. This is the right thing to do.
These will be trying times for our denomination. Jim Winkler, general secretary of the United Methodist Board of Church and Society, has stated that "as a denomination, we’ve said that we oppose violent retribution even in the midst of this horrible suffering and violence that has been inflicted upon our nation." He urged the U.S. to cooperate with "international institutions of justice to bring those responsible to justice."
The above statement about opposing "violent retribution" may give off the impression that United Methodism is no different in its theological views on the issue of war and peace than the Quakers or other historically recognized "peace" churches. Surely this is not that case.
Our Social Principles of the United Methodist Church make clear that "most Christians regretfully realize that, when peaceful alternatives have failed, the force of arms may be preferable to unchecked aggression, tyranny and genocide" (¶164, Article G). We agree.
The leaders of our denomination need to think carefully about their response to President Bush’s military action. We also caution United Methodist leaders from attempting to give rationalizations about why this great evil was enacted upon the United States.
"Let those who say that we must understand the reasons for terrorism come with me to the thousands of funerals we are having in New York City and explain those insane, maniacal reasons to the children who will grow up without fathers and mothers, to the parents who have had their children ripped from them for no reason at all," said Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, in a speech to the United Nations.
He went on to say, and we agree, that, "There is no excuse for mass murder, just as there is no excuse for genocide. Those who practice terrorism—murdering or victimizing innocent civilians—lose any right to have their cause understood by decent people and lawful nations."
The great Christian thinker Reinhold Niebuhr once observed: "Whenever the actual historical situation sharpens the issue, the debate whether the Christian Church is, or ought to be, pacifist is carried on with fresh vigor both inside and outside the Christian community."
Although we respect the convictions and views of pacifists within United Methodism—including many denominational leaders—we do not share their view. Instead, we agree with St. Paul who taught that the governing authorities have reason to "bear the sword" and that they are "an agent of wrath to bring punishment" to those who do evil. Furthermore, we believe that loving the neighbor—a commandment from Jesus—sometimes involves using military force for reasons of defending the defenseless, protecting the innocent, and promoting justice. These types of arguments have been made by theologians such as Aquinas, Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and Reinhold Niebuhr.
It was Paul Ramsey, United Methodism’s most profound moral theologian, who said that "forces should be repelled and the bearers and close cooperators in military force should be directly repressed, by violent means if necessary, lest many more of God’s little ones should be irresponsibly forsaken and lest they suffer more harm than need be."
In accordance with historic just war teaching, we believe that the United States has a just cause and right intentions: to bring a just peace to Afghanistan, destroy the scourge of terrorism, and punish evil doers. Furthermore, we believe that the good produced from victory will be greater than the evil that would be suffered if nothing were done. As British Prime Minister Tony Blair put it, whatever the risks of war, "The dangers of inaction are far, far greater."
Our nation is at war. That is never an easy task to swallow and should not be entered into lightly. The United States, however, has been put into an unavoidable position of fighting a war against terrorism. We are not seeking riches. We are not seeking land. We are seeking justice and our men and women of the military will be fighting so that our children can live without the threat of terror.
May God grant our leaders wisdom. May our brave men and women act with valor, bravery, and honor. May God watch over our friends and allies in this international battle against evil. May he protect the innocent and may justice come to those who wage war on humanity.
Good News – 10/10/01