Peace and justice are both in the Bible, and local pastors appreciate the struggle to bring them into balance.
It’s especially challenging in light of President George W. Bush’s “48 hours” announcement Monday and the impending war with Iraq.
“It certainly is a complex issue,” said Pastor Jonathan Heierman of Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church of Clarkston.
Heierman believes everyone is in agreement that atrocities committed by Saddam Hussein “are unacceptable.” That’s not the main issue, however.
“The question is on the response,” Heierman said. “As people of faith, we are called to pray for peace.”
While some denominations have issued official position statements, individuals within local congregations have a variety of viewpoints, leading ministers to temper their own views with a need to be sensitive and respectful to those who may disagree.
“We probably have all sorts of opinions in our church,” said Pastor Greg Henneman of Clarkston Community Church, where at least two families have close relatives in military service.
While he struggles with the pros and cons of going into Iraq, he said, “I believe in the just war theory.”
While Christ’s teaching of “turning the other cheek” is to be taken seriously, Henneman noted passages such as Romans 13, which talks of God using governments as instruments of justice.
“We should not be angry, vengeful people,” Henneman said, but absolute pacifism can also be a problem. “I wouldn’t want to live in a country where there are no policemen. Sometimes a government has to go to war in the name of justice.”
Even before President Bush’s comments Monday, Pastor Russ Reetsma of First Baptist Church of Clarkston believed war is inevitable.
“I think it will happen,” he said. “They’re not going to bring 250,000 troops over there and not do anything.”
Reetsma is not as concerned as some about the limited public information concerning Iraq’s threat to United States interests: “I think [the government] knows a lot that we don’t know. I don’t think the government is obligated to tell us everything they know. They’re acting on information they have.”
While Heierman respects those who support military action, he does not hesitate to question the apparent move toward war.
“There’s a lot of questions that relate to the consequences,” he said. “Will it really solve the problem? I am deeply troubled by the prospect of war in this context.”
Calvary Evangelical recently conducted a prayer vigil for the overseas situation, and Heierman said it included participants on both sides of the issue.
Henneman is among those who say the term “both sides” may even be unfair. “Even at absolute last resort, we should go to war grudgingly, even sadly.”
Prayer is the answer, pastors say, for both peace in the world and in people’s hearts. While concerned about armed conflict, Heierman said peace is not simply an abstract concept.
“The kind of peace we would pray for would certainly include features of justice,” he said, and that must be accompanied by “prayer of safety and support” for those in military service.
Henneman agreed that some anti-war protesters may be guilty of taking the simplistic path, not recognizing the plight of oppressed people in other areas of the world.
“People are usually down on what they’re not up on,” he said. Clarkston Community has several prayer ministries, and he has encouraged his people to keep the Iraq situation on the prayer list.
“Seek the Lord,” said Reetsma to people who have fears about war. “Examine your relationship with God and put your trust in Him. Pray for our leaders so they may have wisdom.”
Regardless of the practical solution, a number of pastors agree that there is a common problem.
“We live in a fallen world,” said Heierman.
“The reason we have war is man’s selfish heart, and the answer we have is Jesus,” said Reetsma. “If we live as He would want us to, what a better world this would be.”