Christian Peacemaker Teams
Several years ago, I had a life changing experience. Briefly, this was the realization that Christianity at its core might little or nothing to do with what I think and know, but how I might live daily in the way of Jesus, whose way was most clearly illustrated in his sermon on the mount and at then at the cross.
This is over simplified, but not insignificant. The more I have considered what this could mean for me, the more I have realized that I might give up trying to live as a Christian. I have always been poor at demonstrating devotion to God, and the people who seem most Christian/devoted often seem devoted to a concept of God that does not square with the way of Jesus. I believe Christian fellowship is meant for all of us to be honest and admit that sometimes we do wrestle with this. I must be careful, but in honesty, also confess that the version of Christianity which is now dominant makes this fellowship difficult. I believe that the way of salvation involves seeking the way cross, laying down my selfish goals for the hope, peace and love of the kingdom eternal which was founded upon a suffering cross. I know that I fail at this miserably. Yet each time I gather hope that the visibly Christian and devoted souls will offer either some advice or at least some encouraging confession that they too see this as their eternal hope, and like me find themselves struggling, I instead get becomes a theological arguments from people for why I do not have to follow the way of the cross, they say Christ already paid for my sin,and Christ died so that I do not have to concern myself with God's judgment. All this adds up to be a larger discouragement when those who carry the flag of Christ most prominently carry no concern for the way of Christ.
I met a man, who has been a secret hero of mine. His name is Jim Fitz. He is a member of something called the Christian Peacemaker Teams. Jim and his team go to the places of the world that are center points of suffering and oppression. They go there out of the belief that this is what God has done at the cross. They leave their place of safety and power, and they go to live among the oppressed as servants. They go to places like Palestine, El Salvador, Columbia, and to Iraq. Places where our Christian society, and our Christian politicians have elected to use power and violence as a hope for some accomplishing some type of goal. Jim's teams go to these places knowing the dangers and holding the hope that following the way of the cross, even against rationality will in the end be a way of joining in the victory of God's Kingdom.
Four members of Jim's team were abducted in Iraq on November 26. The abducting group has stated plans to execute these people who came to bring peace and speak out against the very oppression which caused the hatred violence of the kidnappers.
It is hard to think that I could be called a Christian or Christ-like when I am compared with Jim and his teammates. I sit in my wealth and safety. I do a lot of things that have to do with being Christian culture, but very little that has to do with following Christ. I go to church most Sundays, and even put some money in the offering plate, but that is not sacrifice! In fact I think that sometimes the church I give money to sometimes preaches against the very ideas necessary for one decide to join with Jim in following the way of the cross is the way of the Christian. Yet, I am still more or less silent and I do little or nothing to change this situation. Lord help me!
The following is a letter from Jim Fitz:
The people who are holding our teammates have reset the deadline for a response as Dec. 10.
Please continue to pray, thanks , and peace,
Jim
IRAQ - An appeal from the CPT Team
Dec. 6, 2005
[The following appeal was just broadcast on Al-Jazeera television and has
been distributed to other Arabic and English media]
We are very concerned about our friends. We would very much like to know
that they are in good condition.
It is our most sincere wish that you will immediately release them unharmed.
While we believe the action of kidnapping is wrong, we do not condemn you as
people. We recognize the humanity in each person, and respect it very much.
This includes you, our colleagues, and all people.
We believe there needs to be a force that counters all the resentment, the
fear, the intimidation felt by the Iraqi people. We are trying to be that
force: to speak for justice, to advocate for the human rights of Iraqis, to
look at an Iraqi face and say: my brother, my sister,
Perhaps you are men who only want to raise the issue of illegal detention.
We don't know what you may have endured.
As you can see by the statements of support from our friends in Iraq and all
over the world, we work for those who are oppressed.
We also condemn our own governments for their actions in Iraq.
Please, we appeal to your humanity to show mercy on our brothers and let
them come back safely to us to continue our work.
May God spare our friends, and all the people of Iraq any further suffering.
CPT Iraq team in Baghdad
--
"Let us not be disheartened, as though
human realities made impossible the
accomplishments of God's plans"
-Oscar Romero
Jim Fitz
815-646-4672
www.plowcreek.org/jimspeacemaking.htm
This is over simplified, but not insignificant. The more I have considered what this could mean for me, the more I have realized that I might give up trying to live as a Christian. I have always been poor at demonstrating devotion to God, and the people who seem most Christian/devoted often seem devoted to a concept of God that does not square with the way of Jesus. I believe Christian fellowship is meant for all of us to be honest and admit that sometimes we do wrestle with this. I must be careful, but in honesty, also confess that the version of Christianity which is now dominant makes this fellowship difficult. I believe that the way of salvation involves seeking the way cross, laying down my selfish goals for the hope, peace and love of the kingdom eternal which was founded upon a suffering cross. I know that I fail at this miserably. Yet each time I gather hope that the visibly Christian and devoted souls will offer either some advice or at least some encouraging confession that they too see this as their eternal hope, and like me find themselves struggling, I instead get becomes a theological arguments from people for why I do not have to follow the way of the cross, they say Christ already paid for my sin,and Christ died so that I do not have to concern myself with God's judgment. All this adds up to be a larger discouragement when those who carry the flag of Christ most prominently carry no concern for the way of Christ.
I met a man, who has been a secret hero of mine. His name is Jim Fitz. He is a member of something called the Christian Peacemaker Teams. Jim and his team go to the places of the world that are center points of suffering and oppression. They go there out of the belief that this is what God has done at the cross. They leave their place of safety and power, and they go to live among the oppressed as servants. They go to places like Palestine, El Salvador, Columbia, and to Iraq. Places where our Christian society, and our Christian politicians have elected to use power and violence as a hope for some accomplishing some type of goal. Jim's teams go to these places knowing the dangers and holding the hope that following the way of the cross, even against rationality will in the end be a way of joining in the victory of God's Kingdom.
Four members of Jim's team were abducted in Iraq on November 26. The abducting group has stated plans to execute these people who came to bring peace and speak out against the very oppression which caused the hatred violence of the kidnappers.
It is hard to think that I could be called a Christian or Christ-like when I am compared with Jim and his teammates. I sit in my wealth and safety. I do a lot of things that have to do with being Christian culture, but very little that has to do with following Christ. I go to church most Sundays, and even put some money in the offering plate, but that is not sacrifice! In fact I think that sometimes the church I give money to sometimes preaches against the very ideas necessary for one decide to join with Jim in following the way of the cross is the way of the Christian. Yet, I am still more or less silent and I do little or nothing to change this situation. Lord help me!
The following is a letter from Jim Fitz:
The people who are holding our teammates have reset the deadline for a response as Dec. 10.
Please continue to pray, thanks , and peace,
Jim
IRAQ - An appeal from the CPT Team
Dec. 6, 2005
[The following appeal was just broadcast on Al-Jazeera television and has
been distributed to other Arabic and English media]
We are very concerned about our friends. We would very much like to know
that they are in good condition.
It is our most sincere wish that you will immediately release them unharmed.
While we believe the action of kidnapping is wrong, we do not condemn you as
people. We recognize the humanity in each person, and respect it very much.
This includes you, our colleagues, and all people.
We believe there needs to be a force that counters all the resentment, the
fear, the intimidation felt by the Iraqi people. We are trying to be that
force: to speak for justice, to advocate for the human rights of Iraqis, to
look at an Iraqi face and say: my brother, my sister,
Perhaps you are men who only want to raise the issue of illegal detention.
We don't know what you may have endured.
As you can see by the statements of support from our friends in Iraq and all
over the world, we work for those who are oppressed.
We also condemn our own governments for their actions in Iraq.
Please, we appeal to your humanity to show mercy on our brothers and let
them come back safely to us to continue our work.
May God spare our friends, and all the people of Iraq any further suffering.
CPT Iraq team in Baghdad
--
"Let us not be disheartened, as though
human realities made impossible the
accomplishments of God's plans"
-Oscar Romero
Jim Fitz
815-646-4672
www.plowcreek.org/jimspeacemaking.htm
posted by Post_Fidelitas at 12:14 PM
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