CPTnet
10 February 2005
IRAQ INVITATION TO PRAYER AND FASTING: 15 February
2005, A Force More Powerful
We on the Christian Peacemaker Team in Iraq invite you
to join with us every Tuesday for a day of prayer and
fasting that will continue until Easter week. At 9am
Eastern Standard Time (1400GMT) on Tuesdays we will
gather for an hour of focused prayer. You are invited
to participate as you are led either by fasting (the
team will do a bread and water fast) and/or
participating with us in a time of prayer. We will
also provide action suggestions connected with the
sacred passage that will be the focus for our prayer
together. If you are so led, please participate in the
suggested actions between Tuesday and Thursday so we
can work together. We have created a web page where
people can post reflections that occur during their
time of prayer. You will find a link to the website at
the end of the release.
15 February 2005, A Force More Powerful
"Requite evil with good, and he who is your enemy will
become your dearest friend. But none will attain this
attribute except those who patiently endure." (Qur'an
41:34)
"Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." (Luke 6:27-28)
_________
In his State of the Union speech on February 2, 2005,
George Bush said that "the only force powerful enough
to stop the rise of tyranny and terror, and replace
hatred with hope, is the force of human freedom."
And, According to his actions, it is acceptable to use
violent force, even war, in order to promote human freedom.
What about Christianity's message?
According to Jesus of Nazareth, the only force able to
end tyranny and terror and replace hatred with hope is
the force of agape, or self-sacrificing love. "Love
your enemy, do good to those who hate you. Pray for
those who persecute you."
How could a stance of radical nonviolent love form
concrete international policies?
How could it respond to external and internal sources
of tyranny and terror?
__________
ACTIONS:
1) Check out the book "A Force More Powerful," by
Peter Ackerman and Jack Duvall,
for a history of successful 20th-century nonviolent movements.
2) Write a letter to the editor of your local
newspaper, describing your thoughts and feelings about
the U.S. administration's (or your government's
participation in the U.S. administration's) approach
to foreign policy. Suggest alternatives.
http://prayerandactionforiraq.blogspot.com.
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Christian Peacemaker Teams is an initiative of the
historic peace churches (Mennonites, Church of the
Brethren, and Quakers) with support and membership
from a range of Catholic and Protestant denominations.
Supporting violence-reduction efforts around the world
is its mandate. Contact CPT, POB 6508 Chicago, IL
60680; Telephone: 773-277-0253 Fax: 773-277-0291;
e-mail: peacemakers@cpt.org.
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