CPTnet
Thursday 17 February 2005
IRAQ INVITATION TO PRAYER AND FASTING: 22 February
2005, Using the Whole Armor of God
An Invitation to Prayer
We Christian Peacemaker Team members in Baghdad, Iraq
invite you to join us every Tuesday for a day of
prayer, fasting and action that will continue until
Easter week. Participate as you are led either by
fasting (the team will do a bread and water fast)
and/or participating in a time of joint prayer. At
9am Eastern Standard Time (1400GMT) on Tuesdays the
team will gather for an hour of prayer. Please note
the Action Steps connected with the week's sacred
passage. If you are so led, we ask that you take the
suggested action between Tuesday and Thursday so that
we can work together.
Website for posting now available
CPT in Iraq has begun a web log found at
http://prayerandactionforiraq.blogspot.com. We
encourage you to post insights that have come to your
during your times of prayer and action.
To post a comment on our web log:
1) Scroll to the bottom of the posting you wish to
comment on.
2) Click on the place that shows the number of
comments made on the posting.
3) Scroll to the bottom of that page and click on
"Post a comment."
Tuesday 22 February 2005: Using the Whole Armor of God
Ephesians 6: 10-18a: Finally, be strong in the Lord
and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole
armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not
against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic
powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take
up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to
withstand on that evil day.... Stand therefore, and
fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on
the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your
feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim
the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the
shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench
all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the
helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all
times in every prayer and supplication. NRSV
Our governments claim that they can root out evil with
overpowering force. People and nations have attempted
to deal with their enemies in similar ways throughout
history, but violence has continued the cycle of
violence.
We understand that struggles against evil are not
against flesh and blood (particular persons or
regimes) but against systems of domination and evil
forces. Theologians including Walter Wink have helped
us understand that often people struggle against evil
forces by using the same violent tools as those
forces. By using those tools of violence, however,
people become more like the forces they are working
against. In contrast, Paul urged the Ephesians to
proclaim the gospel of peace and use spiritual weapons
including the powers of the truth, righteousness,
faith, salvation, steadfastness and prayer.
This armor of God named in the book of Ephesians has
never been more relevant than in today's struggles.
Followers of Jesus must not shrink back from
proclaiming the way of Jesus in word and action.
Action Suggestions
1. In prayer, seek the spiritual weapons listed in
Ephesians for your work for justice and peace. Make
them a part of your way of dealing with conflicts on all levels.
2. Study and affirm, with other Christians, Jesus' way of peace.
3. Visit other congregations and dialogue with leaders
and members about the way of nonviolent, suffering love.
4. Invite your congregation to join "Every Church a
Peace Church." Contact John Stoner at guest.40096@MennoLink.org
5. Proclaim peace in public witness actions calling
for different ways to deal with terrorism or world
conflict. Find ways of using the weapons of the Spirit
to confront the systems of domination.
Examples:
a. Street dramatizations of the truth about a devastated Fallujah. b.
Pray-ins at Weapons facilities or offices where decisions about spending
money for war are made or carried out.
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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.
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