2 of 2

Doss was more concerned with saving lives than with reconciling enemies, but his work illustrates that opposing violence is dangerous, not safe. The same can be said of the work of CPT's pacifists, Iraq's just-war proponents, and Reid's slow conversations with terrorists. Each approach can be misused or misconstrued as captive to a national or political ideology. But each can also reflect the sacrificial nature of Christ's reconciliation between God and his enemies.

Peace has often been defined by the absence of killing. Perhaps Christian peacemaking is more accurately reflected in the presence of dying, or at least in the willingness to do so.

Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

This column appeared in the magazine's May 2006 print issue as the twelfth entry of "Weblog in Print," CT's effort to duplicate on paper our popular online Weblog feature. Earlier entries include:

The Art of Abortion Politics | A unanimous Supreme Court decision opens the door to real change. (Feb. 20, 2006)

Time to Get Judicially Serious | Evangelicals and the possible Supreme Court Catholic majority. (Dec. 28, 2005)

The Katrina Quandary | America questions the role of Christian charity. (Oct. 20, 2005)

Abolishing Abstinence | Telling underage kids not to have sex is surprisingly controversial (Aug. 24, 2005)

Dirty Qur'ans, Dusty Bibles | If Leviticus or Jude suddenly disappeared from Scripture, would we notice? (June 20, 2005)

Who's Driving This Thing? | Everyone is asking who leads the evangelical movement. (Feb. 21, 2005)

Bad Believers, Non-Believers | Do religious labels really mean anything? (Oct. 19, 2004)

Pro-Abortion Madness | The abortion lobby has abandoned its rationales amid pro-life gains. (Aug. 17, 2004)

Grave Images | The photos from Abu Ghraib have reopened debate on the power of pictures.

Misfires in the Tolerance Wars | Separating church and state now means separating belief and action (Feb. 24, 2004)

first page |  2 of 2

share this page

May 2006, Vol. 50, No. 5