Tag Archives: peace

Christian Peacemaking Teams: An alternative to joining the military

Posted by Caleb Coy on

Christian Peacemaking Teams: An alternative to joining the military

Are you a Christian who has been offered a deal to join the military in your country?

One of the alternatives that exists is Christian Peacemaking Teams (CPT), an organization that calls for active, non-violent peacemaking action.

Among the work done by CPT are peaceful demonstrations, inter-army dialogues, supporting communities whose existence is in danger, and training for people in violent zones in alternatives to warfare as a way of solving problems.
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The Big V: The Memorial that Heals

Posted by Caleb Coy on


You probably know this is a photo of “the wall,” the most famous section of the Viet Nam war memorial in DC. It was designed by Maya Lin, a Chinese American architect. The purpose of the design was to create the image (when seen from above) of a giant wound, not a sign of victory, but a sign of hurt, of pain. Many people objected to this “non-triumphant” design, as well as the idea of an Asian designing it  (even though Lin was Chinese and not Viet Namese, and by heritage only, having no prior allegiances to another nation). I can’t think of a more appropriate way to go about it.
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“An open letter to American Christians, especially the shepherds of our flocks, regarding pacifism and just war: A plea for peace and understanding” by Jeremy Marshall

Posted by Caleb Coy on

From the post:
“My invitation to you, my brothers and sisters who would one day beat your swords into ploughshares (but not just yet) is simply this: at least be more welcoming to peaceful peasants such as I am, who have welcomed God’s kingdom into our lives by laying down our sword and shield (perhaps preemptively) by the riverside to study war no more. We are doing no harm to you. Further, I would challenge you to consider what it is worth making your ploughshares into swords and your gardening tools into spears over.”

via An open letter to American Christians, especially the shepherds of our flocks, regarding pacifism and just war: A plea for peace and understanding.

A Farewell to Gun Memes: “Swords–>Plows” Means Something

Posted by Caleb Coy on

Stop posting stupid memes.  Especially ones about guns.

I’ve previously established the need for Christians to actually make alive the kind of kingdom that beats swords into ploughshares.  This is what Isaiah prophesied (2:3-4),  and which Micah prophesied (4:3).

Think about what this means: Taking swords and beating them into scythes, taking spears and beating them into pruning hooks.
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Swords into Ploughshares: Voluntary Disarmament in the Kingdom

Posted by Caleb Coy on

So I think now is the time to talk about guns.  Now that all the fuss has died down.

I get it: Letting a flooded market of guns just saturate our culture so that people will be too afraid to shoot each other instead of anxious to shoot each other  is naive.

I get it: Trying to ban all guns will just take guns away from law-abiding citizens and keep them in the hands of law-breakers and a sporadically tyrannical government, which makes it also naive.
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All Veterans of All Wars From All Countries Are Welcome at the Table

Posted by Caleb Coy on

“When the war ended, I don’t know if I was more relieved that we’d won or that I didn’t have to go back. Passchendaele was a disastrous battle – thousands and thousands of young lives were lost. It makes me angry. Earlier this year, I went back to Ypres to shake the hand of Herr Kuentz, Germany’s only surviving veteran from the war. It was emotional. He is 107. We’ve had 87 years to think what war is. To me, it’s a licence to go out and murder. Why should the British government call me up and take me out to a battlefield to shoot a man I never knew, whose language I couldn’t speak? All those lives lost for a war finished over a table. Now what is the sense in that?”
-Harry Patch, the last surviving veteran of WWI, who passed away in 2009

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Electing Faithfulness Part 5: Swords<Ploughshares and The Golden Rule for Nations

Posted by Caleb Coy on

[back to part 4: Economy]

“Swords Into Ploughshares: The Golden Rule for Nations”
or
“Bring the Boys Back Home” (if you really want to honor them)
or
“Can Rambo turn the other cheek?”

Ron Paul has an appropriate understanding of U.S. foreign policy, U.S. defense, and involvement in the Middle-East—far more appropriate than either of the candidates.

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_A Faith Not Worth Fighting For_ Review: A Closure of Thoughts

Posted by Caleb Coy on


“You can kill us, but you cannot hurt us.” -Justin Martyr
“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”-Tertullian
*Matthew 5:9; 5:38-45; 26:52; Luke 6:27-28; Romans 12:14; 12:17-21; 1 Cor. 4:12; 1 Peter 3:9; and Revelation 12:11

Having finished the book A Faith Not Worth Fighting For, I have one wish, that it was instead called A Faith Worth Not Fighting For.  I think that phrase is more positive and more accurately reflects the essays within.  The Christian faith is something I will fight for in my heart and in the endeavors of my faith, not with weapons, but with the piercing sword of the spirit that gives new life.  Here the authors explain why they chose the title they did, which I think is justified.
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