I was in Baghdad in March 2003, where I lived as a Christian and as a peacemaker during the "shock-and-awe" bombing. I spent time with families, volunteered in hospitals and learned to sing "Amazing Grace" in Arabic.
There is one image of the time in Baghdad that will never leave me. As the bombs fell from the sky and smoke filled the air, one of the doctors in the hospital held a little girl whose body was riddled with missile fragments. He threw his hands in the air and said, "This violence is for a world that has lost its imagination." Then he looked square into my eyes, with tears pouring from his, and said, "Has your country lost its imagination?"
That doctor's words haunt me.
Those words have inspired something that I hope will be wonderfully redemptive.
I am teaming up with Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream, and an all-star cast to create a little event to provoke the imagination on the eve of the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11. We've been calling it "Jesus, Bombs, and Ice Cream."
It will be a night of reconciliation and of grace.
A victim of 9/11 will share about why she has insisted that more violence will not cure the epidemic of hatred in the world.
A veteran from Iraq will speak about the collision he felt as a Christian trying to follow the nonviolent-enemy-love of Jesus on the cross while carrying a gun.
A welder will tie an AK-47 in a knot, while a muralist paints something beautiful on stage.
We're going to do a Skype call with Afghan youth working for peace, and hear their dreams for a world free of war and bombs and other ugly things.
I don't want to give the whole thing away, but I will say we've got the world's best juggler, Josh Horton, doing an original anti-violence routine. And we've got some of the finest musicians I know rocking out some old freedom songs.
Ben and I are sort of like the ringmasters of the circus. He'll do this spectacular demonstration with Oreos, with each one representing $10 billion of federal spending so we can see how the money stacks up with all these budget talks. I'll share about Jesus, and that grace that dulls even the sharpest sword.
We hope you can make it.
Oh, and word on the street is: ice cream will be served.
But even if you can't make it to Philly on Sept. 10 for our little party, find some way to do something that doesn't compute with the patterns of violence. Find a way to interrupt injustice and to build the kind of world we are proud to pass on to our kids -- a world with fewer bombs and more ice cream.
I hope to go back to Iraq in a year or two, find that doctor again and tell him: "We have not lost our imagination."
WATCH Ben Cohen's invitation:
Shane Claiborne: What Would Jesus Cut? Bread vs. Bombs
Jesus, Bombs, & Ice Cream - Circus- Eventbrite
What Would Jesus Cut? Who Would Jesus Bomb? - Shane Claiborne ...
Shane Claiborne: What Would Jesus Cut? Bread vs. Bombs
Ben & Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream
This quote obviously strikes the author profoundly, but it puzzles me. What does it mean? How does imagination prevent violence?
The best I can make of it is the doctor was saying, "We should be able to think up ("imagine") better ways to resolve conflicts". But then, the quote doesn't feel right. "Lost" implies a change, and it's not like we were any more non-violent in the past.
And thank you for your kind response from my last post. That really gave me hope for all of us.
But at the same time those on the Christian Left have to examine their opposition to war, and their true motivations in opposing it. Hundreds of thousands of people on the Left marched in the streets to protest President Bush's actions and motivations regarding Iraq, Gitmo and in general how he directed national security to prevent further attacks. President Obama has not changed anything, Gitmo is still open, violence in Iraq and Afghanistan are on the rise, but the streets are empty of protestors. Are the lives lost now okay because your guy is in office? My observation of my Christian brothers and sisters on the Left in this area is that you are all just as hypocritical as we were when President Bush was in office. I hope that whenever it is he leaves the White House you all will reflect back on this time and come to the same conclusion I did: We were wrong in blind allegiance to a leader that spoke our language, and from now on listen to what God has to say first before we listen to a fellow fallible human being.
In the meantime, we must unite because the American Church has failed our country and in a much larger way, the world itself. We must unite under Christ or be judged by Christ. There are no other
http://gbgm-umc.org/global_news/full_article.cfm?articleid=1405
As a Christian I will disagree and must speak out to anyone in leadership in America that continues this war. Total support and prayers for the soldiers and their families as well as all victims of this war.
history gives us example after example of wars for corp profits and to steal other nations resources which of course is a form of wealth generation for the few at the expense of the many. even the lives of the many.
When we examine history we see that royalty began when some tribal member was particularly successful in either defending tribal territory/resources or conquering other tribes' territory/resources. These people changed the process so that their descendants would inherit their position regardless of qualification. Europe now spends how much to maintain their royalty? What do they give back to the people other than a sense of connection to a more violent past. I'm not saying ignore your history, i'm hoping we grow beyond that stage.
We now see the rich people programming the poorer people into believing that wealth somehow confers greater wisdom, intellect, and ability. They are setting themselves up to become a defacto elite class, despite the undeniable fact that every cent of their wealth is made and dependent upon the working majority.
The best quote of the decade on faith goes to a comedian, Steve Colbert: “If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus is just as selfish as we are or we’ve got to acknowledge that he commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition. And then admit that we just don’t want to do it.”
means,but to me,it reminds me we are all sinners,none are good,or
deserving.We do have a watered down faith.The last,is Mr.Colbert,
I really dont like his style or comedy,but never have truer words
been spoken.
There was once a time long ago when people where GIVEN the name "Christian" by OTHERS because of the way they acted...they walked the walk.
Today, too many of us CALL OURSELVES "Christians" but don't act any differently (and sometimes worse).
The best way to influence others it by how we live. While I am no where near perfect, I don't want to walk around telling people I am a Christian...I'd rather them ask "what is up with that guy...reliable, honest, and optimistic." Then if they ask we tell them why.
I am sorry for your experience.
ripped off once in the last 25 years by a born again christian. he even called and threatened me on my answering machine when I asked for my money back in a nice way. he told so many lies it was hard to remember them all. he came with references, so much for references. ;-)
could be just one bad example but when I see those evangels and who they support for congress and president and their judgmentalism towards anyone not like them; me thinks there is more to this story of being a christian.
the christian deal is a good one. believe this and get a free trip to heaven and all suffering is over. beliefs are easy, changing one's level of consciousness development is a million times harder.
Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNYgwNYf6Ok
When others turn away from us when we make mistakes, God knows, God understands, that our mistakes do not define us. We make mistakes, but we can make it right again. We should make more of an effort to allow others to make it right with us as well.
Religion can sometimes blind people from the reality of another, be it family or friend...but, I honestly feel he is just trying to move on. He is young. He is learning. There is a part of him that knows you do count, very much so...
look deep the problem is not him but those that enable others in the name of goodness.
the best way to lose a friend or relative is to loan them money. your story is an all too common one.
if you wanted to help your step grandson then pay his way to college and buy him a car. loans to relatives are not loans they are give aways that creates hurt and separation within families.
o o
.<
\__/
It encourages those who tend towards widow burning, witch drowning, inquisitioning, hand-off-chopping, liberty-denying...
It's great that at least a few religious leaders are making an effort toward peace, however it's too bad that they cannot see that religion is the root cause of the problem to begin with.