"...Not Confused with Passivism"

We just got word that Kristin Ventola, a member of our church, made it safely into Israel. She will be there, along with 14 others, for two weeks as part of a Christian Peacemaker Team (CPT) delegation. CPT is not a learning group, they are sent to global hot spots and trained for non-violent direct action in war torn areas. Motivated by the way of Jesus, they are willing to give their lives for justice and peace, but unwilling to take any lives.

When asked why she wants to go to a conflict zone? She writes:

Pacifism is not to be confused with passivism. Pacifism is an action taken to create peace through non-violence, civil disobedience and civil initiative. Too often individuals think pacifism is inaction, apathy, or only prayer. We must look to the examples of Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King Jr., the Berrigan Brothers & Archbishop Romero, among many others, in order to understand the depth of pacifism. As Gandhi said, “We need to be the change we want to see in the world.”

Last Sunday we had a service of prayer and sending for Kristin. I regard her as a prophet in our midst. Like all prophets, they agitate, disrupt, and offend our sensibilities. And like ancient Israel, our faithfulness as the people of God depends on our ability to welcome them.