Documents | Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

The War in Iraq: Is it Too Late?

I have just returned from a European tour one day before the U.S. declared war on Iraq. Ironically, I had been invited to lecture in Russia, Bulgaria and Romania on religious freedom and security issues. During my tour, questions about America’s decision to go to war were frequently raised. I don’t remember meeting one person who was in favor of the war. This, however, is a positive sign, for it is better to see thousands of people demonstrating for peace than the opposite.

I do not complain at all when I see huge crowds filling squares and streets for peace in Germany. The Germans should be congratulated for defending peace. The difference of perception between the USA and the population in the whole world is enormous. For those living outside the USA, the war is unnecessary, dangerous, divisive, and immoral. The leaders of mainline churches and the Pope share this view—they have issued statements and letters.

I was asked very directly by someone, “What are you doing at the General Conference?” “Why have you not published any condemnation of the coming attack?”*

Upon my return to the U.S., I discovered a different picture. Some of the people I spoke with are not convinced the war is necessary, but they trust their President. Of course some disagreed—a minority. Why did the church not officially oppose the politics of war to disarm the Iraqi regime?

The answer is simple—we are not involved in politics. But is this answer really enough? What about the values we promote like peace, justice, and love? Have we forgotten them?

Not at all! I opened the book “Statements, Guidelines and Other Documents”, published by the General Conference in June 2000, and turned to the Table of Contents. Let me quote some abstracts:

Perhaps this is the answer to the question I was asked in Europe: “While peace cannot be found in official church pronouncements, the authentic Christian church is to work for peace…”

It is so obvious, so evident, that we work for or stand for peace that we don’t feel the need to justify ourselves. It is also true that we don’t have a tradition of publishing statements like other churches. We are a small minority, our voice may not make a difference, but our actions in favor of peace can.

During my visit to Russia, Romania, and Bulgaria I saw Adventists leading meetings on religious freedom with the Orthodox, Protestants, Catholics, Muslims and Jews … Opening dialogue with majority and minority religions and with the authorities—a wonderful example of how to work for peace.

“War is the result of sin”. To use a more religious phraseology: “Satan delights in war… It is his object to incite nations to war against one another.” (ibid.) There is no good war, there is no just war. I don’t understand why some of the main churches say that the first Gulf War was a “just war” but this one is not. On spiritual grounds, there is no just war. A “just war” means that you, as Disciples of Christ, justify war. There is no just war, as there is no just adultery or just crime.

Now the war has begun, we must pray for peace.

We must pray for the victims and their families on both sides. We have to be ready to help all those who will suffer, without any distinction. “The church has consistently refused,” according to our statement on Kosovo, (idem. P. 45) “to be involved in political issues,” and by extension “it rejects the use of violence as a method of conflict resolution, be it ethnic cleansing or bombing.” (p.45)

The war on Iraq will not be the last one. Unfortunately! As Adventists, we must do our best to be bridge-builders and peacemakers. That is what Jesus asked us to be! We know that He is the one who will bring Eternal Peace.

It is never too late to be peacemakers, before the war, during the war, or after the war.

John Graz, Director
PARL
2003

*http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/02/1048194052/index.html.en