Texas CLC highlights justice & religious liberty as faith anchors
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___Justice, religious liberty and God's faithfulness are "faith anchors" that can sustain believers through terrorist attacks and national crises, according to the 2001 report of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission.
___The commission will present its report to the annual session of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Oct. 29-30 in Dallas. The Christian Life Commission is the moral concerns and public policy agency of the BGCT.
___In the Old Testament, "justice" refers to "God's manner of doing things," the report states. It includes God's way of bringing balance and harmony to the universe, God's advocacy for the disenfranchised, and God's work in resisting and restraining those who oppress the weak.
___"Over and over, Scripture affirms that justice is the habit of God to remember those whom the world has forgotten, to champion those who have no champion, to advocate for those whose circumstances in life make them vulnerable," the report states.
___Biblical justice--particularly as seen in the example of Jesus--is different than vengeance because it is redemptive in nature, seeking to turn the oppressor toward God, according to the commission report.
___"Vengeance is about payback, but the judging side of justice is about restoring the ways of God. The perpetrators of injustice may so resist justice that they incur their own destruction, but this tragic outcome is far from God's intention," the report states.
___"As we seek justice in the wake of terrorism, we can lay claim to no other justice than that which is revealed in Scripture and embodied in Jesus."
___According to the "just war" tradition, warfare may be in the interest of justice when it is less evil than allowing threats to be realized or allowing oppressive systems to continue. The criteria for waging just war include legitimate authority, a just cause, peace as the ultimate goal and probable success. The motivation must not be hatred or revenge, and war must be seen as the last resort.
___Just war criteria include the matter of means, as well as ends. The means must be discriminating, so that more harm is not inflicted than prevented and so that the innocent are protected. They also must respect provisions of international law.
___The CLC report compares the current war on terrorism to a police action rather than a traditional war.
___"The enemy is not a nation, but a network of violent, religious extremists. ... Even though military operations are currently focused on a nation, the goal of these operations is to facilitate finding terrorists rather than to control territory or resources," the report states.
___The report offers cautionary notes about motive and means, even when the cause is just.
___"In the midst of raw emotions and deep grief, it is easy to mistake vengeance for justice. In the heat of battle, it may be tempting to resort to the terrorists' mentality and tactics," it states.
___"As we struggle to bring justice to those who oppress the world with terrorism, let us pray for the insight, wisdom and courage to pursue the fullness of God's justice, which in Scripture is repeatedly expressed in the pursuit of justice for the widow, orphan and stranger."
___The commission report goes on to say, "It is critical for us to remain focused on justice work for the disenfranchised even as we seek justice against the terrorists."
___Christians also should cling to religious liberty as a faith anchor in times of turmoil and terror, it adds. Because of their historic role in securing guarantees of religious liberty in the United States, Baptists in particular should stand up for the freedom of all people to practice their faith, the report notes.
___"Baptists should hold on to the anchor of religious liberty especially in the face of terrorism because religious liberty names an important way we are different from the terrorists. We champion a free society in which people are free to believe, to disbelieve and to act accordingly. The terrorists champion a society in which their particular form of religious belief is coerced and strictly enforced."
___While religious liberty can be "messy" and produce some "negative fruits," the answer is not to limit freedom to practice faith, the commission report asserts.
___"We should vigilantly protect everyone's freedom, foster mutual respect and understanding between religious groups and guard against every form of religiously motivated bigotry. We should resist all attempts to equate Islam with terrorism, befriend Muslims in our communities and effectively protect Muslims and their places of worship from violence," the report states.
___Christians must guard against allowing anxiety and fear to rob them of the assurance of God's presence and faithfulness, the report concludes.
___"God is faithful to give us courage even though we are plagued by fear. God is faithful to move us on even though we are slowed by anxiety. ... God is faithful to give us hope even though we cannot see through the darkness."
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The Baptist Standard
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