The Vicar Writes
March 2010
Learning from Mistakes
Dear Friends,
The good news of the Christian Faith is that we are not irretrievably condemned by or errors and failings. Since the fall of Adam and Eve from grace and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden to a life of hard work and pain, it has become obvious to the faithful that a loving God can't stop giving his children a second chance. With the life and suffering of Christ, it became even clearer just how intense and unfailing this divine love is. There is always hope of forgiveness where repentance is heart-felt and sincere, where there is a true desire to learn from mistakes, change erroneous ways and live in a more Christ-like way.
The Big Read
To lead a life that is more rather than less Christ-like it is necessary to become familiar with the accounts of Christ's life as presented in the gospels. Being disciples of Christ is about immersing ourselves in the Gospels and working out what Christ's love and example means for us in each new day, in each new situation.
I am delighted by how many of us are taking part in the Big Read this Lent: we have record numbers in the home groups! Together, then, we are exploring Luke's account of the gospel - with the help of Bishop Tom's book - in the hope that we will be strengthened in our faith and encouraged in our discipleship. The more we remind ourselves of the Good News at the heart of our faith, the better it is for us and those around us. For example, the more we realise that we are forgiven, the more likely it is that we will forgive others, despite that being incredibly difficult on occasions. The good news is that we are all given the opportunity to learn from mistakes.
The Chilcott Enquiry
Presumably it is the hope of learning from mistakes that justifies the effort and cost of the Chilcott enquiry into the decision to join the Americans in a war on Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Were mistakes made from which, as a nation, we have lessons to learn? Did this Christian nation behave in a Christ-like way in the actions of its leaders?
I thought I would look back to see what I had written and said at the time the possibility of war was being debated. Here are extracts from my article in the Parish Magazine of March 2003:
When should Jaw-Jaw give in to War-War?
It was Winston Churchill in Washington in 1954 who said "To jaw-jaw is better than to war-war."
At the time of writing America and Britain are preparing for a war with Saddam Hussein. Some of our European allies are counselling patience, arguing that more time should be given for weapons inspections and diplomatic endeavours. Also, six million people have just marched for peace in different parts of the world. In addition to this, there have been no shortage of church leaders, including the new Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope, who have said that they do not feel a war with Iraq at this juncture would be justified. What are we to think? What are we to pray?
Well, a conflict with Iraq is being contemplated because its president is seen by some to be a threat to global peace. It is claimed that he is hiding weapons of mass destruction and that he will be prepared to use them to destabilise not only the Middle East but the whole world.
In response to this, there will be those people who consider that war is never justified. Those who take such a pacifist stance in the face of the potential for the reality of aggression could be thought to be acting in accordance with Christ's teaching that we should turn the other cheek. Perhaps they are right, but the Church has taught for centuries that in certain circumstances war can be justified.
At a basic level, the theory of just war is that we live in an imperfect world in which, on occasions, only evil options are available to us. If one is in a situation in which one has the option to choose between right and wrong there is no dilemma, one should simply do what is right. But, it is argued, in some situations there is only the choice between wrong and wrong. So, in such a situation, one has to opt for the lesser of the two evils.
Just think about the Second World War, for example... That
All of this is worth reflecting on as we consider the present situation surrounding Iraq. Is Saddam Hussein really a threat to regional and global peace and stability? If some world leaders, on the basis of secret intelligence, are convinced that he is, is war justified? Or should jaw-jaw continue until he has managed to build up his arsenal and thousands of innocent lives have been lost? Then again, perhaps in the age of the United Nations war is only ever justified when there is general agreement for it within the Security Council?
The detailed criteria by which the Church regards a war as morally justifiable are important for Christians. I can't explore them in detail here, but after emphasising the evil nature of war, I would suggest that they encourage national leaders to ask at least three questions:
i. Is the perceived threat really more evil than war? ii. Is more jaw-jaw unlikely to remove that evil (and thereby could it inadvertently help to increase and sustain it)? iii. Does war have a good chance of removing the evil?
In the case of Iraq, it is difficult for us to begin to come to conclusions...
The point here is that ultimately we are at the mercy of our national leaders. Yes, it is right for Church leaders to counsel caution and to encourage national leaders to opt for those things that make for peace. But once they have convinced the politicians of the criteria by which such decisions can be made they have no choice but to leave the decision to them...
It is difficult for us to know whether declaring war on Iraq at the moment would be justified or not. We do not have all the information. Like each of us, I have my own private views, I have a hunch of what might be right, but that is only a partially-informed private hunch. I, like all of us, though, have a responsibility to pray for the Prime Minister, the American president and other world leaders, including Saddam Hussein, that they may be blessed with wisdom and a sincere love of peace.
We can also pray that if war with Iraq is judged to be a necessary evil, someone will be able to stand in the House of Commons and repeat the words spoken there by Winston Churchill on 3rd September 1939,
"In this solemn hour it is a consolation to recall and to dwell upon our repeated efforts for peace."
I guess the Chilcott Enquiry, in part, is attempting to discover whether such a statement could be made in relation to Iraq: time, we hope, will tell. The good news and the imperative of the Christian Gospel is that we can and should learn from mistakes.
At a time when we are expecting a general election to be called, this need to learn also reminds us of our need to pray for our political leaders. It also reminds us of the awesome responsibility we have in choosing those who are then endowed with great power.
Give Lent a Chance: it's not too late
How is Lent going? Are you still keeping the discipline that you set yourself? Remember, don't let your failings condemn you; just learn from them and try again!
I am delighted by the number of people who are taking part in Lent groups in the parish this year: over seventy! This is twenty more than last year and a huge encouragement. In addition, there are others who are using Bishop Tom's guide to St. Luke's Gospel privately at home.
Do take advantage of the opportunity that Lent gives to get more in touch with both God and yourself: see last month's Parish Magazine or a weekly Pew Sheet for details of what is on offer in the Parish. It's still not too late to start!
With my very best wishes for a happy and fruitful Lent
John