Evangelicals for National Security Through International Cooperation
The Matthew 5.21-26 Project: Evangelicals for National Security through International Cooperation is an attempt by Evangelical and Pentecostal pastors, missionaries, scholars, and laity to encourage the United States government to engage in diplomacy to reduce the threat of nuclear war.
The scripture passage from which the project takes its name is Jesus' teaching to go quickly and talk with adversaries and make peace with them while there is still time. The project produced a statement based in an Evangelical approach to Christian faith and practice that was written and endorsed by prominent Evangelical and Pentecostal leaders throughout the world. The board of directors of the National Association of Evangelicals is considering adopting the statement to complement its statements against torture and in support of environmentalism.
The project presented their statement on October 11-12, 2007 at the Global Leaders Forum in Washington D.C., an event sponsored by Micah Challenge USA and the National Association of Evangelicals. The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, addressed the gathered evangelicals and encouraged their involvement in international cooperation.
Authors of the Statement
Glen Stassen, Lewis B. Smedes Professor of Christian Ethics, Fuller Theological Seminary
David Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics, Mercer University
Matt Hamsher, Doctoral student in Christian Ethics, Fuller Theological Seminary
Ron Sider, Professor of Theology and Culture and Director of the Sider Center on Ministry and Public Policy, Palmer Theological Seminary, Founder, Evangelicals for Social Action
Bishara Awad, President, Bethlehem Bible College
Michael Beals, Assistant Professor of Philosophical Theology and Christian Ethics, Vanguard University
William Epps, Senior Pastor, Second Baptist Church, Los Angeles, CA
David A. Hall, Pastor, Mason Temple COGIC, Memphis, TN; CEO, Church of God in Christ Publishing House
Nicolas Horn, Assoc. Professor of Human Rights and Law; Director, Human Rights and Documentation Centre, University of Namibia
Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor, Northland Church, Longwood, FL
Cheryl Bridges Johns, Professor of Christian Formation and Discipleship, Church of God Theological Seminary, Cleveland, TN
Juan Martinez, Director, Hispanic Church Studies, Fuller Theological Seminary
Jesse Miranda, Director, Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership, Vanguard University
Richard J. Mouw, President, Fuller Theological Seminary
Hendrik Shanazarian, former President, Presbyterian Church in Iran
Rich Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Affairs, National Association of Evangelicals (NAE)
James Skillen, President, Center for Public Justice, Washington, DC
J. Alfred Smith, Senior Pastor, Allen Temple Baptist Church, Oakland, CA
Tyler Wigg Stevenson, Co-Coordinator, National Religious Partnership on the Nuclear Weapons Danger
Nicholas Wolterstorff, Noah Porter Professor of Philosophical Theology, Yale University
Statement Summary 1. Introduction: As Bible-believing Christians, we recognize Christ’s lordship over all areas of life. The end of the Cold War, the rise of global]] terrorist networks, and the power of the United States, call for a renewed application of Jesus’ lordship and our own best moral convictions to meet the challenges of our time.
2. Jesus Christ Commands Us to Go, Make Peace with Our Adversary: Matthew 5:21-26 is a command, not an option; the apostle Paul followed it; so must we.
3. Jesus Christ is Lord Over Every Area of Life, in Our Relations with All the World: The sanctity of all human life created in the image of God includes all persons. The Holy Spirit empowers us to make our witness to even the remotest part of the earth. We must not reject the possibility of change for even the most determined adversary.
4. Overcoming the Nuclear Threat Requires International Cooperation: Our church experience of getting adversaries to talk together, as well as the historical examples of North Korea, Libya, Iran, and sixteen nations that were persuaded not to develop nuclear weapons, show the realism in our context of Jesus’ command to go talk with an adversary to make peace while there’s time.
5. Governments Need International Checks and Balances: Government is part of God’s good creation, but is also fallen and therefore in need of checks and balances, and respect for law. This applies also to governments that have the power to create enormous destruction. We are called to honor our elders, who saw the devastating destruction of World War II, and dedicated themselves to creating international networks so that the scourge of war might be prevented.
6. Nuclear Weapons are a Physical and Moral Threat that Need International Agreement: Nuclear weapons are a physical threat to the survival of human life on earth. They are also a grave moral threat. Prominent national security experts have recently called for reducing and abolishing reliance on nuclear weapons, by verifiable international agreement, in order to enhance national security. This cannot be accomplished unilaterally; it requires international cooperation and verification. How can Christians do less?
7. A Call for Action: In order to safeguard life, liberty, community, and security for its own citizens and for the world, the United States must demonstrate moral leadership in protecting the human rights of the most vulnerable, strengthening the rule of law in the international community, and seeking diplomatic negotiations with allies and enemies alike. Christians should pray for our leaders and leaders of other nations. We urge churches to teach members ethics for discernment, including just peacemaking practices based on the teachings of Jesus, so they are well prepared to meet today’s challenges in ways faithful to Christ. We urge church groups to consider engaging in interfaith dialogue and witness, and in building international partnership with fellow Christians around the world. We call for governmental action to oppose the rise in global terrorism by working for international justice and peacemaking. We call for verifiable international reduction of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. We affirm that overcoming the threat of global poverty, global warming, global terrorism, regional insecurity, and nuclear war requires international cooperation. We call for obedience to the Lordship of Christ in all that we do.