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Civil Rights Justice Leader Speaks Out About War in Iraq

The Rev. James Lawson

(April 25, 2007, GBOD) -- "When we get the final guns and bombs silenced, the problems in Iraq will still be there. It will be a long battle ahead," says the Reverend Dr. James Lawson.

Lawson was speaking on "Imagination and Nonviolence" during the opening plenary session of the "Imagination and Peacebuilding" conference held in Nashville on April 11-12, 2007.

The event was cosponsored by The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) and the JUSTPEACE Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation, based in Washington, D.C.

"The national culture is shaped more by racism, violence, greed, economic exploitation, and white male privilege than by Jesus," Lawson said.

Lawson reminded the peace gathering that the gospel is about restoration and transformation. Paraphrasing 1 John chapters 3 and 4, Lawson told participants the text requires a radical rethinking of what faith is all about.

"Scripture is very clear about there being no neighbor anywhere in the world who is outside of the compassion of God," says Lawson.

"Love is more lasting eternally than a fist or bomb could ever be. Love requires using our minds and imagination.

"The Holy Spirit will use you in ways you never imagined — not by imitating evil — but by imitating the life and love of God," Lawson said.

He urged the group not to "react violently against the one who does evil, but instead to love your enemies."

"Creation is the gift of God for everyone. We want a Gospel of Jesus rather than a Gospel about Jesus." We are not called to "love those who love you, but to love those who hate you," he said.

Lawson shared stories about experiencing racism as a child growing up in Ohio, serving as a missionary in India, and working in the student movement in Nashville. He described how these experiences shaped his faith formation and how he continues to live out the social principles today.

Nashville Movement Changes Custom of Exclusion to Inclusion

"Racism and segregation were wrong and a contradiction to Jesus. We didn't know what we were doing," Lawson said when speaking about the civil rights struggle in Nashville. "We just knew something was wrong."

Lawson recalled when the first of the "Whites Only" and "Colored Only" signs came down and blacks were served in restaurants in Nashville.

"These actions predated similar actions in 25-40 cities across the U.S. where customs of exclusion began to change to a custom of inclusion.

It changed all of our lives and convinced me of the power of the Gospel of Jesus; not the Gospel about Jesus," said Lawson.

War in Iraq won't solve any problems

Lawson explained that "Iraq is but a symptom of that exclusion" witnessed during the Civil Rights Movement.

"Violence solves no problems. Violence merely postpones problems,” he said.

"When we get the final guns and bombs silenced, the problems in Iraq will still be there."

Lawson says it will be a long battle ahead because none of the issues faced by the people of Iraq will be solved.

"Iraq is an implacable critique of violence, hatred and revenge in all their forms — and in all the bloody ways they manifest," he said.

"In 1 Chronicles 22, David could not build the temple of the Lord because his hands were too bloody," he reminded the peace gathering.

Work of the Spirit Is Compassion

Lawson suggested that "nonviolence, imagination and creativity are the work of the Spirit. The work of the Spirit is not hatred or despising. The work of the Spirit is always compassion."

The civil rights activist also said "Christianity in the U.S. desperately needs reform and restructuring."

According to Lawson, "faith is not about Jesus is Lord. The Gospel of Jesus is about eternal creation."

He encouraged the participants to imagine a vision of truth, justice and beauty — a vision of the beloved community using God's love for creation, revealed through Jesus Christ, as a primary image and source.

"We have no idea what we may become. You have no idea of what your home place might become."

Nonviolent struggle and social movements connect the Spirit to movements and change.

"The cross does mean struggle, sacrifice and suffering. We have no idea what God has in store for us," he reminded the group.

"Be willing to follow the Spirit. If the Spirit was possessing in the U.S., then Congress would look more like Jesus.

There would be witnesses for peace and justice. We would have peace and justice in Iraq, Appalachia, the Delta and in urban areas of Chicago," he said.

JUSTPEACE Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation is a mission of The United Methodist Church to engage conflict constructively in ways that strive for justice, reconciliation, resource preservation and restoration of community in and through The United Methodist Church and with the Church universal to the world in which we live.

GBOD’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, call the Media Relations Office toll free at (877) 899-2780, ext. 7017.