• Español
  • Historical Archives
  • Convention
  • Contact Us
Support the Ministry Give
Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA
  • About
    • What We Believe
      • Statements and Resolutions
      • Confession of Faith In a Mennonite Perspective
    • History
    • Find a Church
    • FAQ
      • FAQ about Mennonites
      • FAQ about MC USA
    • Executive Board Staff
    • Church Structure
      • Area Conferences
  • Ministry
    • Church Vitality
      • Women in Leadership
      • Church Planting
      • Wellbeing in Ministry
      • Ministerial Inquiry Form
    • Faith Formation
      • Children and Families
      • Faith Formation with Youth
      • Faith Formation with Adults
      • Christian Practices
      • Deep Faith Conference
    • Peacebuilding
      • Learn Pray Join
      • Israel/Palestine Initiatives
      • Undoing Racism
      • Undoing Sexism
    • The Corinthian Plan
      • Corinthian Plan Staff
      • History of the Corinthian Plan
      • Why Mutual Aid Matters
      • Corinthian Plan Subsidies
      • Wellness Incentives
  • Agencies
    • Everence
    • Mennonite Education Agency
    • Mennonite Mission Network
    • MennoMedia
    • Mennonite Health Services Alliance
  • Resources
  • Events
  • News & Media
    • News & Media
    • MenoTicias
    • Publications and Newsletters
  • Blog
Mennonite Church USA Mennonite Church USA
  • About
    • What We Believe
      • Statements and Resolutions
      • Confession of Faith In a Mennonite Perspective
    • History
    • Find a Church
    • FAQ
      • FAQ about Mennonites
      • FAQ about MC USA
    • Executive Board Staff
    • Church Structure
      • Area Conferences
  • Ministry
    • Church Vitality
      • Women in Leadership
      • Church Planting
      • Wellbeing in Ministry
      • Ministerial Inquiry Form
    • Faith Formation
      • Children and Families
      • Faith Formation with Youth
      • Faith Formation with Adults
      • Christian Practices
      • Deep Faith Conference
    • Peacebuilding
      • Learn Pray Join
      • Israel/Palestine Initiatives
      • Undoing Racism
      • Undoing Sexism
    • The Corinthian Plan
      • Corinthian Plan Staff
      • History of the Corinthian Plan
      • Why Mutual Aid Matters
      • Corinthian Plan Subsidies
      • Wellness Incentives
  • Agencies
    • Everence
    • Mennonite Education Agency
    • Mennonite Mission Network
    • MennoMedia
    • Mennonite Health Services Alliance
  • Resources
  • Events
  • News & Media
    • News & Media
    • MenoTicias
    • Publications and Newsletters
  • Blog
Home / cost of war / What is the answer to those concerned about war?
Jan 13 2020

What is the answer to those concerned about war?

Glen Guyton is the executive director of Mennonite Church USA.

 

My 18-year-old son texted me and asked if I had been watching the latest Twitter trend. I told him no, that I would check it out, and then I saw #WWIII was trending. Wow! After a bit of scrolling, I saw that the Twitterverse was all ablaze, which wasn’t unusual, but I could sense that this topic was different from the usual angst or Kimye* trivia.

After my son got off work, he insisted that we watch NBC nightly news with Lester Holt so we could see what people were saying about a possible war with Iran.

“Wow ya’ll are really concerned about what is going to happen.” I said.

“Yeah, everyone is talking about it,” he said solemnly.

You know, sometimes I think these Generation Z kids are both weird and well-informed. They express a deeper level of concern than I did at the same age. My biggest concern as an 18-year-old high school student was clearing my schedule to watch who was then an icon of family values and fatherhood, Bill Cosby on The Cosby Show.

Yeah, the level of awareness in 2020 is much different than it was 1988. My generation grew-up after Vietnam, before 9/11 and before Desert Storm. Us Gen Xers were in this sweet spot of MTV, excess and the rise of the United States as the world’s military superpower. In the 80’s the U.S. was pretty much seen as invincible.

As I sat and talked to my son about the execution of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani and the possible repercussion, I understood the depth of concern that he and other young people in the 18 to35-year-old age bracket carried. They grew up after the tower fell, the financial system collapsed, and “America’s dad” is now a convicted sexual predator.

These are the questions from my son and young people online:
Are we going to war? Will I be drafted? Are they drafting women now? Will there be another 9/11? Where will Iran attack? Am I safe?

This conversation wasn’t the first time my son and I had talked about war and the military. After all, both his mother and I are Air Force veterans. We have had conversations about why my faith led me to leave the military, my work with peace and the repercussions of war. I think the media had given him, like many young people, somewhat of a romanticized view of military life and what it means to be an American patriot.

Endless war has been somewhat normalized, and patriotism has become synonymous with unquestioned support of the military, thanks to the NFL and most other sports activities. Drone warfare has made killing another human being as dispassionate as leveling up your character in an online game of Fortnite.

Having had two brothers and a grandfather serve in warzones, I tried to paint a more realistic picture of what it means to serve. I don’t think he heard or appreciated my voice until #WWIII began to trend on Twitter. He was quick to point out his appreciation for his connection to Mennonite Church USA and our Anabaptist peace witness.

Mennonite Church USA, now is the time for us to speak, as our young people have questions, concerns and fears.

“He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord,”’ as the prophet Isaiah said” (John 1:23 NRSV).

One of the good things that happened at the 2015 MC USA convention held in Kansas City, Missouri, was the Faithful Witness Amid Endless War Resolution, which in my opinion, is a strong articulation of who God has called us to be as Anabaptist Christians:

We remain committed as a church to the belief that participation in war is contrary to the will of God. Yet as we live in the environment described above, we experience uncertainty about how to make our belief relevant to neighbors and friends and part of the “good news” we have found in Jesus Christ. When our young men were being drafted into the military, our belief translated into a specific witness within our context. Now, we need renewed understanding of how to live out the “new creation” that is in Christ Jesus (2 Cor. 5:17).

We need to be ready to answer our neighbors and our children when they have questions about what is next as the threat of war looms over our head.

“Jesus said to him, ’I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 NRSV).

We also need to be mindful of our privilege that as Americans, save for 9/11, we have not had to bear the burden of results of war on our home soil. Many people across the globe, including other Christians, face the threat of war and violence often funded by the relative prosperity and safety that many enjoy as Americans.

Now is prime time for MC USA to passionately live into our call as a peace church. Now is the time for us to spread the good news, to respond to our call.

The voice of our children calling out to us looking for answers are the calls to which we need to respond.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid” (John 14:27 NRSV).

I pray that all members and organizations will find ways to live into our peace witness as we enter into the time of uncertainty in 2020. May we not get distracted.

 

Ways that you can act and #BringthePeace:

  • Donate to our Peace Witness efforts.

  • Educate yourself with MC USA resources.

  • Serve with MC USA’s mission agency, Mennonite Mission Network.

  • Prayerfully consider filing as a conscientious objector.

  • Support our Church Peace Tax Fund.

  • Contact your government officials.

 

*Kimye: (Proper noun) slang referring to the celebrity couple Kim Kardashian and Kanye West


  • Posted in cost of war, Glen's Blog, Menno Snapshots
  • Tagged Anabaptist peace witness, BRINGTHEPEACE, Cost of War, Gen X, Generation Z, Glen Guyton, Iran, Jesus Christ, Kansas City 2015, military, new creation, peace witness, privilege, The Faithful Witness Amid Endless War Resolution, WWIII
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr
  • Pinterest
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-Mail
Official comments policy for users of Mennonite Church USA’s websites and other social networking tools. We reserve the right to remove any comment that violates this policy.
  • The purpose of comments is to engage in constructive dialogue.
  • Please provide your own full name.
  • Be respectful. If you’re offering criticism, focus on others’ ideas — not their motives, person, character or faith. Consider the log in your own eye before pressing ‘Enter.’
Comments are moderated. Comments with any content that is deemed obscene, libelous, defamatory or hateful toward an individual or group will not be approved. Comments will remain open for 10 days.
    --
Política de comentarios oficiales para los usuarios de los sitios en Internet y otras herramientas de redes sociales pertenecientes a la Iglesia Menonita de EE.UU. Nos reservamos el derecho de eliminar cualquier comentario que viola esta política.
  • El propósito de los comentarios es entablar el diálogo constructivo.
  • Por favor brinde su propio nombre completo.
  • Sea respetuoso. Si ofrece críticas, enfóquese en las ideas del otro, no en sus motivos, su persona, su carácter o su fe. Considere la viga en su propio ojo antes de apretar ‘Intro’
Los comentarios son analizados. Aquellos comentarios que contengan contenido que se considere obsceno, calumnioso, difamatorio u odioso hacia algún individuo o grupo no será aprobado. Los comentarios permanecerán abiertos por 10 días.

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore categories

Search

3145 Benham Ave. Suite 1
Elkhart, IN 46517

718 N. Main St.
Newton, KS 67114
Phone: (866) 866-2872
  • News & Media
  • Español
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Us
  • Convention
  • Resources
  • Give
  • Staff
  • Employment
©2020 Mennonite Church USA   |   Subscribe to PeaceMail to receive news and blogs compiled into one weekly email.   SUBSCRIBE