As Baghdad becomes the focus of a fierce war that is gathering momentum every day, many around the world are fearing the worst. Just in the last few days, American and British troops have experienced serious setbacks, and unexpected casualties and deaths. Even President Bush looked unusually grave as he warned the nation (on March 23) that "this is just the beginning of a tough fight."

But fear is the worst emotion we can give into at this time, for it is the greatest divider. Fear divides people from one another, and from God. It paralyzes people and drives them over the edge. But fear doesn't have to do all these things. It can also drive us to each other in the certainty that we can do something about this war. And I am not talking about peace marches...

I have great respect for every person who has recently attended a vigil, protest march, or peace rally. I myself have participated in dozens over the last four decades. But I am also concerned about the tensions, the divisiveness, and even open violence that is sometimes a part of these gatherings.

Yes, war is wrong; yes, killing is wrong. I will never waver from that. At the crucifixion of Jesus, after one of his disciples struck off the ear of a soldier, Jesus told him to put away his weapon, saying, "He that takes the sword shall perish by the sword." Jesus was clearly no advocate of armed force. But neither did he condemn those who used it -- even against him. On the contrary, he prayed for them, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

How timely Christ's words are for us who claim to follow him! He spoke them as a sinless man. What about us, who contribute to war in so many ways, every day of our lives -- with our greed and materialism, our backbiting and gossip, our unfaithfulness and family feuds, our arrogance, our general selfishness and our disregard for others? How do we stand before God, we who stand on the sidelines and condemn those who have planned this war, and those who are now fighting it?

The war in Iraq calls each of us who oppose it to make a choice. We can criticize the White House and the Pentagon. We can antagonize those we disagree with. We can rub salt into the wounds of families who have lost loved ones (or who fear losing them). We can look on soldiers and sailors and airmen as evil-doers.

Or we can show them love, as we have never shown love before. We can listen to those who are angry with us. We can encourage those who are hurt or bitter. We can take time for the children around us. Many of them will go to bed tonight with the images of a war that is thousands of miles away, but still scares and confuses them. And we can support the troops on both sides of the battle by praying for their safe return, and for a speedy end to hostilities.

By "supporting the troops" I am not talking about waving flags, or calling them home and hoping they'll get over their nightmares. (As someone who has counseled veterans of every major war in the last century, including both World Wars, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and Gulf War I, I have learned that no soldier ever "gets over" a war.) I am talking about recognizing them for what they really are: the beloved parents, spouses, children, brothers, and sisters of families no different from yours and mine. Regardless of the choices they once made, which have since landed them in the Iraqi desert, they are now cogs in a huge machine. They are leaves in a massive whirlpool of violence that began turning with Cain and Abel, and has never stopped since.

Who will support these men and women once the last shot has been fired, and they start showing up in AA meetings and emergency rooms, psych wards and funeral homes? At the moment, there's plenty of talk about heroism and sacrifice, God and country. But what's going to happen once the war is over, and everyone has moved on to the next big thing on the screen? Who's going to be there for "our boys in the Gulf" when they start turning their weapons on themselves?

The time is past when one can simply be "for" or "against" war. And as this particular one rages on, each of us has surely felt drawn into it somehow. Only a heart of stone could stand aside. In my church community (the Bruderhof), we have been drawn into it through prayer. Senseless as all this violence is, we believe that God must have some reason for allowing it to happen. And so, just as we pray for peace, we pray for his will to be done as well -- even as it remains a mystery to us.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus said, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God." He also said that though his harvest is great, the workers are few. As the war in Iraq continues, let us remember his words -- and let us be worthy peacemakers worthy of his blessing. As we continue to work for end to the violence, let us (to quote Gandhi), be the change that we wish to see in the world. Let us not condemn any man or woman, or say or do anything that spreads division or fear. Let us rather do what we can to sow seeds of peace.

This article was written by the author of:

Seeking Peace: Notes and Conversations Along the Way
by Johann Christoph Arnold.

Copyright 2003 Bruderhof Communities. Used with permission.

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About the Author

Johann Christoph Arnold is an author of ten books, a family counselor, and a senior minister with the Bruderhof Communities (http://www.bruderhof.com). Read more of his articles and books at http://ChristophArnold.com.