Introduction
Justice and Peace are related subjects in the quest for promoting human development at all levels of social life. All over the world, these two elements exist side by side in ensuring sustainable development. Justice and peace go hand in hand, and for peace to happen, justice must prevail in the end. Justice and peace are the fundamental foundations of the search for a prosperous society.
Justice and Peace
encourages individual and collective action by citizens as actors in society or
for the promotion of peace and justice in the world. It seeks to strengthen
citizen responsibility and participation, both locally and globally
vision.
1. Mission
as a Quest for Justice and Peace:
1.1. Justice
Throughout
the ages, the church has been known for its care for the poor and marginalized,
and this has always been seen as part of the church's missionary outreach. In
the New Testament, Paul calls on Christians from all parts of the Mediterranean
world to contribute to the welfare of poor from all parts of the Mediterranean
world to contribute to the welfare of poor Christians in the Jerusalem church
(Rom 16:24-28; 1 Cor 16:1: Gal 2:10); Christiana within the Roman Empire
distinguished themselves in caring for the sick during a number of plagues that
took the lives of significant portions of the population in the second and
third centuries; monasteries came to be known as places of welcome and refuge
during the disastrous migrations of the fifth, sixth and seventh centuries;
Christians such as Elizabeth of Hungary, Elizabeth of Portugal, Margaret of
Scots, Francis of Assisi, John of God and John Woolman have witnessed to the
inseparable connection between love of God and love of neighbor in Christian
life.[1] In
addition the churches today recognize that if they are to preach and work for
justice is practiced and clearly visible.
First,
then, the church today is called to participate in that aspect of God's mission
that speaks to and for the poor and marginalized in the world. Throughout
history, the powerful have tried time and time again to prey on God for their
own unjust purposes, but the prophetic tradition in the religion of Israel has
prevented this at every turn. When Israel was oppressed by Egypt, God came to
its rescue with “strong pressed the poor of the land, God spoke powerful words
of condemnation through the prophet Amos (Amos 2;6-8) ; when God’s people were
in exile, God spoke words of comfort and hope through the prophets we call
Second and Third Isaiah.[2]
Second,
the justice mission of the church is one of the empowerment. This does not
mean, it is important to say, that the more powerful church shares its power
with those who have little or none; that would be more paternalism and merely
patronizing. Rather, empowerment, as we understand it here, means the ministry
of conscientization, of assisting people toward self- awareness of their own
power, subjectivity, strengths and capabilities. Ultimately this mean that the
goal of the church’s commitment of justice is not to remain a spokesperson for
the poor and marginalized, But study in their own culture, traditions and
people so that they can find their voice and speak.
Third,
the church is called to be with the poor through the possibility of solidarity
and practice, which has come to be called "The First Choice of the
Poor" says that it is "a contemplation of the world in which the
Church lives and works", not "a particular doctrine of faith and
belief". Ensuring that important commitments are made to the poor and the
poor. Without such intentional commitment, it is easy for the church to
overlook or ignore the plight of the poor, who are so often unheard and
invisible. Such a church affirmative action plan ensures that those who need it
most receive the attention they deserve.[3]
1.2. Peace
The
church’s mission of justice is intrinsically linked to its mission of
cultivating and preserving peace among the peoples and nations in the world.
Today, with the continued proliferation of nuclear weapons, not only among the
world’s major powers, but also among medium powers like India, France, Pakistan
and Israel, global war in itself is an unthinkable injustice because it would
mean the death of tens of millions of people and the destruction of the
environment in ways we can hardly imagine.
The
first thing the church can do to promote peace is to help the people of the
world make "decisions" and establish "necessary laws".
Sharon, peace is a holy dream (Isaiah 2:2-5, 9:5-6, 48:18, Ez. 37:26, Rev. 21).
Jesus himself was a man of peace (Mt. 5:21-26/ 38:-38, 26-52) and the reign of
God that he preached was the fulfillment of Israel’s eschatological hopes for
peace (Lk. 4:18-19, Mt. 11:2-6, Is. 60, 1-11).[4] The
church can support the efforts of its prophets for peace. Christian develop and
participate in education programs that will form their conscience to be more
sensitive to issues of violence, war and peace.
Struggle for Fellowship
and Peace with Justice
Participation
in the struggles and suffering of people in pain builds a fellowship of
resistance and peace. God summons every human being to be the brother/ sister
of others. Mission amidst people in pain is not means to foster and to create
enmity, but fellowship and peace among communities and nations. A struggle to
reach justice and freedom that is based on hatred, anger and jealousy is not
Mission in Christ’s way.
Peace
and fellowship can’t happen without justices neither can justice be realized
without peace and fellowship. Security and peace cannot be realized when people
still have to struggle to meet their basic needs. The New Testament Epistle of
James believers who extend well wishes and greetings to the hungry naked
without giving food and cloths (James 2:14-17). Security and peace cannot be
separated from the effort to meet the basic need of people in pain.
Peace and fellowship
aren’t created without an effort to meet people’s basic needs. In other word,
peace and fellowship can’t be created without the creation of a social system
that ensures social, economic, political and culture justice. [5]
Conclusion
Justice
and peace are related subjects in the quest for promoting human development at
all levels of societal life. Just as the main factors needed for development
and sustainability, justice and peace are essential foundations in the search
for a prosperous society. All over the world, these two elements exist side by
side in ensuring sustainable development. Justice and peace cannot be
understood in a completely individualistic way.
Justice and peace go hand in hand, and for peace to be lived absolutely, there must be an ultimate display of justice. Just as the main factors needed for development and sustainability, justice and peace are essential foundations in the search for a prosperous society. This means that justice and peace are important concepts and virtues for the progress of all societies.
Bibliography
Bevans, Stephen B. and Roger P. Schoeder. Constants in Context: A Theology of Mission for Today. Bangalore: Claretian Publications, 2005.
Widyatmadja, Josep P. Re-routing Mission: Towards a People’s
Concept of Mission and Diakonia. Tiruvalla: CSS Books, 2004.
[1]
Stephen B. Bevans and Roger P. Schoeder, Constants
in Context: A Theology of Misssion for Today (Bangalore: Claretian
Publications,2005), 369.
[2]
Stephen B. Bevans and Roger P. Schoeder, Constants
in Context: A Theology of Misssion for Today..., 370.
[3]
Stephen B. Bevans and Roger P. Schoeder, Constants
in Context: A Theology of Misssion for Today…, 371-372.
[4]
Stephen B. Bevans and Roger P. Schoeder, Constants
in Context: A Theology of Misssion for Today…, 373-374.
[5] Josep
P. Widyatmadja, Re-routing Mission:
Towards a People’s Concept of Mission and Diakonia (Tiruvalla: CSS Books,
2004), 88-89
0 Comments