Speech of Ian Ernest

Introduction -

 

Thank you for inviting me to participate in this Forum which seek to create a reflective understanding on how we are to address the world issues which we encounter today. We are here as we are all seriously concerned on how to bring about a spirit of hope out of the hopelessness that seems to be looming over our heads.

 

 This 21st Century has seen the growth of mass attacks and terrorism but we can no longer afford to put in peril the lives of innocent people. This observation calls on me and I hope on you too, to urge men and women of goodwill to be committed to an active role of peace making. 

 

Friends, I wish here to quote John Stott who in the book “Issues facing Christians today” affirms that “Peace making is a divine activity.” As many of us, irrespective of our religious persuasions, claim to be children of God, it would be good for us to seize the wonderful opportunity that this conference is offering us, to engage in peace-making as it will help us to bear witness to a God from whom peace overflows.

 

Peace-making is the way by which we can fight for the Truth, the truth that comes from God. As I am asked to speak about “Religions and Resistance to Evil, I will argue that the way that leads us to situations of Freedom and Justice, will only come if we strive to be witnesses and instruments of Peace. But we have a price to pay as it calls us to be worthy of a cause: that of judiciously witnessing to the Truth which invites us to constantly commit ourselves to be humble, patient and not to use force whether verbal or physical against anyone.

 

But before proceeding further on these lines of thought, I wish to look at the definition of these two important words “Religions and Resistance to evil.”.

 

 Religion as from my understanding consists of a set of beliefs, a form of worship, ritual, prayer and a code of moral behaviour which allows us to develop a true faith in God. 

 

  Resistance to Evil can be defined as an opposition to the demands of human thoughts and ways which do not correspond to God’s requirements.

 

These two definitions bring water to my mill as they assist me in showing the power we have today as we wish to witness to the truth of our Peace-making God.

 

What God requires of all of us is to walk humbly with him. If we like people to be kind, merciful and compassionate towards us, it would be appropriate to do the same. It is only then that we can love peace and do justice. This perfect response to the appeal from a making God is of universal application, relevant to any nation in any century.

 

 

Our priority as believers who trust in a peacemaking God is to show by our deeds and life that justice, compassion and religious practice are not mere concepts and ideals. Mahatma Gandhi who followed the call of Jesus to be a peace maker provided a program of action in favour of Nation/Muslim Unity, for the removal of untouchability, for gender equality and the Khadi movement to create jobs and as a relief program for the poor masses in Indian villages.

 

 To resist evil, the power of love and of being a peacemaker

Enable us to control our feelings and urge on us to choose what kind of life we want to live in this world.

 

But it rather unfortunate that we are part of a generation that lays more emphasis on rights rather than on duties.

A few decades ago, we were taught that we should act with a spirit of respect and accountability. Today we are obsessed with personal enrichment even if it entails our encroaching upon the rights of others and discriminating against them.

 

Friends how to resist this situation where evil ways and thoughts seem to win the day?

 

 It is true that all religions claim that the pathway to follow is the one which leads to respect and recognise the other as a child of God. It is only then that peace and justice may prevail but they seem to always elude us at world level: the frequent terrorist attacks, persecutions on religious grounds, the cruel displacement of people. We are unfortunately still locked in hatred and mistrust.

 

As conflict rages in an increasingly frantic world, the quest for inner peace seems ever more urgent. The rise of interest in spirituality attests to this strong desire for inner calm and harmony. So, we religious leaders are called to revise our teaching methods so that it suits the challenges and needs of this postmodern and highly technological world. Because of that longing for peace, we have the fertile soil to sow seeds that will enable us to be instruments of peace, justice and love. We will then be instrumental in helping this present generation to see itself as builders of a world which can resist evil thoughts and ways. 

In the Old Testament, we note that Prophet Micah describes in a wonderful way images of peace and this awakens in me a strong desire for peaceful coexistence. We are called from the Scriptures to envision a future with God teaching us what he wants us to do and wher everty one will live in peace with each other.

 

This is what the Prophet says: -

“He has showed you, O Man, what is good.

What the Lord requires of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

And to walk humbly with your God.”

 

With the long history of violent opposition to Peace and Justice which unfortunately is still prevailing in some parts of the world, the term “Peace-maker" calls on us to “be a witness of a Peace-making God.” Therefore, Peace-making is an imperative for us believers. So, it our role as the stakeholders of our respective religions and nations to know the way and go towards it. The life example of religious leaders is to be sustained faithfully if we wish to be listened to. If leadership, whether it be religious or any other, is not exercised through service, then power corrupts. A leader who does not serve cannot sow seeds of peace, justice and resist evil ways and thoughts.  

 

Today, our experience of peace-making as religious bodies can be a challenging route to take. We may face fierce opposition with the consequence of alienation. But as we live through this experience, service is to be the most striking signs of religious life.

Service has been the key note of a great peace and non-violence activist, namely, Pastor Martin Luther King, this is what he says: -

“If any of you are around when I die and if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell him not to talk too long. Tell him not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize, this is not important. I would like somebody to mention on that day that Martin Luther King tried to give in life serving others.”

 

So, dear friends, to resist evil, we are all invited, irrespective of our religious belonging, to serve others without counting the costs. 

 

Because we live in challenging times where we see that our world is in danger. Our communities and the wider world seem to be divided as never before. Today the worst enemies we have are lies, rumours, self-centredness, pride, hard-heartedness and fearfulness. Our faith at times may seem too little.

 

What should we do? 

 

As from now, as people longing for Peace in the world, we are to set an example as a community of Peace. The call of God to us is not only to preach peace and to make peace but to embody it, if we as believers in God are to resist evil.

 

This is what we are called to do if we wish to give to the word Religion a human and a compassionate face and let our respective religious institutions reveal the face and the hands of a Peace-making God.

 

Thanking you for your kind attention.