Biblical Study of the Declaration

INTRODUCTION: Be prepared to give account of your faith: 1 Peter 3:14-15, Acts 4:7-8

The first point is the foundation for everything

1. As followers of Jesus, Son of God, who we recognize as sovereign Lord, we affirm our biblical and historical conviction that the way of peace is active nonviolence and love of neighbor, especially for the disabled, marginalized, poor and our enemies.

   Commentary
   

   1. Following Jesus as Lord
      • Germany and the Confessing Church in the 30s and 40s. There is only one Lord Jesus. The state, the Nazi party, and Hitler are not Lord.
      • Jesus as Lord- Acts 4:7, 12:26-27, 5:29
      • Are there other Lords? Micah 4:5, Psalms 50:1, 95:3
      • There is competition among powers for our loyalty- Psalms 97:7, Is 42:17
      • Christ above the powers- Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 2:15

   2. Way of Peace- Christ is our peace
      • With his death Christ brought peace- Ephesians 2:16
      • When we were enemies, God made peace- Romans 5:10

   3. The poor
      • Answer to John the Baptist, the sign of the Kingdom of God- Mathew 11:5
      • Psalms 146:7-9
      • Psalms 82:3-4: imperitive

2. We will not take sides with armed solutions in the search for peace. We consider the effort of the State and illegal armed groups to force the entire population to take sides in the armed conflict to be a false alternative. Both use the same logic of arms and violence.

   Commentary
   

   • Neither one armed side nor the other side- Joshua 5:13-15 the earth is consecrated for life
   • The Lord loathes the violent- Psalms 11:5
   • Non-neutrality: God takes the side of the needy- Psalms 10:14, 10:17-18

3. We are opposed to participating in armed groups and paying to for others to participate. We are opposed to the militarization of the economy and we advocate for everyone the right to conscientious objection to all armed service.

   Commentary
   

   • The Son of Man came to serve- Mark 10:45
   • Love above all- Romans 13:8-10

4. We believe that peace is everyone's business. Therefore we will continue searching for peace with justice for everyone, advancing conversations and constructive actions with whichever armed groups are willing to consider negotiated and nonviolent solutions to the nation's problems and move toward reconciliation.

   Commentary
   

   • If your brother sins, speak with him- Matthew 18:15
   • Do what you can to live in peace- Romans 12:18
   • Agents of reconciliation- II Corinthians 5:20

5. We encourage the government, the armed groups, and the media to put aside their warlike attitude and embark on conversations and actions of peace by making substantial and fundamental concessions in order to build a new nation with clear guarantees for human dignity and social and legal justice which includes housing, employment, land, security, education, health care, and democratic liberties.

   Commentary
   

   • Construction of a nation where everyone may enjoy peace- Micah 4:1-5, Isaiah 65:20

6. We call on the international community and especially to the United States to stop their contribution in the form of finances, arms, and training for the war in Colombia. We ask them instead to contribute to the well being of the world by approving and supporting the International Criminal Court.

   Commentary
   

   • Rectitude for the nations- Isaiah 60:17, Micah 4:3

7. We invite the peace and nonviolence movements of Colombia to put aside their divisions and assume a more proactive role for peace in our country.

CONCLUSION:

• Psalms 85:8-9
• Zephaniah 3:17
• Haggai 2:4
• Zechariah 2:8-9