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Choosing Against War: A Christian View. John D. Roth. (Good Books, 2002, 206 pp.) (Review by Helen L. Lapp)
In the author's words from the Introduction: "A life lived in dependence on God offers no predictable outcomes or guarantees of physical safety" so this book will not argue that pacifism always 'works.'
In chapter four Roth calls for pacifism expressed out of Christian humility "which begins with a positive assertion: We are children of God, made in God's image, created for Shalom. As God's own creation we have an inherent dignity and status that cannot be taken away by any human being or earthly power. Indeed, precisely because we are confident about our divine status — a status conferred on by God ... we can adopt a posture of vulnerability and love in all circumstances."
Roth speaks to the strong argument made even by many who claim to follow Christ — that since evil is present in the world, "a certain amount of violence is inevitable." Only reality, right? Roth argues that "Christian faith points toward a transformed understanding of reality itself" which in turn shapes one's entire world view. "... Redemptive violence is a myth for Christians because there is nothing Christian about its logic," says Roth. "If every human being is indeed made in the very image of God, then what argument can possibly justify one of God's creatures — especially one who has come to know and claim the love of God — to take the life of another human?"
The book is a call for Christians to hear Jesus' revolutionary ethic of love — lived out and spoken clearly to friend and enemy alike. Its potential to change the world as we know it seems also clear. Read the book to strengthen your trust in "a love stronger than our fears."
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