Rethinking our Peace Testimony

Gordon Matthews considers early Christian pacifism and active nonviolence

by Gordon Matthews 4th February 2011

Jill Allum is right to call for fresh thinking about our peace testimony (21 January). As the context in which we live changes, so we need to change the ways in which we express our peace testimony. This requires renewed discernment as well as fresh thinking. Thinking will not help, without the discernment that has to come first. Our peace testimony springs from the heart of our faith. Our starting point is ‘the spirit of Christ, by which we are guided’.