Christianity is not some ideal toward which we ought always to strive even though the ideal is out of reach. Christianity is not a series of slogans that sum up our beliefs.
Stanley HauerwasRead
I do not want to convince Christians to work for the abolition of war, but rather I want us to live recognizing that in the cross of Christ, war has been abolished.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote suggests that the teachings of Christ inherent in the cross imply that war is inherently overcome through faith.
Stanley Hauerwas emphasizes that the essence of Christ's sacrifice transcends the need for earthly conflicts, suggesting that instead of actively working towards the end of war, Christians should recognize and embody the peace that the crucifixion symbolizes. It challenges believers to reflect on their faith's implications regarding violence and conflict, advocating for a deeper understanding of how spiritual beliefs can influence attitudes towards war.
Themes
ChristPeaceWarFaithAbolition
In practice
Example use cases
During a church sermon about peace, this quote can be used to emphasize the call for compassion and understanding among believers.
More from Stanley Hauerwas
All quotes →My way of putting it is that Christians are called to live nonviolently not because we believe nonviolence is a strategy to rid the world of war, but in a world of war as faithful followers of Christ, we cannot imagine being anything other than nonviolent.
Stanley HauerwasRead
Advent is patience it's how God has made us a people of promise, in a world of impatience.
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War is America's central liturgical act necessary to renew our sense that we are a nation unlike other nations.
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To kill, in war or in any circumstance, creates a silence. It is right that silence should surround the taking of life. After all, the life taken is not ours to take.
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The most creative social strategy we have to offer is the church. Here we show the world a manner of life the world can never achieve through social coercion or governmental action. We serve the world by showing it something that it is not, namely, a place where God is forming a family out of strangers.
Stanley HauerwasRead
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