Instead of Death

In Writing in the Dust, Rowan Williams reflected on his experience of standing at the foot of the World Trade Centre on September 11th 2001. The reflection of an eyewitness who had found himself trapped in a building amidst the smoke and ashes of the twin towers, he presented an eloquent plea for ‘language that brings into the world something other than self-defensiveness’. In spite of his call to resist the idea of military intervention – on the grounds that ‘something must be done’, very soon the invasion of Afghanistan began. Other warnings about the perils of such military action were left unheeded. The idea that international policing would be sufficient to bring terrorists to account would not and could not assuage Western anger and distress – nor our need for revenge. We were persuaded that military intervention would be the only commensurate response to this terrorist attack – in order to wage a war on terror.

And yet, looking back in the light of the two decades of costly sacrifice, the lives lost and remade, it has been heart-breaking in the course of the last few days to see the scenes of anguish as refugees flee for their lives, chasing tailplanes at Kabul Airport, running, exhausted, afraid…. We are again silent in the face of human suffering.

Following the Vietnam War, William Stringfellow, an American peace activist and theologians, wrote a brief book, entitled Instead of Death. Using the language and imagery of the Christian tradition, he spoke of the reality of sin and the doctrine of the Fall:

‘The Fall means the profound condition of chaos and disorientation, brokenness and violence, struggle and conflict within and amongst all creatures and all things. The Fall refers to the pervasive power of death reigning throughout the whole of creation…. The only way for human beings to cope with the predaciousness of the technocratic regime is by comprehending, confronting, resisting, and transcending the reality of death at work in the world. It is that which is the whole concern of Christ’s teachings. The issue is not how death can be defeated but, rather, how the power of death can be broken and confounded in the life of the word of God in this world.’

That is the question that I find myself pondering in the light of the events of this week. For Stringfellow, the Christian life ‘is always a witness of resistance to the status quo in politics, economics, and all society. It is a witness of resurrection from death.’ In the weeks and months ahead, we will need to dig deep in order to bear witness to resurrection in the face of the deadliness of death. Let us pray for the people of Afghanistan. Let us pray for the veterans who still carry the scars of conflict. Let us engage with ever more ardour in our commitment to interfaith relations in order to build understanding and peace, and let us work strenuously to ensure that our government will welcome refugees and asylum seekers from Afghanistan with open arms.

The Revd Dr William Lamb