Recently I was invited to address a group of 50 top military officers on the subject, "A Christian View of Nuclear War." In preparation for the event I sought advice from a Catholic theologian who has had extensive contact with military leaders. I asked him what motivates them. Is it economic self-interest? Personal ambition? Professional advancement? Political power? Patriotism?
Without hesitation he answered that the primary motivation of most of the top military leaders he knew was religious. He said they believe they are defending the values of God against the anti-God. America is defending Christianity against godless atheism.
At first I was stunned. But on reflection, it made a lot of sense. Military leaders are trained and prepared to fight nuclear war. Something so total and horrible could not be fought for anything less than religious reasons. The pursuit of political power, economic gain, or national self-interest would not be sufficient to wage a nuclear war. We could only feel justified in destroying the world if we believed that the most ultimate of values were indeed at stake.
I reflected on how biblically predictable it all is. The anti-Christ always comes in the guise of Christ. He is the inversion of the true Christ and uses religious language for his own justification. Nuclear war would be the most godless act committed in history, done in the name of God.
John Lehman, Secretary of the Navy, justified the naming of a nuclear attack submarine "Corpus Christi," which means "Body of Christ." Said Lehman, "My religious beliefs provide vital inspiration to my efforts;" and "America is the chief hope of Western Judeo-Christian civilization." He went on to justify American nuclear buildup in opposition to "a godless ideology."
On the other side of the spectrum, I've had conversations lately with some veterans in the peace movement concerning the tremendous growth of public concern over nuclear weapons in the past year. I'm troubled by the response of some to the new winds of change blowing across the country that are turning many minds and hearts against the nuclear arms race. I detect two discomforting responses to the new anti-nuclear movement: the first is to discredit it; the second is to take credit for it. Sometimes both responses come from the same person. It is either said that the new movement isn't significant, or that it exists only because of the work we have done. I have heard some actually attacking people who are coming out for peace, especially if they aren't doing things the way the veterans do, or the way they think everybody ought to do.
The key issues, it seems to me, are control and credit. Who will be in control of the peace movement, and who will get credit for it?
We still have much to learn about the versatility and guidance of the Holy Spirit. From military generals to peace activists we still want to fit the Spirit of God into our own ideological categories or keep it under our control. But the work of the Spirit is beyond these. The movements of the Spirit are much larger than our own work and are never limited to our own efforts.
We can be thankful for the work so many have done for peace, and even for our own contributions to it. The impact of the work that has been done has been very deep and wide. The fruit of that work is now evident in many places. But it is the Spirit that takes that work, expands it, multiplies it, moves beyond it.
I believe that much of what is now happening around the country is not due to anyone in particular. It is a combination of history, people's fears and hopes, and the evident movement of the Spirit of God. Speaking and acting for peace will always provide raw material for the Spirit's further work. But we need not worry about who should take credit for all the change or about our part in it. We need much more humility in the peace movement, much more openness to the Spirit's work, not only in others but also in ourselves.
Jesus told his disciples that he had even more to teach them--more than they could then bear to hear--and that the Spirit would guide them. Our political analysis, our theological response, and the actions we have undertaken so far are not enough to end the arms race. That is true of all the people, all the groups, and all the actions that have been conceived and done for peace. We need more. We need miracles. We need the Spirit's movement.
In Ephesians, Paul tells us that our fight with the principalities and powers and with spiritual wickedness in high places is a spiritual warfare. That means we need to experience even more deeply the power of the Spirit in active combat with the nuclear powers. There is no telling how much tremendous new energy and power would be released by a prayerful movement of Christians who felt themselves to be totally dependent on the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. We need to pray for it, watch for it, listen for it, prepare for it, and be open to it when it comes.
Most of all we need to believe that the power of the Spirit of God is greater than the power of the present rulers of this world. We have not the power to halt the arms race. But the Spirit does have the power to thwart the evil causes of destruction, hold back the violence, stop war, and establish peace. When the advocates for peace fight for credit, control, and power, it is the powers and principalities that triumph. But when the children of God allow the Spirit to course through their hearts and lives, the nuclear powers will tremble and be brought to defeat. And the glory will be to God. Come Holy Spirit. Amen.
Jim Wallis was editor-in-chief of Sojourners when this article appeared.
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