Catholic Biblical Scholars in Nigeria Call for “personal responsibility” in Peacebuilding

“Where truth reigns, there is justice. Where justice is enshrined, peace is engendered,” they say.

The Catholic Biblical scholars emphasize the place of “sustained prayers” in peacebuilding initiatives in Africa’s most populous nation.

They “recognise the necessity of praying to God for peace” and go on to “recommend that sustained prayers for lasting peace be regularly held in families, communities, churches and other places of worship, and that peacemaking activities be regularly undertaken.”

The four-day conference that was held under the theme, “War and Peace in the Bible” examined issues relating to “Biblical Notion of War, Biblical Understanding of Peace, Contemporary Causes of War, Requirements for Peacemaking” amongst others topics.

In their December 17 statement shared with ACI Africa, CABAN members drawn from different parts of Nigeria say the Bible should “not be used as authority and vehicle for promoting and executing wars.”

“Scientific works on the Bible set within its diverse socio-cultural and political contexts need to be vigorously pursued by exegetes for clearer interpretations of biblical texts dealing with war,” they say, adding, “The fruits of their efforts should be the solid basis of judgment and recommendations on matters pertaining to biblical teachings on war.’

Reflecting on the Biblical understanding of peace, CABAN members say, “Where there is no righteousness, there can be no peace. This righteousness is embodied in the love of our fellow human beings, a love which is modelled on God’s love for all humanity.”

“Essentially, peace in the Bible is God’s restoration of all creation to the purpose God intended for it from the beginning. It requires a keen realization, acceptance and celebration of the truth that God has indeed restored and reconciled humanity and the entire creation to the divine self in and through Christ,” they explain.

In the statement that the President of CABAN, Sr. Prof. Teresa Okure, and the Secretary, Fr. Luke Ijezie, signed, the Catholic Biblical scholars in Nigeria caution against “inherent mutual hatred”, which they say is usually inherited from one generation to the next.

“One of the major causes of war, and a factor which continues to perpetuate it in the world today, is inherent mutual hatred and rivalry among persons and nations handed down from generation to generation,” they say.

They call upon members of “our generation to divorce itself from the warring legacy of past millennia; to cultivate and embrace the gospel of peace and to believe that a peaceful co-existence is possible.”

CABAN members further urge this generation to “honestly identify the basic causes of war and fashion out effective ways of dealing with them.”

Participants in the December 14-17 conference, who included Catholic Bishops, Clergy, women and men Religious, and representatives of pastoral associations say they find it regrettable that “there is the lack of sufficient visionary leaders on the global political arena who can make decisions and evolve measures that promote peace, instead of focusing on amassing wealth and perpetuating themselves in power.”

“The self-interest of leaders has plunged nations into avoidable wars resulting in massive loss of human life and infrastructural destruction. Similarly, external interference in the internal affairs of nations greatly foments wars,” they add.

CABAN members underscore the fact that “human life created in God’s image and likeness is sacred, and as such must be esteemed and protected.”

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To avoid wars, they recommend that “words which contain messages of hope be professed and espoused by individuals and those in leadership positions at all levels.”

They also call for “adequate management and distribution of resources and power sharing within geopolitical entities and globally to prevent the eruption of wars.”

CABAN members also urge “civil authorities to work zealously to defend their citizens from internal and external aggressors and predators. In this vein, peace is ironically a value to be fought for.”

They caution against falsehood through digital media, saying, “All must eschew the use of social media to spread false propaganda that unsettle peaceful coexistence in various communities and foment wars.”