Threatened with ResurrectionSelf-Preservation and Christ's Way of Peace by Jim S. Amstutz |
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"Jim Amstutz observes that self-preservation is our society’s highest moral good. It’s even an obligation. We don’t want to be threatened with death. And it we are, we will fight fire with fire.
"The peaceful path to the cross is indeed foolishness in this light. Overcoming evil with good and nonviolence makes no sense within the moral context of our society. But in light of the resurrection, it makes a lot of sense.
"From our society’s viewpoint, Jesus’ call to follow is hard. It’s risky. It looks foolish. Being a witness, as the Greek implies, means being a martyr. Who wants to lose life? But Amstutz reminds us that from a resurrection viewpoint, proactive pacifism is precisely where life is unleashed, where it burns the brightest."—Mennonite Weekly Review
Jim S. Amstutz examines key biblical texts and the model of Jesus to help guide us to the faith understanding that Christ’s way of peace challenges the assumption of protection of the self.