Ethiopia’s civil war is a painful example.
Christian leaders defended the war with an argument that sounded good. They said the war was an existential necessity for Ethiopia’s survival. Based on this claim, they said that people who cried out for a peaceful, nonmilitary solution didn’t really love Ethiopia. Some went further and said that peace advocates secretly wanted to destroy Ethiopia. Violence became the proof of love; peace became a sign of betrayal.
But today the war appears to have split the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewehado Church. The EOTC is the oldest continuous institution in Ethiopian history. Many Ethiopians see it as the symbol of Ethiopian unity and independence. It’s also one of the oldest churches in the history of Christianity.
In the wake of the bloodiest conflict in the 21st century, it’s unclear if Church leaders will find a way to dialogue, recognize one another, and work together.
May God have mercy on us and lead us in the way of compassion. Each new day is an invitation to rediscover the wisdom of Jesus: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
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