This question was asked on CTV Toronto's News at Noon in light of the Christian Peacemaker Teams that was recently released by the military and I was very intrigued by the result.
"Are Christian Peacemakers in the way in Iraq?"
Most people have said YES they are in the way. A reason they gave were that troops had to go rescue you them. They also said that they were non-essential, referring to them as missionaries who are going in to Iraq to convert the Muslim people to Christianity.
A bit about Christian Peacemaker Teams
CPT's slogan on their website says: "committed to reducing violence by getting in the way"
"CPT embraces the vision of unarmed intervention waged by committed peacemakers ready to risk injury and death in bold attempts to transform lethal conflict through the nonviolent power of God’s truth and love."
"A strategy developed thoughtfully over the years has taught us that:
trained, skilled, international teams can work effectively to support local efforts toward nonviolent peacemaking;
"getting in the way" of injustice through direct nonviolent intervention, public witness and reporting to the larger world community can make a difference;
peace team work engages congregations, meetings and support groups at home to play a key advocacy role with policy makers."
I see the CPTs as helping the military, by helping the civilians with peaceful, non-violent protest rather than violent protests with the risk of injury and/or death.
I don't see them as missionaries preaching, but as people who are living the way of Jesus.
Just some of my thoughts.
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