CAIRO, Egypt — Following October’s emergency Middle East peace summit in the Egyptian coastal resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the Bible Society of Egypt (BSE) has published a Scripture Selection that presents the Bible’s perspective on violence.
The Arabic Selection, entitled God and Violence, begins by presenting the complex problems facing the region and affirms God’s rejection of violence as a means of resolving disputes. The introduction concludes with the words: “No to violence, no to killing, no to bloodshed and welcome to all values based on the Word of God.”
Presented under four headings, God and Violence contains Scripture readings showing God’s condemnation of fighting and bloodshed. These include God’s anger towards Cain for killing his brother, Abel (Genesis 4: 8-11), and Jesus’s strong reaction when one of his disciples cut off the ear of a soldier (Matthew 26: 47-54).
The Selections have proved popular, with all 56,000 copies already distributed across the country by churches. The hope is that the Bible’s message of peace will reach more people and offer a new perspective on the continuing crisis in the region. The BSE has also encouraged church leaders to use the Selection as a basis for sermons focusing on the need to end bloodshed and seek new ways to settle disputes.
Although Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed to take steps to end the violence during the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, and despite further negotiations, fighting has continued. More than 350 people have died since hostilities first began last year. (WR 357/26 - 1/2.01) e-121