The Vicar of Baghdad - Andrew White
This is the autobiography of Andrew White, a canon in the Church of England and someone who has worked for peace in both Israel/Palestine and Iraq. He is able to have influence in these areas by building relationships with key religious and political leaders from all sides of a conflict, and has been able to bring about various statements seeking peace and reconciliation from often opposing parties.
I found this a challenging book to read, partially because of White's focus on peace even at the price of evangelism. It is an important role, and one that he has obviously been called to, but also one that not every individual would be able to achieve. The challenge of pastoring a church in Baghdad (which he did until 2014, after this book's release) is also highlighted, including the balance between security and sacrificial love. When White talks about a particular pastor of the church, and then explains that this pastor, along with most of his family, were kidnapped and never recovered, it emphasises the dangers of such a role.
Other insights abound throughout the book, such as: "I am involved with both religious and political leaders and I find they often fail to understand each other. Western politicians do not appreciate that religious extremists need to be addressed in religious language. On the other hand, most religious leaders have little insight into the nature of Western politics and are unaware that most of our politicians find violence in the name of God incomprehensible. Often, a further obstacle to mutual understanding is the belief shared by both kinds of leader that the only way to deal with the other kind is by force. Both of them tend to assume that if you hurt someone enough they will submit to your will. The problem with this assumption is that it usually results only in an escalation of violence.
"There is no simple formula, no secret, to getting these people to engage with us or with each other, or to change their tactics; and there is little rhyme or reason in how we have achieved it. It can take months merely to get to know some people - and yet often it is when we get to know them, and even make friends with them, that solutions begin to emerge. Fortunately, Christianity encourages us in this approach, because Jesus taught us to love our enemies and forgive them. (Most of those I deal with in the Middle East, however, are Jews or Muslims, and this concept of loving and forgiving your enemies is foreign to their religion. It can be difficult to explain it to them.)" (page 128).
Learning to understand another's point of view, be it religious, political, or cultural, is an important step towards reconciliation and understanding. It doesn't mean we need to agree on everything, but it does help to learn to live at peace with everyone, something that the New Testament challenges us to attempt (Romans 12:18).
A good challenge.
PS. In 2020 Andrew White was found guilty of misconduct in terms of how he used the money from his charity. He disputes claims that he paid Islamic State money to secure the release of various hostages. Having read this book and seen his heart, I tend to believe him. However, even if it were true that he had done so (and the court believes it is), the fact that he would be willing to take such a step shows the lengths he would go to in order to bring peace and safety to a region he loves, and does not in my mind damage his witness.
Completed 18 February 2021.
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