do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God.

 A Just War or Just Another War?
asks Churches’ Easter TV commercial

27 March 2003

Click on the above image to view or download the TV commercial (QuickTime format, 551kb) Click here if you do not have QuickTime.

The Christian churches have been united in their opposition to war on Iraq. Now a new TV commercials brings this opposition into Victorians living-rooms. “Is this a just war or just another war?” This is the question asked by the Easter commercial produced by CTA (Christian Television Association).

Using image and text, the television spot juxtaposes the words “just”, “war” and images of chaos and personal suffering from war zones. One of the themes of the ad is that, however clinical or smart are the armaments, it is civilians who inevitably suffer - as a direct result of the bombing, when caught in the crossfire or as a result of a deteriorating infrastructure through hunger and disease.

The leaders of the member churches of the National Council of Churches in
Australia this week expressed deep grief and sorrow at what is now unfolding
in Iraq. The statement said:

”Jesus urged his followers to be peacemakers. He spoke in favour of love,
justice and hope for the world. The Christian gospel counsels us to pursue
human reconciliation and peace, and, as far as possible, to avoid violence as a
means of settling disputes.

“The commencement of war is an admission of failure. Yet another new
century begins with bloodshed and destruction as a means of solving our
problems.”

So for Christians to honour their founder, Jesus Christ — who made it very clear to his listeners that God was a just God who would not be mocked — requires that any “just” claims for war are examined honestly and fearlessly.

The war in Iraq is taking place in the period of Lent, leading up to Easter, when we celebrate the death of Jesus on the cross. The CTA commercial “Just War?” finishes on a representation of the cross of Jesus flanked by two others, graphically applies the supreme example of Jesus to this war.

USING THIS JESUS STANDARD THIS IS NOT A JUST WAR

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The Christian Television Association is a non-profit organisation representing The Anglican Church, Baptist Union, Churches of Christ, Uniting Church, The Salvation Army and Presbyterian Assembly.
 

For more information, please contact:

John Dalziel
Chair of the Christian Television Association
Communications Director of The Salvation Army
Phone: (03) 9896 6007
Mobile: 0417 537 950
Email:

Michael Lelliott
producer of the commercial
Mobile: 0413 010 386