Contact: Glen Stassen, Ph.D., Professor of Christian Ethics, Fuller Theological Seminary, 626-304-3733,
gstassen@fuller.edu; Rev. Paul Alexander, Ph.D., Professor of Theology and Ethics, Co-founder, Pentecostals & Charismatics for Peace & Justice, Azusa Pacific University, 626-815-5434,
palexander@apu.edu
MEDIA ADVISORY, April 13 /
Christian Newswire/ -- With the slogan "Atomic Fireballs are great candy, but terrible foreign policy," evangelical college presidents, denominational executives, pastors, veterans, professors, and missionaries are showing strong support for US moves to reduce nuclear arsenals. Citing Jesus, scripture, and foreign policy experts such as George Shultz, they claim "overcoming the nuclear threat requires international cooperation" and "nuclear weapons are a moral threat" that must eventually be eliminated.
Their historic Matthew 5 Project statement, which "calls on our nation to be willing to talk with and listen to antagonists," applauds the "new START" treaty and the Nuclear Summit. The statement was sent to President Obama, Vice President Biden, Secretary of State Clinton, Secretary of Defense Gates, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and all 535 members of Congress.
Glen Stassen, co-director of the Matthew 5 Project, explains that "Jesus is the realist" and even though "the United States has crucial disagreements with Iran and North Korea, Jesus does not say talks should be refused until we approve of the conduct of the adversary." The statement also refers to Ronald Reagan's "trust but verify" approach and the policy recommendations of George Shultz, Henry Kissinger, Sam Nunn and other conservative national security experts who are recommending the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Stassen continues, "Nuclear weapons are a physical threat to the survival of human life on earth. Prominent national security experts have recently called for reducing and abolishing reliance on nuclear weapons, by verifiable international agreement, in order to enhance national security. This cannot be accomplished unilaterally; it requires international cooperation and verification.... Therefore, we urge international cooperation in continued step-by-step reductions, working toward ways to verify abolition of nuclear weapons worldwide."
The broad scope of endorsements reveals the growing sentiment among American Evangelicals that the reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons is theologically necessary and politically possible,
ABOUT THE MATTHEW 5 PROJECT
The Matthew 5 Project is an Evangelical effort to promote international cooperation and reduce nuclear weapons through careful analysis of political realities and sound biblical and theological arguments (www.matthew5project.org).
