Comments on: Rwandan Genocide: Where Were God’s People?

By: JJ

JJ — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:25:09 +0000

Why would they do this

By: Amber Van Schooneveld

Amber Van Schooneveld — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:47:00 +0000

Hi Amy, I did read “Just Courage” and I was really challenged by it. I recommend it highly!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:18:04 +0000

@ Steve K

I think the “turning the other cheek” has to do with how my response should be when someone mistreats me. It is the response of the individual.

Defending others is in a different category. Standing up for those who cannot defend themselves-widows,orphans,the poor, the weak, etc. In love of course.

By: Amy Brooke

Amy Brooke — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 02:41:35 +0000

Thanks for this post. I actually sponsor a child in Rwanda as a result of that book. She is too young to have lived through it, but I’m sure her parents did. I have no clue which side they were on. To be part of it in any capacity had to be awful.

Sponsoring Kayirngwa is my belated response to that tragedy. I hope that it brings some healing in some way.

Have you read Haugen’s book that came out last summer? It’s called Just Courage . It is a challenge to all of us that God calls us not to be merely safe. Rather, He calls us to be brave. It is very challenging.

By: Mike Stephens

Mike Stephens — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:47:17 +0000

I have never been to Rwanda. I think many events in my own life will not make sense this side of heaven. I do know vengeance is the Lord’s and Proverbs 16:33 “Even the things that seem accidental were really ordered by Him.” (Amplified) Jesus knows suffering and death and hell!!! I am thankful Jesus did it for me!!!

By: Brenda Howard

Brenda Howard — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:19:26 +0000

I once heard an interesting commentary on turning the other cheek. The verse is Matt. 5:39 and says, “If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” It is right before the famous “Love your Enemies” passage. The interesting thing is the detail of the right cheek. If a right-handed person slaps you on the right cheek, he or she is back-handing you, like someone would treat a slave or subordinate. By turning the left cheek to the person, you are saying, hit me like an equal. Take your fist and punch me, if you dare. I will not be treated like a subordinate. Nor will I respond to you in violence. In a way, Jesus was saying, there is always a third alternative. You don’t have to lie down and take it; nor do you have to fight to prove something. What if the pastors in Rwanda had said, no more, the killing stops here? And were willing to place their lives in the way? What if there had been an Esther or a Mordecai to stand in the gap? You CAN stand up and defend without resorting to violence. It might cost you your life, but it can be done. The hard thing is finding that third way, and having the courage to live it out.

By: Amy Wallace

Amy Wallace — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:13:22 +0000

One would hope that we would have learned our lesson after the Holocaust, but apparently that was not the case.

I like to think that I would have the courage to stand up against injustices in the world, even if everyone else is turning a blind eye, and I pray to God that He would give me that courage.

By: Steve K.

Steve K. — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:31:22 +0000

But then if you were able to command God’s people, what would you say?! I struggle with then line of #1 turning the other cheek, or #2 standing up and defending/fighting. I’ve never heard a sermon that clears it up for me, but I know my “emotion” tells me to stand up and defend those who can’t defend for themselves.

By: Greg Birgy

Greg Birgy — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:08:35 +0000

In February I visited Rwanda for the first time, and met a young man my family had sponsored for 12 years. I’ve had the privilege of leading advocates on Compassion tours for 12 years, but this one left an imprint on me that will never fade.

I read Laurent Mbanda’s book and encourage others to do so to more fully understand what led to the 1994 genocide–western colonialists and the church were much more responsible than “warring tribal factions” as so many of Africa’s conflicts are labeled.

The more incredible story that can truly impact ALL of us is the journey the people of Rwanda have been on over the last 15 years. The illustrations of forgiveness, reconciliation, and restorative justice found in the personal stories of these people, the collective story of this nation, are profound. I recommend that the blog readers pick up a copy of the new book, “As We Forgive” by Catherine Claire Larson, based upon the documentary of the same title. Powerful, convicting, inspiring, hope-filled pages of the personal testimonies of both survivors and perpetrators.

Without the power of God’s mercy and forgiveness, we are indeed a lost people often trapped in ugly circumstances. Because of Christ, we can be a new creation–timely truths as we celebrate Easter!

By: Jenny

Jenny — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:51:27 +0000

‘Where are God’s people?’- that is definitely the question. Like you said, I hope the Church, and me personally, can and will “show up” to face the obvious evils of the world.