Healing the Wounds of Trauma

B. Ineffective or unjust governments God has put governments in place to see that people receive justice (Ro 13.1–4, 1 Ti 2.1–2). If governments do not protect their citizens and there is widespread suffering, at some point people rebel. In times of political instability, old conflicts between groups resurface because there is no one to stop them. C. Troublemakers Some individuals, like Hitler, can single-handedly stir up whole nations to war. The newspapers and radio can also fan the flames of hatred. Soon people start killing each other without really under- standing why, and a cycle of violence begins. Once it is started, it can only be stopped by radical forgiveness (Mt 5.43–48). D. A heritage of prejudice Children often learn prejudice and hatred for other groups from their parents. Whenever we think, “The people from the other group are always … ,” we are expressing prejudice. Prejudices portray all mem- bers of the other group as if they are the same, and all bad. Prejudices keep people from ever finding out what the other group is really like. If they knew each other, they would discover that their prejudices are not accurate. God accepts people from every group (Acts 10.34–35). In times of conflict, all the problems are blamed on the other group. To be able to kill them without feeling guilty, the other group is portrayed as if its people aren’t even human. Meanwhile, people see their own group as superior, and entitled to certain things, like neigh- borhoods or status. For example, a group may feel entitled to special respect and service from those who were their slaves earlier in history. ❂❂ SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION 1. What are the prejudices youmay have inherited about another group? Can you think of any evidence that would show these ideas are not true? 2. How do others describe your group? What evidence might they have for this description?

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How Can We Live as Christians in the Midst of Conflict?