Jesus rejected violence as a means of bringing forth his kingdom. However, many believe the Church must embrace and control state power for its preservation. Join us as we consider history, theology, and Scripture to show how this thought contradicts Jesus’ claim that “blessed are the peacemakers, for theirs is God’s kingdom” (Matt. 5:9).
Nicholas Rowe, Ph.D., has taught World, Atlantic, and African American History for over 30 years in the U.S. and South Africa. He studies how communities use the past to form their identities and how this fuels intergroup conflict. Nicholas has over 20 years of consulting with communities about cross-racial and ethnic reconciliation and post-conflict healing. His international experiences have convinced him of the need for leaders who are lively in imagination, protective of the dignity of persons, relentless in pursuit of the common good, and attentive in spirit. He’s married to writer Sheila Wise Rowe.