Does the Bible have anything to say about "the Troubles"?

This book is an invitation to look afresh at the Bible. It is an invitation to ask God what kind of people we should be and how we should live as Christians in Northern Ireland. Our hope is that as we examine our values and actions in the light of God's word we may be open to the Holy Spirit, submitted to the Lordship of Christ and dedicated to live For God and His Glory Alone. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12:2

The five questions asked in this booklet go to the heart of the reality of the Kingdom of God that is within us. We do not want simply to accept the neatest answers our tradition provides. We want intsead to stay with the questions, wrestling with God until we discover afresh his anwer and then, having done so, to ACT.

Evangelical Contribution on Northern Ireland is a broad coalition of evangelical Christians from throughout the Protestant churches in Northern Ireland. Since its inception in 1987, ECONI has sought to understand and apply biblical principles to the divided community in Northern Ireland. Its primary function is to address its own constituency, and challenge evangelicals to ask questions concerning their life and witness in the community. Central to this is the necessity to allow biblical values to determine attitudes and actions in response to the issues facing a community in conflict.

"For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you A FUTURE WITH HOPE."
Jeremiah 29:11

Beyond Fear, Suspicion and Hostility
Alwyn Thomson

How should evangelicals relate to Roman Catholics?

In this booklet, the first in the PATHWAYS series published by ECONI, we look at some of the answers to this question coming from the evangelical community in Northern Ireland.

The conflict in Northern Ireland raises many difficult, sometimes controversial, issues for Christians. Often we choose to ignore or avoid them. PATHWAYS is an attempt to address them biblically. Our goal is to find God's path, the good way, and to walk in it.

Raving Fundamentalists?

This booklet, the second in the PATHWAYAS series published by ECONI:

• looks at fundamentalism and evangelicalism in Northern Ireland,
• challenges some of the assumptions often made about them, and,
• explains the evangelical foundations of ECONI

A complacent people had tried God's patience to the limit. God, in his mercy, offered one last chance through his prophet Jeremiah. As they stood at the crossroads what would they choose?

And what does Jeremiah's message to the people of God then have to say to the people of God now?

Jesus came to a people whose vision of holiness was not just personal, but social and political. Yet far from commending them, he challenged their vision time and time again. He proclaimed instead his vision of a holy community marked by mercy, service and love of neighbour and enemy. But how do we measure up? What is our vision of holiness? And would Jesus commend us or challenge us?

How should we deal with the wounds of history? In a community tormented by its ever present past should we not 'forgive and forget'?

No, says Stanley Hauerwas. Christians are required to confess and remember their sins, but they are also required to remember the sins of those who have sinned against them. Any reconciliation that does not require such a remembering cannot be a reconciliation made possible by the cross of Christ.

Forgiveness is a way of life that takes time, argues Greg Jones. Far from being a matter of the moment or of words spoken or unspoken, forgiveness is a craft that requires that we unlearn the habits of sin and learn instead the habits of holiness in the community of the church.

What difference might forgiveness make to a world of conflict? What lessons can we in Northern Ireland learn from the experiences of others?

These are some of the questions discussed in this collection of papers - challenging us to see the power of forgiveness in the resolution of conflict in Northern Ireland and the wider world.