“These are interrelated, as economic domination and military rule are inextricably joined. The military forces of the empire act as the ‘global cop’ to maintain order and security of the global market.”
The Manila Declaration states that the nature of the global empire is evident in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, martial law in the Philippines, economic punishment of countries such as North Korea and Cuba as well as in the repressive measures associated with the “war on terror”.
It also revealed that the global empire is interwoven with patriarchy that oppresses women, the lust for oil and other natural resources that result in the destruction of the ecology, the violation of human rights, poor working conditions, the insatiable quest for profits and privatisation.
“The most outstanding sign of our times is the suffering and cries of human persons and other living beings throughout the world, as their victimisation proceeds in a systematic and unprecedented manner,” the declarations says.
It continued: “At the beginning of the 21st century, all living beings in the cosmos are threatened with death and destruction. Their groaning echoes throughout the universe and is joined by the Spirit’s groaning. As expressed in (Paul’s letter to the) Romans 8.18-39, the powers and principalities of this world - with a comprehensive destructiveness in the form of the global empire - are causing creation to groan, in bondage, waiting for its liberation.”
Explicitly the Manila Declaration rejects:
- claims to unlimited national sovereignty, violation of international law and unbridled unilaterialism;
- the building of a political empire in the name of Christ;
- the empire’s use of biblical and theological language to justify war.
However the declaration takes some hope from the growing number of peace and justice movements around the world that are rooted in the suffering of people, including those in Latin America, the Philippines, Nepal, South Korea, Japan and the United States.
“We affirm another world is possible! This enables us to search for a collective vision of a community of life in justice and peace. The peace of Jesus is not the peace of empire. A new ecumenical vision for a community of life in justice and peace is being born in our day.”
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) brings together 75 million Reformed Christians in 218 churches in 107 countries - united in their commitment to making a difference in a troubled world.
