Peace, Border Control and Security

Governments around the world spend $1,250 billion dollars a year 1 to protect their borders and maintain a secure environment. However, it is clear that while the money spent on the military may temporarily deal with border control and security issues it cannot solve the fundamental problem.

One of the many causes of global insecurity is poverty and the unequal distribution of wealth. Governments around the world spend $80 billion each year in aid and development. Australians ought to consider whether the ideal priorities would be to spend $80 billion on the military and $1,250 billion on aid, health and development. Such an action would accord with the Christian view of peace 2 which includes peace with God, positive harmony and healthy functioning between people and spiritual as well as material and physical security.

 A shift in priorities towards aid and development would not only eliminate global poverty but also counteract the effect of other fundamental causes of world tension. But Christians should also understand the importance of doing what is morally right even when it does not produce such a benefit in return. Overseas aid is a good in its own right and ought not be treated as a means to a self-serving end.

• Presently, Australia takes approximately 12,000 refugees each year. But the number of actual refugees is not determined by a quota. Clearly, Australia cannot take unlimited numbers of refugees but it is also clear that Australia has not, as a nation, seriously engaged in a public debate of the number of refugees it could take if it so wished and the circumstances that would be necessary for that to be possible. It has been said that there are no votes in refugees but the values that Australians hold to would indicate an untapped political potential for a renewed policy of compassion. When Australians are asked what they value most the top five answers 3 are: (1) A world at peace, (2) Honesty, (3) True Friendship, (4) Equality, (5) Social Justice.

It is often assumed that when it comes to actions, rather than values, that people will act in a self-interested manner but it is also possible that politicians and indeed, the Australian community itself has under-estimated the community’s desire for peace and friendship and its capacity for generosity. What could be achieved if the community set its mind upon living compassionately?

The Christian understanding of love is not best expressed in terms of love for friends, family or neighbours. Indeed, to do so negates the radical nature of the love 4 shown to us by God in Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus, who was himself once a refugee, said, ‘If you only love those who love you, what reward do you have? .. And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others?’ (Matt.5:46) Jesus taught that if his Jewish followers loved only Jews they were not doing any more than the Gentiles who also loved their own compatriots. Jesus’ love was about loving other nations and groups – Gentiles as well as Jews – and even those who are enemies (Matt. 5:44).

While it is necessary to detain asylum-seekers for a short period to determine their health, identity and security status while waiting for assessment the dignity of the individual and the family, especially children, must be considered of paramount importance.

• It is not morally acceptable if the conditions of detention add to the pre-existing emotional and psychological distress that asylum-seekers have suffered and Christians should seek to do what they can, through political and personal means, to ensure that sufficient resources are provided for those in detention. Mandatory detention has not always been the Australian policy for asylum seekers and there ought to be further exploration of alternative ‘open detention’ options allowing for the participation of all family members, fathers as well as mothers and children, in more flexible arrangements

•  In what way does money spent on military resources contribute towards and/or detract from the implementation of Christian values?
• What are the implications of the fact that Australia’s government aid contribution is at all time low of 0.25% of national income? 5 In what other ways does Australia help the global situation?
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights says, ‘Everyone has the right to seek, and enjoy in other countries, asylum from persecution.’ Do you think that ‘politicians and indeed, the Australian community itself has under-estimated the community’s desire for peace and friendship and its capacity for generosity’?
• Read Matt. 5:44-48 and discuss the distinctive nature of Christian love and the potential implications for national policies.
•  Discuss the implications of Deuteronomy 14: 29 and James 1:27.

1 These figures come from Tim Colebatch, economics editor for The Age, who reported on ‘Great Foreign Aid Puzzles’ (The Age 28/04/04) using information from James Wolfensohn, head of the World Bank.

2 Link to the love article.

3 These values were ascertained in the Australian Community Survey 1998 and the results are taken from the Exploring What Australians Value edited by Philip Hughes and Sharon Bond (Christian research Association and NCLS Research, published by Openbook). These items came in at the top of a list of 22 potential values. Interestingly ‘National Security’ came in at number 11 and ‘Wealth’ at number 22.

4 Link to the love article.

5 Link to graph.