War is never justifiable
Many Christians believe the war in Iraq is not only justifiable, but that it is just. Our soldiers freed a country from a tyrannical ruler who tortured and killed his people. Whether or not this will result in a better, freer Iraq has yet to be seen. But even if it does, it was sinful and wrong for us to invade Iraq. Nowhere in the Bible are Christians told to overthrow governments. Instead we are told to pray for people in authority. Why? So that we may live "peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:1-2) Note that nowhere does it say we are supposed to go to war with them or kill them. Not even the really evil ones. (Remember this was written at a time when Christians were being fed to lions by their government).
I know this doesn't make any sense. Why pray when a gun will more readily take care of the problem? Praying is stupid. Unless of course God is really real and really does answer prayer. Then it makes all the sense in the world to obey what he has told us to do and pray.
Killing is never loving
I've heard people say they love the Iraqi soldiers, but still think it is necessary to fight and kill them. Killing someone is never loving. Jesus told us to love our enemies, to do good to those who harm us. Did he mean this? Stop and ask him. "Jesus, are we really supposed to love our enemies, even when we might end up dead if we do?" Stop and look, what is the Father doing? (We are to be like Jesus and Jesus only did what he saw the Father do). Is the Father killing Iraqis? Is Jesus? If not, why are we? When are we going to stop justifying sin?
And it is a sin. God, the Word made flesh, Jesus, commanded us to love our enemies, our neighbors as we do ourselves. Killing, torturing, bombing, shooting, someone is not loving them. No matter how you try to spin it so that you can sleep at night and pretend you are right with God, killing your enemy is a sin.
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5 comments:
Disagree..
So, Jesus didn't say we were to love our enemies? The Bible doesn't tell us to pray for those in authority? Show me where scripture says there is an exception to these commands.
Paul -
1. how do you view David and his mass killings of Philistines (and others)? Does God hold this against him?
2. 2 Samuel 11:1 : "In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem." Was David blamed by God for the actions of his army, or for succumbing to temptation while not going off to war (verse 1 implies that he should have been off leading the army, not hanging around the palace).
3. Is there a difference between murder and state-sanctioned killing?
4. Romans 13:4 : what is the sword for - poking?
1. In the same way that I view the old testament laws that no longer apply to us. They were God's way of dealing with sin in the past. Now sin is dealt with by the precious blood of Christ. Why didn't God let David build the temple?
2. Again, the old testament way of doing things changed in the new testament, hence Jesus saying, "You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person." and "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven." Jesus changed how we interact with evil people. Peter was shown this in the vision of unclean food.
3. I'm against the death penalty too, but for slighly different reasons. This passage doesn't really apply to war though.
4. No, it's not just for poking, but niether is it being wielded by Christians against their enemies. Also note that the rest of the passage tells us not to rebel against authority. Isn't that what the US did by over throwing Sadaam Hussein? We said, we know better than God who should be in authority there. The result? Our brothers and sisters in Christ being forced to flee their homes.
I'm with Paul on this one. Jesus' words about this seem plain to me. Perhaps this is not strictly according to evangelistic doctrine, but my faith is based first on Jesus' life and death, not the OT.
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