Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Bombs Don't Hug

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.