Holy Christian War
I stumbled quite casually upon this God is Pro-War article this evening. Ultimately I decided to click, I felt I needed to read something written in jest to alleviate the stresses of the day. To my amazement the article is serious, deadly serious in fact. The article itself is written by a Rev. Jerry Falwell. He sets out to prove, that in a very round-about way, God is pro-war. He’d be out there with the grunts, kicking some blasphemous ass — so to speak.
“President Bush declared war in Iraq to defend innocent people. This is a worthy pursuit. In fact, Proverbs 21:15 tells us: “It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.”
Try as I might, I cant forget that the reason Bush declared a pseudo-war (I say this because war was never declared in congress) was to protect American citizens from a nuclear threat. You could argue that he made a mistake (whoopsie!) but the evidence collected and presented publicly (cartoons?) was less than convincing.
As to the joy of judging, it is the hallmark of every war, usually in the form of massacres and genocide. After-all, this is exactly what your enemy is claiming as well. I feel you should ask those who judge in your stead, what the joy you speak of must feel like. Either that or go yourself.
One of the primary purposes of the church is to stop the spread of evil, even at the cost of human lives. If we do not stop the spread of evil, many innocent lives will be lost and the kingdom of God suffers.
Agreeably, stopping the spread of evil is a noble and just cause. However, I wonder whether the cost of human life associated with the Iraq War is “OK” with you? What’s an acceptable loss? Or do you still assess the cost as being only those of your own troops, disregarding the millions of exiles, evacuees and dead that have come about as a result of the invasion. Along with the millions that will die as a result of poverty, lack of infrastructure and epidemics. You portrayed Saddam as a devil, yet the numbers are on his side. Even a democratic bullet will kill. And every man killed is potentially another “terrorist” you’ve created from the ashes of his dead family.
“Finally, some reading this column will surely ask, “Doesn’t the sixth commandment say, ‘Thou shalt not kill?’”
Actually, no; it says: “Thou shalt not commit murder.”
There is little difference. You have guns, it takes purpose and intent to pull the trigger. Death with intent to kill is murder.
We continue to live in violent times. The Bible tells us war will be a reality until Christ returns. And when the time is right, Jesus will indeed come again, ending all wars.
Perhaps we should save him the trouble and do it ourselves. It is certainly within our grasp.
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