IS WAR EVER RIGHTEOUS?
By Eddie Smith,
U.S. President George W. Bush has
declared, "We are at war...we will rid
the world of evil doers."
Our government is now planning
armed assaults against those who
are responsible for the devastation
of September 11.
War is a state of open, armed, often
prolonged conflict on between
nations, states or parties.
Unlike Israel, Americans are not
accustomed to war. Suicide bombers
are uncommon in the United States.
The thought of people, especially
innocent people, dying at the hands
of our own military is unconscionable
to many Christians.
They are reminded of Scriptures like:
o "Thou shalt not kill" (Ex. 20:13, KJV).
o "But I tell you, do not resist an evil
person. If someone strikes you on the
right cheek, turn to him the other also"
(Mt. 5:39, NIV).
o "But I say unto you, Love your
enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and
pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you" (Mt. 5:44).
o "Vengeance is mine; I will repay,
saith the Lord" (Rom. 12:19, KJV).
o "Be not overcome of evil, but
overcome evil with good"
(Rom. 12:21, KJV).
o "For though we live in the world,
we do not wage war as the world
does. The weapons we fight with
are not the weapons of the world"
(2 Cor. 10:3-4, NIV).
I am receiving letters from
Christians around the world asking
very important questions: "If this is
what God has said, then how can
the United States righteously engage
in acts of war? Shouldn't you, as a
Christian nation, turn the other cheek?"
First, "Thou shalt not kill" is a
commandment God gave to Israel.
Then God Himself led Israel into war.
So, this is a commandment against
murder, not against war.
Second, what God expects from
law-abiding citizens engaged in
community is not always the same
as what He expects from law-
enforcement officers acting as His
agents. God has said that vengeance
belongs to Him.
He is the source of all authority, and
he appoints civil government for the
welfare of its citizens, to protect law-
abiders and execute justice against
the law-breakers (see Rom. 13:1-7).
Sometimes God executes vengeance
through military might.
Righteous war isn't a matter of
retaliation (returning evil for evil). It
calls for a calculated, not a casual
response. Justice, not political
correctness or opportunism is
needed.
It isn't a time for temporary aggression
but rather for a permanent solution. A
righteous war is a matter of retribution;
answering an evil act with something
justly deserved. Justice is based on laws,
laws are based on God's commandments.
Will innocent people die? Yes. Innocent
people have already died in the attack on
our nation. In war the deaths of innocents
is unavoidable. It is the awful price of war.
When wicked men commandeered our
passenger planes and crashed them into
our office buildings, they declared war on
our nation. They invited destruction and
retribution upon themselves and upon
their supporters.
Finally, when the Apostle Paul explained
that we do not engage in war like the world
does, he was not referring to physical, civil
war. He was referring to the spiritual
warfare that we saints are to continually
wage against our sin, our flesh, and the
devil.
Today, we are grieving and praying for
victims, their friends and families, for
rescuers and emergency medical
personnel.
In time we must move from problem-
-centered praying to purpose-driven
prayer.
We must begin to discover what God is
doing through all of this and pray
accordingly. (Jn. 5:19)
In the U.S. it is clear that God is trying to
awaken His bride... she is late for work!
Will He succeed? It depends largely upon
her.
Will she get up and go to work, or will she
hit the snooze button, rolls over, and go
back to sleep.
God forbid. We, the bride of Christ, must
arise! We must move from singing "God
Bless America" to insisting that America
bless God! We must shift from "moments
of silence" to cries of intercession for
revival!
SUGGESTED PRAYER POINTS:
1. Pray that America's leaders will be led
of God. (Prov. 20:18)
2. Pray that world leaders will coalesce
against terrorism.
3. Pray that American citizens will not
seek vigilante justice. This was no more
a true Muslim act than bombing an
elementary school in Ireland is a
Christian act.
4. Pray for the bravery and security of
America's military personnel.
5. Pray for America's national resolve to
win this war.
6. Prayer for a prolonged awareness of
God and His purposes and a national
revival in the United States.
And to this, http://http://http://http://http://www.somebodycares4u.com
say a resounding "AMEN"!!!!!!!!
