Should Christians always oppose war?

Cape Cod Times | 3/9/03 | Rev. Edward Voosen

[Consort]

A real good topic......for the Religion Forum.

[anniegetyourgun]

Thanks for the ping and info. I'm surprised that King is having these three on. I would have thought he'd rather chew the common fat with someone more like-minded such as Tony Campolo....

The Romans verse is key and one that liberals like to ignore. On the other hand, conservatives often forget that "...the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men." (Daniel 4) That means, of course, that He gave us Clinton, just as He permitted evil kings in Israel, etc. All that, because of our sin, prayerlessness, and for having forgotten Him. I know those 8 years certainly got my attention.....

[RnMomof7]

Yep He gave us Clinton too..perhaps some day we will understand why:>)

[alancarp]

Certainly, one cannot ignore the Old testament scriptures: God directed to take their promised lands by force as a means of cleansing out the pagan peoples that populated the area. Time and time again, God went before Israel in battle -- and left them to their own devices when they dissed Him as well.

It was a different era, but not every battle was waged with fire coming down from heaven or with ten divine plagues. Sometimes the Godly had to actually go out and do it.

And those who think Jesus just sat around in the meadows petting sheep, feeding the 5000, and endlessly preaching the Beatitudes just aren't reading enough.

[newcats]

A clarification......
When Jesus said ""But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one."....most people conviently leave out the next line...."It is written: 'And he was numbered with the transgressors'"

And IMHO, when Jesus says "that is enough", he is not referring to the quantity of swords, but He is saying...Enough of this talk about swords.

[alancarp]

I left out a word: "...God directed ISRAEL to take their promised lands..."

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Thanks for posting that, it was good to read about christians who see the fundamental faith that guides this President's actions, and the wisdom that comes from this.

Like when he was choked up saying God Bless America during the address on the Columbia disaster, or even during the latest press conference when he spoke of others who he'll never meet praying for him. How can anyone of faith not see he is one of their own? Shame on that for ignoring this because of their partisanship.

God Bless George W Bush.

[anniegetyourgun]

Religious perspectives on current events should not be relegated to the basement. Neither are Christians (such as this author) the ugly stepchild that needs to be hid in the attic.

[alancarp]

And IMHO, when Jesus says "that is enough", he is not referring to the quantity of swords, but He is saying...Enough of this talk about swords.

Yes - you're right: I picture Jesus kind of doing a big sigh, shaking his head ('cause Peter missed His point AGAIN), and then saying "yeah -- that's plenty."

[anniegetyourgun]

You put that so well. Wish I'd said it. Shame on them also for spewing such hatred toward a brother in Christ, for the sake of their desire for power.

[Jorge]

Charles Stanley did a great sermon on this topic.

Yes, I saw a sermon he did on TV about this...he is an excellent Bible teacher.

[k2blader]

Bump!

[Charles Henrickson]

Religious perspectives on current events should not be relegated to the basement. Neither are Christians (such as this author) the ugly stepchild that needs to be hid in the attic.

Thank you! I agree. One of the things I feared when FR split off "Religion" into its own forum was exactly the kind of reaction you are rebutting. Now if we were having a purely "in-house" religious discussion--say, on the intricacies of sacramental theology--then that should properly belong in the "Religion" forum. But here, where biblical/theological perspectives are brought to bear on matters in the public square, then there is no reason why they should not be heard in this forum.

[anniegetyourgun]

"Trusting in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein is not an option" - GW Bush.

Most miss this guy's biblical references because of the high degree of biblical illiteracy in this country. Who is one of Saddam's (unrestrained) heroes? And didn't that 'hero' spend a period of time under the thumb of God in insanity because of his arrogance? Clearly this use of words was designed for Saddam's consumption.

[Charles Henrickson]

St. Augustine understood that the state is a God-ordained institution and that its primary leader is "God’s servant...who does not bear the sword for nothing...but is an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the evildoer."

Of course, the part in quotation marks did not originate with St. Augustine but with St. Paul (Romans 13).

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I would prefer to live in a chaotic world of violence and uncertainty, safe in the knowledge that God is sovereign in all things, than to live a placid and peaceful existence, ignorant of God's control.

Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, this IS a war against Islam. Islam is an enemy of Christianity. And Islam will be defeated.

[My2Cents]

PSALM 149:6-9 --
Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, To execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, To bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron, to execute on them the judgment written; This is an honor for all His godly ones. Praise the LORD!

[Theophilus]

Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight...
...that there be no complaining in our streets. Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

[Uri’el-2012]

RnMomof7 ;LivFREEordie ;Charles Henrickson ;Alamo-Girl ; alancarp ;xzins; drstevej

It is like the tension between the 4th and 5th commandments. The 4th tells us to honor authorities and the 5th not to kill.

1 posted on 03/10/2003 12:36 PM MST by LivFREEordie

The author misunderstands the original text

The Greek is very clear and the Hebrew is very clear :

It does not say KILL, it says MURDER.

We are prohibited from committing MURDER.

There is no tension between the 4th and the 5th commandment; G-d wrote both.

Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the
Thessalonians, for they received the message with great
eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if
what Paul said was true.

chuck <truth@YeshuaHaMashiach>

[sheltonmac]

Personally, I don't know any Christians (including me) who would oppose a truly just war. The question we are facing is this: does an attack on a sovereign nation that has not attacked us constitute a "just war"?