War isn't always bad. Religious peaceniks tend to forget the commandment is not "Thou shalt not kill", but rather, "Thou shalt not murder". :-)
For example, fighting against evil is not only good, but a duty of righteous people.
There's an old proverb applicable here, "All that is required for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing."
Now, one can certainly argue whether Iraq was invaded because the rulers were evil. Even though the ruler Hussein was evil, that probably wasn't the motive behind the invasion.
However, the people fighting against us in Iraq *are* evil people. They are people that want to destroy the United States and its Judeo-Christian value system, and Israel. These people want to convert the entire world to Islam by force if necessary. These people want to kill Americans and Jews. That's evil, man, and I'm glad we are fighting them.
Okay, two things 1. I think there is a distinction between fighting evil and resisting evil. Resisting evil is hiding Jews, sabotaging Nazis, speaking out, and going to the gallows professing the illegitimacy of Nazism. Fighting evil is sticking a bomb under Hitler’s desk. To put it into present day war on terror terms (not that WWII terms really work) foiling terrorist attacks, arresting terrorist, and the like is resisting evil, torturing terrorists and invading countries is fighting evil. As for me and mine I’ll resist, but I won’t fight. 2. Rambo ripping the neck off a Burmese soldier DOES NOT exemplify St. Francis of Assis’ prayer about eternal life the announcer is “praying” in the background no matter what Hollywood tells us. Rambo “getting religion” doesn’t make his violence acceptable let alone righteous.
Hi Chris, Sadly, the video is no longer available on YouTube! But I guess I'm glad I didn't see it after all, I might have hurt myself rolling my eyes that much!
And of course the modern state has many, many justifications which it will roll out at will to persuade Christians (and others) to kill in its name - not least the alleged danger that the 'other' poses to our 'freedoms'. And regardless of the wording of the commandment in Ex. 20.13 - a very narrow distinction - it is exceedingly difficult for Christians to ever wave the flag of war when we follow a Lord who said to love your enemies, turn the other cheek, bless those who curse you and pray for those who abuse you. Puts it in a whole other context, doesn't it?
3 comments:
War isn't always bad. Religious peaceniks tend to forget the commandment is not "Thou shalt not kill", but rather, "Thou shalt not murder". :-)
For example, fighting against evil is not only good, but a duty of righteous people.
There's an old proverb applicable here, "All that is required for evil to triumph is that good men do nothing."
Now, one can certainly argue whether Iraq was invaded because the rulers were evil. Even though the ruler Hussein was evil, that probably wasn't the motive behind the invasion.
However, the people fighting against us in Iraq *are* evil people. They are people that want to destroy the United States and its Judeo-Christian value system, and Israel. These people want to convert the entire world to Islam by force if necessary. These people want to kill Americans and Jews. That's evil, man, and I'm glad we are fighting them.
Okay, two things
1. I think there is a distinction between fighting evil and resisting evil. Resisting evil is hiding Jews, sabotaging Nazis, speaking out, and going to the gallows professing the illegitimacy of Nazism. Fighting evil is sticking a bomb under Hitler’s desk. To put it into present day war on terror terms (not that WWII terms really work) foiling terrorist attacks, arresting terrorist, and the like is resisting evil, torturing terrorists and invading countries is fighting evil. As for me and mine I’ll resist, but I won’t fight.
2. Rambo ripping the neck off a Burmese soldier DOES NOT exemplify St. Francis of Assis’ prayer about eternal life the announcer is “praying” in the background no matter what Hollywood tells us. Rambo “getting religion” doesn’t make his violence acceptable let alone righteous.
Hi Chris,
Sadly, the video is no longer available on YouTube! But I guess I'm glad I didn't see it after all, I might have hurt myself rolling my eyes that much!
And of course the modern state has many, many justifications which it will roll out at will to persuade Christians (and others) to kill in its name - not least the alleged danger that the 'other' poses to our 'freedoms'. And regardless of the wording of the commandment in Ex. 20.13 - a very narrow distinction - it is exceedingly difficult for Christians to ever wave the flag of war when we follow a Lord who said to love your enemies, turn the other cheek, bless those who curse you and pray for those who abuse you. Puts it in a whole other context, doesn't it?
Best,
JF
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