War! What is it good for?

WAR! What is it good for?

Today on the way to run errands on a fairly brisk Saturday in San Diego I was stopped by a faithful soldier of Jesus Christ. He handed me a pamphlet that read “Who Would Jesus Bomb Today”. Its funny how the Lord works because I spend ninety percent of my time indoors and for the one half hour that I am outside, he sent me this messenger of his word. Perhaps I was the messenger to him.

This brave faithful man quoted multiple verses of scripture that would indicate that Jesus would never bomb anyone and that war was Biblically incorrect. On the back of this pamphlet was typed in bold letters “As Christians we walk as Jesus walked. Let us Love as Christ Loved, An unconditional Love of both friends and enemies, A love that is stronger than our fears.

This is a very deep and moving statement because it is not only true but it is relevant today when our nation is involved in a very serious war with the radical insurgents in Iraq. It was especially moving for me because I believe that war is Biblically correct.

I always carry a Bible with me. I hardly ever need to use it. Today I did. I showed Stu the verse which I have quoted several times to other anti-evangelical right voices.
Romans 13:1-3 reads:

Let every soul be subject unto higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same.

This verse is so powerful because it shows the sovereignty of God and how he influences the world. Quite simply this verse makes four points.
1. The government that is in place today is there because God put it there
2. The government is put there to rid evil of the world and protect the good
3. Don’t be evil, be good.

It really is that simple. This may be very hard for some people to swallow because each person has their own idea of what good and evil is. It may also be hard to accept because we as human beings cannot see the big picture. The fact is that only God can decide what is good and what is evil. And only God is omnipotent. His power allows him to see into the future and make changes according to his will.

By realizing that God is in control, we can rest easy and know that he will protect us from evil. War is an ugly, terrible, horrific yet necessary thing.