A
War of Opinions
Certain topics tend to throw people into one camp or the other, with little common agreement and little openness to people with an opposing viewpoint. War in Iraq has been one of these topics. Many are strongly advocating that we should invade Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein from power. Many are strongly objecting, saying it is none of our business and we are out of line.
What is surprising is how vehement people tend to be - on both sides! It seems that every debate has been done in a spirit of "I am going to prove why I am right and you are wrong." So rarely do we see any open debate where humility snuck in and people walked away more enlightened.
If there is such a wide split, then surely there must be good points on both sides. So why does no one seem to be looking for the common ground? Why do we have to prove ourselves right and prove the other person dead wrong?
Two major things are going on in the world right now. The prospect of war against oppressive and dangerous regimes is one. Closed-mindedness is the other. Even if we are right, when we close our minds and ears to the possibility of being wrong, we have given the Deceiver ammunition. We may be right, in terms of the issues and facts, but deeply controlled by a wrong spirit at the same time!
When Joshua was facing the prospect of war, he came across a strong, ferocious looking warrior with a sword in his hand. Joshua sized him up, then asked him, "Are you for us or for our enemies?" "Neither," the Great Warrior replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come." Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, "What message does my Lord have for his servant?" (Joshua 5:13-14)
We tend to declare that God is on our side, and we present many arguments to prove it. But God is not on our side, nor our enemy's. He has come to see who will be on His side. And if we are going to be on His side, we must walk in humility, love, and courage - whether we are for or against a particular war.
Is God for any war?
The Old Testament is filled with accounts of war. Many of these were okayed by God, if not commanded by Him. David was a man after God's own heart, and yet he led the armies of Israel against the armies of many surrounding nations. His success was dependent upon his obedience to God. Clearly David was acting in God's will in routing the enemies of his day. But when it came time for someone to build a temple for the Lord, God declared that it could not be David because he had shed blood. This temple was to be prophetic of the coming Messiah, one who would be innocent and not shed blood. Jesus came upon a nation that was oppressed by another, yet He never lifted a finger against the oppressive Roman regime. His battle was greater. He battled against spiritual powers. He did not get distracted by fighting earthly battles.
We are no longer living under the Old Covenant of the law, because Jesus has perfectly fulfilled the law and become our righteousness. We now live under the New Covenant of grace. But where does war fit in under the new covenant? When someone hits us, do we turn the other cheek? Jesus did, and He told His followers to do the same. Does that go for nations, too? Should kings and presidents turn the other cheek when they perceive that their country has been wronged or threatened? Some say yes. Some say no, they are civil authorities with a civil mandate.
Many people are currently making comparisons to current regimes and an oppressive regime of the 1930's. When Hitler was gaining power and promoting an agenda of racism and military dominance, Winston Churchill urged his country and others to take preemptive action and remove Hitler from power. Many argued that we should not mettle in Germany's affairs, that we should instead strive for peace. Hitler was allowed to continue his quest, and 50 million people ultimately died because of one man's evil quest for power. Some argue that it could have been avoided with preemptive action. That is why Churchill called WWII the "unnecessary war," feeling it could have been prevented years earlier with far less bloodshed.
With Hitler, we have the benefit of hindsight. Few would argue that the world should have stepped in earlier to prevent the torture and execution of millions of Jews, as well as the brutal assault and overthrow of many other countries.
We don't have the benefit of hindsight with Saddam Hussein, or with any future dictator. So who decides when the world should step in? And should nations step in only when the world is unanimous about taking action?
Many argue that we no longer have the luxury of waiting for well-armed tyrants to make their assault, because it has become too easy to create mass death and destruction with a first blow, and some tyrants would use their weapons as a means of blackmailing the world to bend to their demands.
Then there is the world-perception side of the coin. If Western countries bring regime change in Arab countries, we may well be worsening an already strong anti-American sentiment. Indeed, our presumption and arrogance may be providing reason for future militants and terrorists to take up arms against us.
Years ago, I saw a neighbor couple arguing in a parking lot. The man was pretty scary. He yelled threats at his wife and began hurting her. Should I do something to protect her? Suddenly another neighbor jumped in and tried to stop it. The husband became extremely irate and threatened this "helpful neighbor." Who did this neighbor think he was, anyway? This was his wife, and it was nobody else's business but his, he declared. It was a private matter. Or was it?
There is no easy answer, certainly no automatic answer. Now more than ever, we need the Lord's direction, we need to do like Joshua and fall facedown before the Commander of the Lord's army in reverence, and let Him guide us.
But many Christians would even argue this, saying there is never a time for war. If you apply Jesus' teachings of the Beatitudes to civil governments, then they are right. But do these high callings apply to leaders of countries? In personal affairs, yes, every leader is called to love his enemy and turn the other cheek. But how about in carrying out the duties of his office? Let's see what the Apostle Paul had to say about civil authority:
"He who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (Romans 13:2-4)
So Paul clearly states that God puts governing leaders in place for the purpose of keeping peace, which sometimes includes carrying out punishment on the wrongdoer. "He does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath" against those who do wrong. Governments do have a mandate from God to take up the "sword" at times.
Can that apply across national boundaries? Can nations with greater weapons impose their will on nations with lesser weapons, while being "God's servant, an agent of wrath?"
America is struggling to find her identity these days. In the first half of the 20th century, we were always the last to join a war. That could be seen as a noble and peaceful trait, or something less than courageous, depending on what the world needed at the time. More recently, America is leading the charge to take preemptive action against dangerous threats and brutal oppression. Is this her calling in this time? Is this why she has been given the might that she has? Is it more godly to use this might to spare the oppressed? Or is it more godly to live and let live? America loves freedom. So much that we want to impose freedom on others. But does that violate their freedom?
One thing is certain. War is never the first option in God's eyes. In His original plan for creation, there was no war, for there was no sin. Man chose differently, thus sickness and war and hatred were born. But even in this darkened world, there is light. Our greatest weapons are prayers. Prayers can move mountains, and prayers can change the hearts of men. Prayers can prevent war - by removing the need for war. On that we can agree.
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