The War on Terror

Post by **_chriscarani** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:35 pm

I am interested in hearing viewpoints on America's new role in the Middle East and our war on terror from both a biblical and personal (American) perspective. I would especially like to hear from Steve on this (if your schedule permits), but anyone is welcomed to throw in their 2 cents.

Thanks

Post by **_Sean** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 3:30 am

I don't have anything good to say about it, so maybe I shouldn't say anything.

I will say this, if you look through history, you'll see a pattern.

James 4:1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Post by **_chriscarani** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:42 am

Sean wrote:I don't have anything good to say about it, so maybe I shouldn't say anything. I will say this, if you look through history, you'll see a pattern.

James 4:1 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Thank you Sean for your response, although I am confused. To me this verse would make a case for the terrorist, I am I correct in this view?

Post by **_schoel** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 11:54 am

chriscarani wrote:I am interested in hearing viewpoints on America's new role in the Middle East and our war on terror from both a biblical and personal (American) perspective. I would especially like to hear from Steve on this (if your schedule permits), but anyone is welcomed to throw in their 2 cents.

This is a question that I've been wrestling with and I haven't come to any clear answer.

Here are my thoughts:

My attitude as a follower of Christ toward someone who wishes me harm or death is clearly addressed in Scripture by the words and lives of Jesus and the apostles. I am to love them and pray for them. I am to patiently and humbly suffer loss and pain at their hands. None of this is purposeless. I realize that what I'm suffering is used by God, maybe to win my enemies to Christ, but also to refine me. God is my judge and if I suffer offenses innocently, they are to be set right by God and not me. All this applies to actions against myself. But what am I to do if it is someone else suffering?

This conflict named "The war on terror", is in some sense an attack against soveriegn nations, including the USA. Those who are attacking are targeting the people of those nations. I think the Bible teaches that nations and leaders have God-ordained authority to protect their people, pursue justice and help the oppressed. I'm not sure the above principle for me as an individual follower of Christ is to be applied to a national state. But I'm a citizen of the republic, and have been given the right to participate in the government's direction. Is it OK to abdicate that responsibility?

Are the current activities of the war on terror completely just?
Probably not.
Are ALL the current activities of the war on terror evil?
Probably not.
Are some of the current motives of the USA for the war on terror self-serving?
Probably so.
Are some of the current motives of the USA for the war on terror within God-given authority like protecting its people and pursuing justice?
Probably so.

While I agree with James 4 that people (and nations) pick fights and murder because of sin, I'm not sure that the current war on terror is a conflict that was initiated by the USA.

There isn't any easy answers to this one, IMHO.

Dave

Post by **_chriscarani** » Thu Oct 26, 2006 12:22 am

Thank you shoel, I share your views. By the way stay warm and safe, we have a storm coming as you probably already know! You guys will probably get a few more inches than we.