The great English preacher, C.H. Spurgeon, said our earthly citizenship should be used to benefit the cause of Christ. Our liberties should be used to speak out against wrong-doing and to share the Gospel, while our wealth should be shared to benefit the poor.
So what is the responsibility of a Christian with regard to war?
A Tenth Crusade?
A recent headline in the local newspaper proclaimed that "Evangelical Christians Approve of the War". The same "Evangelical Christians" are believed to hold considerable political influence in presidential elections and may be found expressing interest in a candidate because of his supposed Christian principals.
America, it is said, is fighting a war of fundamentals, the "war on terror". President Bush and many of the presidential candidates make it out to be a holy war -- a crusade. And like the crusades of old, it is a "Christian Nation" fighting Muslim nations. In fact, on September 11th, 2001, President Bush even used the word "crusade" in a speech on the South Lawn, saying "this crusade, this war on terrorism is going to take a while."
They like to say that radical Muslim extremism is the greatest threat to our way of life. They like to say we are fighting over there so we don't have to fight over here. But before radical Islam, it was the "war on drugs". Before the war on drugs, the great threat was Communism.
The Costs of War
We should at once point out that the war in Iraq is a preemptive war, and with talk of attacking Iran, it's clear that there is no intention that preemptive war should ever end. It is also an undeclared war, which is illegal according to the Constitution of the United States.
This crusade has also brought an unprecedented loss of personal liberty. The government can listen to our conversations, secretly search our homes, imprison us indefinitely, employ torture, and circumvent the rule of law which made our country great. The laws that make these activities legal (as opposed to moral or ethical) could be used against any person or group that the government deems a threat.
It is deplorable that Americans have allowed these laws to stand for the sake of "safety". Ben Franklin said, "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety"
Support for war undermines Christian testimony. The Crusades started from an appeal to help resist Muslim advances into the Byzantine Empire. Subsequent wars were fought over ownership of Israel and other territories and to spread Christianity. Roger Bacon (1214-1294) criticized the Crusades saying "those who survive, together with their children, are more and more embittered against the Christian faith." And in the 1950s, Sir Richard Runciman wrote "High ideals were besmirched by cruelty and greed ... the Holy War was nothing more than a long act of intolerance in the name of God".
But the great disgrace for Christians in America is that they have purchased "safety" with idolatry by embracing this "war on terror" as a holy war.
In this scheme, safety and security come from the government, and preemptive war against Islam is a permissible and holy cause, making the "war on terror" the fight of Christians. But these are serious errors with no foundation in the Bible.
Safety Comes from God
Protection and safety from the storm was not in the ship, but in the One who was sleeping peacefully in the hold (Matt 8:24).
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for You, LORD, only make me dwell in safety. (Ps 4:8)
Whether we have "little faith" or make great preparation, safety still comes from God.
The horse [is] prepared against the day of battle: but safety [is] of the LORD. (Proverbs 21:31)
War is Not a Christian Precept
When the people of a Samaritan village would not receive Jesus into their midst, James and John asked if they should "command fire to come down from heaven, even as Elisha did", but Jesus rebuked them saying "you know not what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." (Luke 9:51-56)
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. (Matt 5:9)
Preemptive war is a doctrine of do unto others before they do unto you. Many Christians are convinced that, if unchecked, Islam will sweep across the world and result in persecution. Even if this were true, persecution is to be expected:
... I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:19)
Preemptive war was also not the foreign policy of the Founders, many of which were professing Christians. Thomas Jefferson said that "Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto". And yet we entangle ourselves in the affairs of other nations and send our troops to war or to be policemen. Should it not give us pause that both Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden were at one time allies of the United States?
War for a Christian is spiritual, not physical.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph 6:11-12)
Pawn or Participant?
By "approving" of war, it seems the Bible means as little to today's "Evangelical Christians" as the Constitution does to our government, and so Christianity in America shrivels into non-distinction along with the liberties that made its growth possible.
As a Christian, if you will not be persuaded by God's Word, by what institution will you be guided? By your pastor? By your church? By your government? I tell you now that if you will be guided by the will of men, you will run afoul of the will of God.
It matters not by what fallacy of logic or doctrine you have arrived at the conclusion. It is still an affront to the One Who taught us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek.
Our government uses fear of attack from Muslim extremists to obtain and maintain power. This fear is used as justification for nullifying a legacy of liberty that was founded in the blood of Americans more than two centuries ago. By making this war a "crusade", the government ties high ideals to cruelty and greed.
Herman Goering, the infamous Nazi Reichsmarshall, said:
"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."
They like to say that radical Muslim extremism is the greatest threat to our way of life. But the truth is that our way of life is the greatest threat to our way of life.
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