February 2003

Ecclesiastes 3:1 through Ecclesiastes 3:8 (KJV)

1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Several times in the past weeks I’ve been confronted with questions about how we as Christians should be responding during a time of war, and impending war. The teachings of Christ are clearly peaceful in nature, and encourage, indeed demand, that we follow His example. So the question comes, should Christians ever support a war effort, and if so what form should that support take?

These are difficult questions to answer, and it may be that the answer is one that must be answered for each Christian individually according to the Holy Spirit’s leading in their life. I don’t pretend today, to give you a definitive answer, or to even answer every question you may have. I don’t pretend to know exactly what God wants, nor do I attempt to put my words into God’s mouth. This lesson tonight is the result of much prayer, and it is in that attitude I share it with you tonight.

Our nation, today, is on the brink of war with the nation of Iraq. Going to war must always be a last resort, and must never be entered into lightly. Our scripture says in verse eight that there is a time of war and a time of peace. It appears today that we are fast slipping from the time of peace into a time of war. So what should we as Christians do?

It is apparent that war is not the best solution to a problem, even if it becomes the necessary solution. My understanding of God is such that I believe he’s not "excited" about war. I don’t think he enjoys bloodshed and vengeance. Somehow I can’t see Christ sitting on the sidelines with a banner in his hand leading the cheerleading section. War should never make any of us happy; instead it should be saddening for us.

Unfortunately we live in a fallen world where peace is not always attainable. We live in a world where wickedness is in the norm, and following a Godly life is often an afterthought, if it is even a thought at all. In our world are evil men, bent on self destruction, that pose a danger to peaceful peoples everywhere. It is this kind of man, in my opinion, that Saddam Hussein is. Romans 3:15-17 describes such a man:

Romans 3:14 through Romans 3:18 (KJV)

14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Throughout the Old Testament God used men to punish the wicked. In countless battles he exhorted his people to take up arms and fight for a cause that is just. Indeed the second verse of our nations own national anthem contains these words:

O thus be it ever when free men shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation;

Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heavn’n rescued land

Praise the Pow’r that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just;

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust!"

And the Star spangled Banner in triumph shall wave

O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

We are a nation of laws, and our government has the authority to send our children to war. It is our responsibility to make wise decisions when we elect people to represent us, especially on such important matters as sending troops to combat. God recognizes the authority of the government in the book of Romans.

Romans 13:1 through Romans 13:4 (KJV)

1Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3For 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: 4For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

In this passage of scripture we see the clearest example of a Christian’s relationship to the secular government. We also see, in this passage, a clear example of the responsibility of the government. It is the government’s responsibility to promote good and restrain evil. If we are to go to war, we must go to war to restrain evil, not to bring evil upon another. It seems clear that a nation has a biblical mandate to defend themselves, and to protect those that are weaker.

So the question for a Christian is whether or not a war is "just". What makes a war just? Church leaders throughout history have grappled with that question, and moral nations have used certain principles in the past to determine whether waging war was the "right" thing to do.

Those principles primarily include these 5 criteria:

It must have a legitimate reason, war cannot be used to satisfy a temper tantrum (for example).

It must be a last resort.

It must be declared by a proper authority.

The evil caused by the war must be less than the evil being righted.

It must have a reasonable probability of success.

The following section is my personal opinion, and is to be treated as such. I’m not saying here "Thus says the Lord" and I want to make that distinction clear. It is my opinion that going to war in Iraq meets these principles.

We have a legitimate reason. Numerous reasons, to be sure. Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, said,

"In just war theory, only defensive war is defensible.

"And if military force is used against Saddam Hussein, it will be because he has attacked his neighbors, used weapons of mass destruction against his own people and harbored terrorists from the al-Qaida terrorist network that attacked our nation so viciously and violently on September 11, 2001."

In 1990, Saddam Hussein ordered his army into Kuwait. In the 1980’s he ordered his army into Iran. He has oppressed, with violence, the people under his protection, even using chemical weapons against them. At the conclusion of the war in 1991 he signed a document of peace which held certain stipulations, including the total disarmament of his weapons arsenal. He has failed to honor that agreement, so any future hostilities are a resumption of war following a cease fire in 1991. A war that was waged to liberate Kuwait from an invading army.

We also have a man in power who we know has chemical weapons. We know he is willing to use them, and we know that he supports terrorists. By his own admission he supports Islamic Jihad and Hamas. Both are groups that are dedicated to the eradication of Israel, and both groups consider the United States an enemy. In the past weeks, numerous mainstream, so-called moderate Islamic clerics have publicly called for faithful Muslims to kill Americans and Jews wherever they find them. These are the people that Hussein, again by his own admission, is supporting. There has been evidence presented of terrorist training camps in Northern Iraq, and reports of Al-Quada members being harbored and protected. Last year an American diplomat was assassinated in Jordan, and there were direct ties reported between the terrorists who completed that act and Baghdad. This action alone makes an attack on Iraq a defensive war. However, we are well within the bounds of just cause simply by their violation of the agreements they made in 1991.

The second principle is a principle of last resort. Have we tried all avenues of diplomacy? For 12 years we have given Iraq a chance to comply with international demands. Seventeen different resolutions concerning Iraq are in breech. Many would have you to believe that we are rushing in to war, but it is actually to the contrary. We have been patient for 12 years. Sometimes force is the only thing a thug will listen too.

War was declared by a proper authority. The US congress issued approval in 1991, 1998, and 2002 specifically for Iraq. In 2001 war was authorized against terrorists. That is the only authority the United States requires. It is not, however the only authority it possesses. We have the resolutions in the UN Security council that have been violated, as well as a final resolution that was billed as "Saddam’s last chance".

Is the solution less evil than allowing him to remain? I think it is. I think the people of Iraq are being oppressed. Saddam may not be bent on worldwide domination, but he has twice invaded neighbors, and has used gas on his own populace. He is a dangerous man, and while many may die, both civilian and military, the option of leaving him in power only serves to prolong the oppression of the Iraqi people.

Sen. Don Nickles, R-Ponca City, who also voted to support using force, said religious organizations have the right to voice their opinions to the president and Congress. He said he would weigh their input on the issue in the same way he considers what outside groups say on any given matter.

"My faith says, 'Pray over major decisions,'" Nickles said. "My faith is very important to me, and religion is very important to me.

"I don't want to say (the position of religious groups) isn't important, but it won't be the criteria I'll make a decision on."

Nickles said the factors he will rely on are "going to be a lot more political and military and trying to defeat evil."

"There are some very evil people that need to be stopped," he said, noting that European countries failed to see the threat posed by Adolf Hitler until it was too late.

Nickles was raised as a Catholic but now attends the McLean Bible Church in suburban Virginia and describes himself as "fairly ecumenical."

In 1991, just before the Gulf War, Nickles flew to Israel because he was worried U.S. leaders were ignoring the longtime ally to avoid splintering the coalition assembled to fight Iraq.

Last week, he expressed concerns about the threat Saddam poses to Israel.

"He already has missiles capable of reaching Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Jordan," Nickles said. "He could do a lot of damage. He's already made statements about wanting Israel to burn, which does have relevance to biblical prophecy."

Chris Casteel "The Oklahoman"

Finally, do we have a reasonable chance of winning? Absolutely we do.

So it is (again let me stress) my opinion, that going to war with Iraq is the right thing to do. It is terrible. It is hateful. It is heart breaking. But it is right.

Not all Christian’s agree with my position. Even some of you may not. I think it is reasonable that we can arrive at differing conclusions. So what can we do as Christians, regardless of whether we support action in Iraq? What are some common ground principles a Christian in wartime must do?

We can support the war effort. While we may not support the war, the men and women serving in our military unconditionally deserve our support. We may make the sacrifices required of us during a time of war. Once our legitimate government decides to go to war, it is our responsibility to support our government. That doesn’t mean we must remain silent in the face of what we may perceive to be a wrong, but it does mean that we don’t undermine the efforts of the government in such a way that it puts our soldiers at risk.

We must pray for our President, we must pray for our soldiers. We must pray for our nation. We must encourage our soldiers, and assist their families. We must be open to the hurt and pain that people in our nation will feel during a time of war, and be prepared to open our hearts to them.

Finally we should, in the days leading to conflict and after it begins, be faithful in praying for peace. We, as Christians, should never desire war. But when war becomes a necessity, we must be faithful in our prayers.