WAR, What Is It Good For?

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

That peace is often the result of war.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I'd like to explain my answer:

The only time we should be involved in a war is when we are attacked or if our vital interests are at stake. For example: Pearl Harbor getting attacked. That was reason for us to get involved in WW2. The reason we also went after Germany is because Hitler had declared war on us.

There were other choices in that poll that I wanted to address too:

* The one about a dictator slughtering his own people: I have no problem with supplying a resistance movement looking to overthrow a dicatator with weapons. However, I don't like putting our troops into another country's problem(s).

* The other selection was about a civil war within a country. I say as long as the war stays within that country's borders, let them sort their problems out. If during our civil war France, England, & other countries got involved, I think they would have been among the casualties in our war. If our troops got in between two sides fighting in a civil war, the same would happen to them.

* As realtes to the U.N. we should never be involved with them. They are bad news for us. They don't look out for our intrests. Anytime we have fought a war when they were involved, we have lost. Two examples would be Korea & Vietnam. I also oppose using our troops to be placed under U.N. command. Our troops took an oath to protect our country, not the U.N.

* The selection about allies getting attacked is one I am kind of "ify" on. I have had friends to do stupid things before, that I could not defend. I have also had friends that were bullied & that I have stood up for. I would say it depends on a number of things (how the conflict started, whether or not that country can't defend themselves properly, etc.).

* The other one was about Bush or Obama sending people to war. To me it doesn't matter who sends them to war. Only as long as they are sending them for the right reason. I personally had mixed feelings about sending our troops to Iraq, but something had to be done. When you declare war on Islamic extremists, you can't just single out one country. You have to declare war on the whole Islamic religion.

 

So does that mean that the Revolutionary War was wrong? Should we have allowed England to do what they were doing to us?

Do you believe that we were wrong for getting involved in WW2? Do you think when Japan killed our service men, when they attacked Pearl Harbor, that we should have "turned the other cheek"? When Hitler declared war on us, should we have surrendered?

I'm curious to know your thoughts.

 

I think it is a case by case basis, but mostly I am not for war unless we are directly attacked.

I am not sure any war now is truly moral (though some might be necessary for survival); the only moral wars were the ones God directed in the OT.

But I think war today is a murky area since we are not clearly directed by God on these issues, imo. I see some support with the state wielding the sword in Rom. 13, although some interpret this as capital punishment, since it mentions punishing those who are evil.

I tend to be more for capital punishment than for war.

 

I agree that Jesus came to establish a deep feeling of peace in His followers in spite of what the world challenges them with.

On the other hand He taught us to:

Mat 5:43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

How do you interpret this to mean that we should start wars to kill our enemies?

 

I heard we were supposed to turn the other cheek, but the Bible is silent about what we do next....I know whose cheek I would be turning!

Cheers,

Jim

 

Jim, you are a study in contradictions. Sometimes I fiercely disagree with you and on others I want to hug you neck.

 

Remember, I know Judo..........:laugh:

Cheers,

Jim

 

What is war 'good' for?

Killing and breaking things, for two things, off the top of my head.

Ed

 

It's also good for hacking off liberals.

 

Conservatives do seem to have a love for war (Moderator adjustment)---among other things---don't they?

 

I guess we never gave thought about how people actually felt when we faced the battlefield risking our lives for freedom.

I apologize for risking my life. I shan't do it again.

Cheers,

Jim

 

You are full of broad generalizations. This is yet another harsh accusation.

I am conservative in most issues. Read my post #26 on this thread. I am not for war.

You try to categorize people. Well, categorize this:
I'm prolife
I'm for gun control
I usually do not like the Republican party or their candidates
I never voted for Bush
I lean toward capital punishment
I lean against war
I don't like politics
I don't like Obama

People are not so easily categorized.

You paint with too broad a bush.

 

I absolutely agree with you. It's just that this board is so overwhelmingly conservative/Republican that it's hard not to react when someone says you have the blood of millions of abortions on your hands just because you didn't vote for the Republican candidate. I've had people say to my face (twice) that you can't be a Christian and a Democrat.

I tried to reduce the level of personal attacks on the BB and my recommendation was rejected. That's what people want.

For my part, I don't support abortion and yet I continue to get insults insinuating that I do.

I thought GW Bush did great harm to America
I voted for his father and Richard Nixon (the first time)
I do support Obama but he's inherited some overwhelming problems
I do believe that the Republican party uses the abortion issue to get evangelical votes (and that really makes me mad).
I do believe that the association with the Republican party has hurt the church greatly
I'm against war unless it's absolutely necessary (e.g. Pearl Harbor)
I came very, very close to getting drafted to serve in Viet Nam
I really have a heart for the handicapped and the poor
I love my country and fight hard to prevent our freedom from being taken away (e.g. Patriot Act).
My twin brother went to the So. Bapt. Seminary (second career) and has pastored a church for 7 years
I've served as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher, sang in the choir, served on two pulpit committees, and done lay preaching primarily in retirement homes.
I love golden retrievers (have my second one now.

 

Blackbird: I love Border Collies and Austrailian Shepherds

 

You are too young to have gotten the reference. :thumbs:

Ask your mom or dad or some other boomer! Or click the link.

 

I never thought that I would see Bush bashing here........


Oh, by the way, Jesus said.........
Matthew 10:34
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.”

 

Is this how you treat conservative people in your church?