Sent: 10/16/2002 11:11 AM
Chad,
I've been keeping up with your emails concerning the proposed war in Iraq and had some questions. (Naturally - I'm a midwestern Republican gun-owner!). So here goes.
Would you agree with me that God has in the past used war in His purposes for 1)Rebuking His people for their misbehavior (as when the Babylonians conquered Israel and took them captive), 2)Showing His favor on Israel (as they came into the promised land, they conquered lots of people), 3)Judging unrighteous nations (God brought armies against Babylon after Babylon had taken Israel captive and then released them)? So, we would agree that any thoughtless rejection of war would be foolish, because God has used war in the past to do His good will. Now, you might say that the New Testament changed all that, and I would disagree but be willing to grant your arguement, however, it becomes difficult to hold that position with some of the things that are said about Christ's new position of rule after His resurrection. For instance, in Psalm 2 (a Psalm concerning Christ) says this:
"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us...Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."
Quite a lot of dashing and anger in there! But the point stands - Christ, Who is now at God's right hand ruling, is a mighty Warrior - not having a problem with war. Again, we see this picture of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:24-26:
"Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death."
Destroying, putting enemies under foot. Interesting that this should be said of Christ.
Is it safe to say that Christ is indeed a Warrior, and not against war per se?
Sincerely,
M
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Dear M,
You have very good questions, and I can only tell you what's on my heart, and I pray that it will make some sense.
My name, "Chad", is Celtic for warrior. Honestly, I always hated those little cards that said so, for I felt that it misrepresented who I was. As a child, the last thing I felt like was a warrior, for fighting was something that I didn't understand and couldn't identify with. When I was twelve years old, I allowed the boys in my sixth grade classroom to throw rocks at me during one break in the school day, and although tearful, I never raised a stone from the ground to fight back. My child believed in Jesus Christ's teaching of turning the other cheek, and although my heart cried in agony over the torment, I knew it was for the good somehow. By resisting my human aggression, I was able to Truly love them. For they didn't know what they were doing.
My adult has fortunately retained that child's faith that guided me that day many years ago. Still today, at twenty-nine, I maintain to turn the other cheek. I’m blessed with the faith that holds my every day’s reality to Christ's Golden Rule: Do unto others as you'd have done unto you. Love your neighbor as yourself. And do it Honestly. =) Granted, I'm human, so it isn't always flawless, but I love God with all my heart, and I strive to be perfect in this Love Christ taught me. The Love that is the very core of our spiritualities. The Love that was glorified in God's Ultimate Sacrifice so that all may live.
If Jesus Christ is a warrior, then I believe He is a Warrior of God's Love for the world. The fact that He walked, taunted and teased, bruised and beaten, ridiculed and bleeding, to the mound of skulls and still felt Love in His heart for each and every guilty face He saw on His way makes Him a Warrior for Love like none other. The fact that He allowed them to drive stakes through His completely innocent hands and still refrained from ripping His executioners from the earth is a fight well won for the Victory of Love. The fact that He allows humanity to continue its existence ages after His Resurrection in order to win a spiritual war beyond our flesh and blood is what God's Love is all about.
Oh, truly, I must ask you, what serves His glory more:
Eliminating a life in His name or representing His Love by giving a life hope?
Faith, hope and love; the greatest of these love.
These are my thoughts, for what they’re worth. I hope they are understandable. =)
