WHERE TO NEXT.....

What Does God Say About War?  That's a question my wife, Joanne, dug into several weeks ago for our small group.  We were talking about the book of Joshua and she was moved to print off some information in regards to the subject.  Later she said, "You should blog about it".  "I think people need to know what God says about War".  So here goes.....

I'm going to start this conversation by sharing a couple of thoughts from PleaseConvinceMe.com  Perhaps this can help get us started.  My hope is that these initial ideas will fuel a reaction and then we'll see where God directs this. 

#1
"In a time when the world is still divided by war and conflict, Christians have a duty and responsibility to think through the morality of the use of deadly force, especially when it comes to the issue of War.  Many Christians are strict pacifists and lean heavily on the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount".

#2
"Christian pacifists then point to a foundational teaching of the Old Testament, citing the command, “You shall not kill,” found in the Ten Commandments. So how can we, as Christians, ever justify the use of deadly force, even in times of war? Doesn’t action of this nature violate the fundamental teaching of Jesus and the Old Testament (which Jesus affirmed as well)?

Moses with the Ten Commandments

#3
“You shall not kill” is actually not a command found in the Bible. The command from scripture in the original language actually says “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). The Hebrew word for ‘murder’ literally means “the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice.” Interestingly, most of us are familiar with this definition of murder, because it is reflected in the penal codes of our country".

#4
"We need to stop for a minute and think about the true cause of war. Why does ANY war begin? Why would we EVER find ourselves considering war in the first place? If we are honest about this, we can usually point to some initial point of conflict that is simply the direct result of human sin. We all have an intuitive sense that evil exists in the world, and the Bible tells us where this evil lives".

Additionally, here is some news fresh off Fox News.  Perhaps this might cause something to stir inside you.

"Two U.S. soldiers were killed in a shooting at Germany's Frankfurt airport, according to Sky News. Two other people were reportedly injured.  A man reportedly opened fire on a bus carrying U.S. soldiers.  The BBC is reporting that police arrested a 21-year old suspect from Kosovo".

I've talked to several pastors who I'd like to weigh in on this subject.  In the days ahead, we'll hear from them.  But I want to hear from you too.  This is a touchy subject no doubt, but one we can all find some answers to.  The lines are open.  God and little old me are waiting................


YGG,

John