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Just Warfare

Dear H,

Thank you for forwarding the article on the 2003 Iraq war. On the surface it is hard to disagree with; however, I disagree with a lot of it.

There are non-combatants, but there are no innocent people. We do not want a serious debate on "what it means to confess Christ in a world of violence." People already know what it means - they just don't want to do it, because they are convinced that it provokes violence against those who confess Christ.

The article assumes preemptive war is the answer. It is not the answer. That does not mean turning a blind eye to torture and civilian casualties. We are probably one of very few nations that do not turn a blind eye to these things.

Here are some additional thoughts.

Our worst enemy is Satan. "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you" (Rom. 16:20). Notice that the God of Peace will crush Satan under your (the Christians’) feet.
And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down - that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Rev. 12:7-9)

And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, "Come, gather together for the great supper of God, so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great." Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. (Rev. 19:17-19)
When I represent myself, I should love my enemies to my own hurt with no exceptions that I know of.
But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:27-36)
If I am walking down the street and someone comes up and hits me on the right cheek, I will turn the other so he can hit me again. If however, he hits my wife, I would hit him hard as unto the Lord. If someone comes into a restaurant and starts shooting the customers, I would stop him if it were possible, even if he died or I died as a result.

People who died in Iraq on both sides are probably went to hell when they died. If they lived to be a hundred, they probably would have gone to Hell. That is the tragedy. It is a tragedy that God knows about.

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