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Christian Politics
Part 3: War & National Security
By Rev. Bruce A. Shields
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SERMON TIMELINE
3. War & National Security
Today is Sunday. October 6th, 2024
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Mark 13:1-8
"And as He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples *said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down.”
3 And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” 5 And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end. 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pains.”
INTRODUCTION
Some historians, looking through the last 5000 years of recorded history (5785 in the bible), discovered that there have only been 292 years of peace in that time. Less than ½ % of recorded history.
The rest of the historical timeline has been riddled with over 14,000 wars worldwide.
3.6 Billion (and counting) people have been killed in wars.
There is a financial cost to war as well. During the time of Julius Caesar, killing an enemy cost less than $1. During Napoleon's time, killing an enemy cost just under $2,000.
By WWI, it cost approximately $17,000 to kill a single enemy, WWII $40,000, and by the time of the Vietnam War, it cost the government around $200,000 to kill a single enemy.
Generally, we, as followers of Christ, may assume that we are anti-war pacifists, which in some ways we are. However, our personal feelings about the matter do not really count if we truly follow Christ.
What does the Old Testament say about war? What does the New Testament say about war?
What exactly is Jesus’ view on war?
Today we will look at War & National Security.
I. WAR IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
a. Does the bible say “war is justified”?
i. Jesus says in Luke 11:21 “21 When a strong man, fully armed,
guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed.”
ii. Jesus also said in Luke 14:31 “what king, going out to wage war against
another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten
thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand?”
iii. When John the Baptist was
preaching, and he demanded that his listeners repent, “Soldiers also asked
him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from
anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages”” Luke 3:14
1. John did not tell them
that they must cease being soldiers. He did not tell them that they could not
fight in war.
2. This would indicate that
being a soldier is not spiritually problematic. You can be a Christian and a
soldier.
iv. It was of a Roman
soldier, a Centurion, that Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel
have I found such faith” Matthew 8:10; Luke 7:9
1. Such strong praise from
the mouth of Jesus would not likely be given to one in a profession forbidden
to his own disciples. This would indicate that Jesus approved of soldiering.
v. Last week, we read in Ecclesiastes 3:3 “A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up.”
1. Keep reading, and in Ecclesiastes 3:7-8 “A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time
to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.”
vi. Sometimes, war is
justified by God and approved by the Lord Jesus
b. The first war recorded in scripture
i. The first war recorded in
scripture is the “Battle of Dan” in Genesis 14:9-20
ii. We read that 4 kings from
Shinar attacked Canaan.
1. Shinar is modern-day
Iraq, and Canaan is Israel at this time.
2. In Genesis 11:2 we see that Shinar (Iraq) is where the Tower
of Babel was built.
3. So, the first war
recorded in scripture was Iraq (Shinar) attacking Israel (Canaan)
iii. These 4 kings from Iraq made mistakes
1. They were the aggressors against Israel (Canaan)
2. Second, they took Lot and his family captive
3. However, one of Lot’s
servants escaped and told Abram (Abraham) what happened
c. How did God’s people respond to this attack? War.
i. Abraham took 318 armed
men and went to war (Battle at Dan) in modern-day northern Israel against
Shinar (Iraq) and won
ii. They rescued Lot and his
family and pursued the 4 kings beyond Damascus (Modern Syria)
iii. But what did the Lord
think about Abram taking Canaan (Israel) to war against Shinar (Iraq)?
iv. Did God approve?
d. Enter Melchizedek
i. After the victory against
Shinar (Iraq), Abram set out for home, passing Salem (later named Jerusalem),
where Abram met Melchizedek (meaning King of righteousness and peace) King of
Salem (later Shalom, meaning peace)
ii. So, Abram meets
Melchizedek, king of righteousness and peace.
iii. Many scholars believe, as
I do that this is a pre-Jesus incarnation of the king of righteousness and
peace, the Lord Himself.
1. Genesis 14:18 “Melchizedek, King of Salem brought out
bread and wine; now he was the priest of God most High.”
iv. Today, we know that Jesus
is our High Priest, and He uses bread and wine as signs and seals of His broken
body and shed blood for us in communion.
v. So, how does Melchizedek respond to Abram going to war with Shinar?
1. We read in Genesis 14 that Melchizedek blessed Abram for his “great”
and “righteous” victory in vanquishing the aggressors and restoring
justice.
vi. So, Abram returned from
his victory at the Battle at Dan and was blessed by Melchizedek, King of
righteousness and peace, priest of God Most High.
vii. The Lord also spoke to
Moses, saying, “avenge the people of Israel on the Midianites.”…”So Moses
spoke to the people saying, “arm men from among you for war, that they may go
against Midian to execute the Lord’s vengeance on Midian.” Numbers 31:1-4; Exodus 17:16; Deuteronomy 7:1-2; 1 Samuel 15:1-3
viii. When the time comes for
God’s people to defend themselves against the aggressors and enemies of God, war
sometimes takes place. God approves of soldiers, God approves of combat, God
approves of war, and the killing that may take place is not murder. Those who
fight in war are guiltless when defending their country, countrymen, property,
family, and themselves.
II. WAR IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
a. But aren’t we commanded to be peacekeepers?
i. Yes, Jesus tells us to be
peacemakers, to “not resist evil”, and to turn the other cheek.
ii. However, Jesus spoke
these instructions to individuals regarding personal ethics, NOT to governing
authorities.
iii. We are not supposed to be
the violent aggressors but are allowed to defend ourselves and family if need
be.
Matthew 5:39 “But I say to you, do not resist an evil
person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.”
ILLUSTRATION
A man
fatally stabbed his father and seriously wounded his mother and sister. His
other sister, hearing the disturbance, comes from her bedroom to see her twin
sister stabbed. Does she then offer herself to be stabbed?
Is that what Jesus meant
by turning the other cheek?
I
believe what is being said here is that we are to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9) and live as much as possible in peace with
everyone (Mark 9:50), but there sometimes
comes a time to not be silent but fight. To defend oneself.
Canaan
was minding their own business when the aggressors, Shinar, attacked. Canaan was living in peace. But an injustice was done, and a
man and his family were taken captive.
Canaan “responded” to an
injustice to free the captives and restore justice and was blessed for a “great” and “righteous” victory in vanquishing
the aggressors and restoring justice by the High Priest of God.
There is such a thing as righteous war. It is not to gain
oil, money, slaves, land, take what others have, destroy or kill because you
don’t like a people for any reason. But in defense or to restore justice. There
are righteous causes for war, and God does approve.
b. Remember Jesus’ interaction with the Roman Centurion soldier
i. Jesus never told him it
was morally wrong to be a soldier
ii. Jesus never told him he
must leave the military
1. Jesus did not have a
problem telling the rich young man he had to sell all he owned to follow Jesus!
iii. In fact, what Jesus said was that He commended the soldier for his faith!
1. Luke 7:9 “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found
such faith.”
c. What Jesus didn’t and did say about governing powers
i. Jesus never told Rome they should abandon their military or
there should be no police!
ii. The New Testament,
however, clearly teaches that the governing authorities were to use the sword
to punish evil and maintain justice.
III. HOW TO BE PRINCES OF PEACE DURING TIMES OF WAR
a. For the peacemakers, war is a last resort
i. As a country, we need to defend ourselves
ii. We need to protect our citizens and way of life
iii. We have a God-given right
to protect our families, property, and beliefs
b. War should always be for defense, righteousness, and justice
i. When Abram went to war
with the aggressors, it was not for power or personal gain, just to flex, take
over, etc.…
ii. Abram fought the Battle at Dan to set FREE the captives (Lot and his family) and to drive the evil aggressors back out of Canaan.
c. Unfortunately, war is sometimes necessary
i. “a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:8
1. Love (I Corinthians 13)
2. Hate (Proverbs 6:16-19)
ii. A time for war, and a
time for peace.
iii. In both cases, love comes
before hate, and war before peace.
iv. I believe this teaches that we are to live in love until the time we need to hate and hate only that which God hates.
v. Proverbs 6:16-19
1. “There are six things
which Yahweh hates,
Even seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked thoughts,
Feet that hasten to run to evil,
19 A false witness who breathes out lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.”
vi. Sometimes, war is needed so that there may be peace.
1. Look at the order in the verse.
a.
We live in peace and love
vii. Something God hates takes place (i.e., shedding of innocent blood), as in the case of Shinar attacking Canaan.
1. God’s people respond with War
2. So, there can be a time of peace.
CONCLUSION –
So, what DOES Jesus think about war and national security?
War should never be sought; it is always a last resort to a Christian peacemaker, but it is sometimes necessary. One should always be ready to defend and protect.
I Corinthians 13:4-7 “4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
That is what love is!
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