Christian
Politics –
Part 6: War
and National Security
Pastor
Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org
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SERMON INTRODUCTION
Over the last few weeks,
we have discussed the following issues and shown where the bible stands.
Ø Jesus, if a U.S. Citizen, would vote in
elections to fulfill citizenship duties
Ø What about the matters of life and death?
o
Healthcare – Miracles, modern
medicine & personal control over decisions (not government/insurance/doctor
control)
o
Suicide & Euthanasia
– for reasons other than defense of self, family, property or country, the
intentional killing of one’s self, or another is murder, and wrong according to
God.
o
Abortion & Stem Cells
– Abortion too is the intentional killing of an innocent, and considered murder
since scripture show that life truly begins at the moment of conception when
God begins to knit you in the womb where He also names you.
Ø Crime and punishment and how the Lord would
approve of the death penalty for certain offenses
Ø War, defense, and national
security
Ø Guns and matters of defense
Ø Immigration and matters of national security
Ø Marriage
Ø Education
Ø Economy, budget, trade, campaign finances
Ø Green Values
SCRIPTURE READING
Mark 13:1-8
“As Jesus was
leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What
massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
2 “Do you see all
these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on
another; every one will be thrown down.”
3 As Jesus was
sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and
Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what
will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”
5 Jesus said to
them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name,
claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors
of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to
come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There
will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of
birth pains.”
ILLUSTRATION
Some historians, looking through
the last 5620 years of recorded history, discovered that in that time there
have only been 292 years of peace.
The rest of the historical
timeline has been riddled with over 14,000 wars around the world.
3.6 billion people have been
killed in wars.
There is a financial cost to
killing as well. During the time of Julius Caesar, it cost less than $1 to kill
an enemy. During the time of Napoleon, it cost just under $2,000 per enemy.
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.
Generically, we, as followers of
Christ, may assume that we are to be anti-war, which in some ways we truly are.
However, our personal feelings about the matter do not really count if we truly
are followers of Christ.
What does the Old Testament say
about war? What does the New Testament say about war?
What exactly is Jesus’ view on
war?
I.
War in
the Old Testament
a. Does the bible say, “war is justified”?
i.
The bible does not say
anywhere, “war is justified”
ii.
However, it does not
say “was is never justified” either.
iii.
This matter is what we
call in theology, a matter of “inference”
1. We must get our conclusion about the matter from the
evidence in scripture and use our reason and judgment to come to an
understanding.
2. Basic hermeneutics or exegetical studies can solve
this mystery
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.
First, we need the
setting
1. We read that 4 kings from Shinar attacked Canaan.
2. In Genesis 11:2 we see that Shinar is where the Tower of Babel was
built, Shinar is modern day Iraq.
3. So, the first war recorded in scripture was Iraq
(Shinar) attacking Canaan (Israel)
iii.
These 4 kings from
Iraq made a few mistakes
1. First, they were the aggressors against Israel
(Canaan)
2. Second, they took Lot and his family captive
iv.
However,
one of Lot’s servants escaped and told Abram (Abraham) what happened
c.
Israel’s response to being attacked by Shinar (Iraq)
i.
Abram
took 318 armed men and went to war (Battle at Dan) in modern day northern
Israel against Shinar 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)?
d.
In comes Melchizedek
i.
After
the victory against Shinar, Abram set out for home passing Salem (later named
Jerusalem) where Abram meets 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, that this is a pre-Jesus incarnation of the king of
righteousness and peace, the Lord Himself. (Genesis 14:18 “Melchizedek, King of Salem brought out bread and wine, (He was the
priest of God most High).”
1. 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.
iv.
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.
v.
So,
Abrams return from his victory at the battle at Dan was blessed by Melchizedek,
King of righteousness and peace, priest of God Most High.
vi.
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)
II.
What does the New Testament say about war?
a. Aren’t we commanded to be
peacemakers, to turn the other cheek?
i.
Yes,
Jesus tells us to be peacemakers, to “not resist evil”, and to turn the other
cheek.
ii.
However,
these instructions were spoken by Jesus to individuals, regarding personal
ethics, NOT to governing authorities.
iii.
.Matthew 5:39 “I
tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek,
turn to them the other cheek also.”
iv.
What
does Jesus mean here?
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)
Canaan was minding their own business when the aggressors, Shinar,
attacked. Canaan was living in peace. But an injustice was done, a man and his
family were taken captive.
Canaan “responded” to an injustice to free the captives and restore
justice.
v.
Remember,
we spoke over the last few weeks about the governing authorities and their
rights and responsibilities in Romans 17:1-5
vi.
Jesus
makes clear He does not disapprove of war, not just in Genesis with Abram, but
also in Luke 7
b.
Jesus and the Roman Soldier
i.
Interesting
things to note when Jesus was dealing with the Roman Centurion soldier.
1. Jesus never told him it was morally wrong to be a soldier
2. Jesus never told him he must leave the military
a. Jesus did not have a problem telling the rich
young man he had to sell all he owned to follow Jesus!
3. In fact, what Jesus did say was He commended
the soldier for his faith!
a.
Luke 7:9 “I
tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”
c.
What Jesus didn’t say is important too
i.
Jesus
never told Rome they should abandon its military or there should be no police!
ii.
Jesus
DID however, clearly teach that the governing authorities were to use the sword
to punish evil and maintain justice.
III.
How do we act as princes of peace while still engaging in wars?
a. War should always be 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
righteousness and for the sake of justice
i.
When
Abram went to war with the aggressors, it was not for power, 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)
3. A time for war, and a time for peace.
ii.
In
both cases, love comes before hate, and war before peace.
iii.
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.
There are six things the
Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the
community.
iv.
And
sometimes war is needed so that there may be peace.
v.
Look
at the order in the verse.
1. We live in peace and love
2. Something God hates takes place (i.e. shedding
of innocent blood) as in the case of Shinar attacking Canaan.
3. We respond with War
4. So there can be a time of peace.
CONCLUSION – So, how would Jesus vote about war and the nation’s
security?
I believe the Lord has made it clear in both the Old and New Testament.
War should never be sought, always a last resort, and 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!
NEXT WEEK: Part 7 – Guns and Defense
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