 | Senior Pastor Tom Hawks, of Glenn Park Christian Church for the last 30 years, was born in Wichita. He has lived here most of his life. He has been married to Ellen for 24 years. They have two children and three grandchildren. His favorite pastimes are spending time with his family, fishing and studying the Word of God. You may contact Pastor Hawks at (316) 943-4283. |
Religion
2007-04-01 08:09:00
Is it ever right to go to war?
When our family gets together, like we did over Christmas, our discussions sometimes get heated about whether our troops ought to be going overseas to fight or not. I know the Bible says somewhere “an eye for an eye,” but it also says something about “turning the other cheek.” How can we determine the proper answer to this question?
As a nation, whenever we are engaged in war, we struggle with the morality and ethics of it all. We see demonstrators carrying signs and religious leaders stating war is “criminal”. The question we need to ask is not what we “feel” or “think”, but rather what does God “feel” and “think”.
Does God take pleasure in War? According to Ez. 18:32, Rom 15:33, Psalm 7:11, God does not rejoice in death or war, but God does have a purpose for war. Let me give you three: Defense, Liberation and Judgment. There are times when one must defend his family and country. Look at Num. 10:9, Lev. 26:7-8, and you will see that God expects us to defend our families and our freedom. There are also times we go to war to liberate and emancipate. War is an evil thing, but to submit to evil men is worse. Look at Gen. 14:14-16, Isa 1:17 and you will see that God does not want His people to live in subjection to evil men. There are also times when war is right because of Judgment or Punishment. In Rom. 13:1-3, 1 Sam. 15:1-3 and Isa. 2:20, God uses war to wake us up to the realities of our rebellion and sin against Him. I believe the question I’m asked most concerning war is, “Isn’t war against the teachings of Jesus?” When Jesus came the angels announced peace (Luke 2:14), yet in Luke 12:51 Jesus talked not of peace but division. The peace that Jesus came to bring is not peace at any cost that the world talks about (John 14:27) but a peace between man and God, man and man and man and creation. That peace cost Jesus his life (John 19:30) and divides the world into two camps: God’s Children and Satan’s Children. There is a war going on that is Spiritual and a part of that war is physical. Iraq, Iran, Korea all are about control…God control or Satan control. Don’t be fooled about war.
God does not take pleasure in war. He does allow war to accomplish His purpose. As such war is not inconsistent with His nature or the teachings of Jesus. There is a day coming when all wars will cease and as the Prophet Micah tells us, “men will beat their swords into plowshares and the spears into pruning hooks, nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn of war any more”. Micah 4:30
That day will occur when the Lamb of God sits on the throne of David and reigns supreme. Until then war will happen, and rumors of war, there will be the absence of social, political and even to a degree, spiritual peace. In spite of all the “war” around you, you can have peace, give your heart, your mind and your “worry over war” to Jesus.
