 | Dr. John Click, has been the Pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church for 27 years now he is the pastor emeritus. He’s a graduate of Baylor University with a BA and Southwestern Seminary with a BD. He received his DMin at Midwestern Seminary. He has served in numerous positions in the Southern Baptist Convention, including: President of the Kansas/Nebraska Convention, Executive Committee of SBC, North American Mission Board, International Mission Board, and Houston Baptist University Board. He has traveled to preach in Europe, Central and South America and the Far East. Dr. Click is the founder and first President of Harvest Communications, which is a TV production company specializing in producing teaching materials for Para- Church organizations. You may contact him for comments or questions by e-mail at: Jcclick99@aol.com. |
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?
This question has always divided Christians. Yes, Jesus did tell His followers to turn the other cheek and not be personally defensive. But when one of my neighbors is hitting the other over the head with a shovel, how do I show my love? Being a peace maker is hard. During America's wars, those Christians who believed that the Bible requires us to be pacifistic have been excused from combat requirements. During WW II Mennonite youth did some alternative duty to the country. But I must ask: Should not Hitler have been stopped before He was able to do as he promised: Kill millions of Jews; enslave the "inferior "Slavic people; kill the disabled, elderly and handicapped who were useless to the State.
We knew this, but were going to "sit out" the war until simultaneously Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and Germany declared war on us. Many of today's problems are results of European meddling and plundering, especially in the Middle East. But situations sometimes call for someone to perform "police action". If we had not fought in Korea in the l950's, the people in South Korea would now be suffering the same horrors as those in North Korea. I have South Korean friends who are most grateful. What does the New Testament say about this? Romans 13:1-7 gives instruction to Christians living and suffering under the cruel Roman Empire. They are told to obey the authorities who ruled "by the sword". "Rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Won't you be afraid of them. Do what is good and you will have the praise of them....but if you do evil, be afraid; for they do not carry a sword in vain." Governments are necessary to protect people from the unscrupulous among them. People are sinful; protection is required.
Even Roman local governments often liked law abiding, honest citizens more than dishonest ones. Christians have often suffered under anti-Christian rulers and made them grudgingly learn to value Christ's followers.
Pacifists have often served best in that role. The question is, can a country serve best passively? And those of us who serve in the military must pray that we can fight without hatred of those we must fight.
