Expert: Dr Eddy Cheong - 5/24/2005

Question
Hi,

I'm having trouble understanding the reasoning behind our involvement in the Middle East. It's interesting to me how "Conservatives," who are highly moral supposedly, can justify killing in that kind of "war." First it was "weapons of mass destruction." Then it was so they can have a "free society" and be able to vote, etc. The bottom line is we are loosing many American lives and many others are being maimed and/or psycholigically ruined. And for what? If the major resource over there was broccoli instead of oil, would we be there? What about the many other countries where atrocities are occuring that need our help more, like Sumatra. We can't help everyone all over. And the lives that are being lost are not the sons and daughters of politicians, the rich, etc. I, for one, would NEVER want my children to loose their life in that mess. The Bible mentions "thou shalt not kill." That, to me, means, no exceptions. I feel people who believe we should be there and say they are Christians are hypocrites. What is your opinion and can this kind of "war" be justified if one is truly a Christian? Thanks.

Answer
WAR IN THE CHRISTIAN CONTEXT

Let us first examine the subject of ‘War' in the Old Testament framework. The earliest example of war or organized arm conflict that comes to my mind is the case of Abram in Genesis Chapter 14 ff. The background of the story starts with the defeat of Sodom and Gomorrah by the four kings, viz the kings of Elam, Goiim, Shinar and Ellasar. The aftermath of this episode saw the capture of Lot (Abram's nephew) and possibly all his possessions and relatives. Abram organized his 318 trained men and routed the four kings rescuing Lot and his relatives (Gen 14:16). This was a ‘Just' war to recover what was justifiably Abram's people and possessions.
As a nation, Israel went to war many times, a ‘Just' war being one in which God Himself declared, led, and won. One good example is the conquest of Jericho in which God directed Israel to victory His way i.e. they had to march round Jericho the way God decreed before the final assault. The other classic example would be David's defeat of Goliath resulting in the defeat of the Philistines (1 Sam 14:45 ff). The bottom line of these episodes is that God was fulfilling His Will (through war) through His people Israel for the purpose of conquering/recovering land or for the defeat of His enemies. We should also bear in mind that Israel was a theocracy (God being the King ruling and administering via His representatives). There are no more theocracies today so the New Testament setup is visibly different.
Our world today is run by political governments, democracy being the most acceptable form. Make no mistakes that these nations are almost entirely secular.
Rev 11:15
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever."

Notice that there are two kingdoms mentioned in the above verse, viz the Kingdom of the world and the Kingdom of our Lord. Our Lord Jesus clearly stated that His Kingdom is not of this world…

John 18:36
36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world.
NIV Part of verse quoted.

So the political systems form the Kingdom of this world and this system is directly and diametrically opposed to God's system. In other words we live in this world but we are not of this world. We follow God's principles and practices as outlined in the Bible but live physically in the secular world (Please see my article entitled “Can a Christian be a politician at http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Troy/9519/politics.html).

What has all this to do with ‘War'? Well since the political system wages war it follows that there is no ‘Christian' war as in the context of Israel in the Old Testament. The Christian primarily operates in the Spiritual realm and secondarily in the physical realm.
We do not wage physical war but can be a part of the system e.g. as a soldier in the army of Nation A, it may be necessary for him to carry out his duties accordingly. In this sense, the Bible does not forbid a Christian from doing his duties for the country. Whether the war itself is justified is another issue which the soldier has to contend with and act according to his conscience and God's leading. God can provide an opening for the soldier to opt out if the war is totally unjustifiable. I cannot see a God fearing Christian fighting for Nazi Germany in the forties.
So the answer to your question is, America's invasion of Iraq was a political decision which God did allow. But then not all political decisions are necessarily God's decisions.