Fear and Suspicion
Fear and Suspicion. Something I’ve been thinking about lately.
Fear and Suspicion. They make you crazy. Make you see things that may not be there. They kind of remove you from the reality that everyone else sees.
Fear and Suspicion. It’s the motive of spies. It’s how they go about doing their work. They find out secrets because they fear and suspect everything. In concert, they can work up some pretty good conspiracy theories. Fear and suspicion is their job.
Fear and Suspicion. Is this the motive to go to war? Should it not be reserved, resolved, and conclusive? I’m guilty as the next person of being fearful and suspicious and wanting to not be, but is it right for me to decide to kill people of another land because I fear them and suspect them? Shouldn’t it be that I’m reserved in what I’m about to do, but do it with absolute resolution to rid the threat of the conclusive evidence I have?
Fear and Suspicion. They continue to undermine the U.S.’s efforts. First because we went into Iraq only with Fear and Suspicion and not conclusive evidence. I think we’ve been reserved and resolved, but the lack of conclusive evidence has undermined our position in doing the right thing and is eroding the will of the people both foreign and domestic.
Fear and Suspicion. Maybe Saddam and his power-base won just by feeding us all the seeds of fear and suspicion and no one being able to tell the lie for what it is. And because we acted on it, right of wrong, we’re suffering for it because Saddam is the first man to deny credibility for the U.S. before the whole world.
I like this post. I would have liked it better though if you hadn’t “gone to Iraq” with it. What if you just talked about Fear and Suspicion in everyday life, along the lines of your first two paragraphs (not the introductions)? Maybe I will…since I don’t care much about politics, etc. Stick with what you like, though.
The bible says a great deal about war. this article by betty Miller from Bible.com sums it up pretty well.
“What Does The Bible Say About War?
by Betty Miller
The Bible records many wars throughout its pages. If fact, many of these wars document the accuracy of the Bible as archeology has uncovered artifacts with data that verifies the records of them exactly as recorded in Holy Script. In this article we want to examine why God has allowed wars and what the Bible says about the role of soldiers and how they can reconcile taking the lives of other humans in that role. When God created the earth and put man upon it, He pronounced that it was all good until men sinned and fell from that estate. Because mankind was given a free will and they could choose to obey God or do evil, we now live in an environment where evil men and good men are at war. God hates war; however, it is necessary to maintain order in the earth and overcome those who would like to destroy good. In fact, the first war ever recorded was the war in heaven where Satan and his evil angels fought against God and his angels. We know this war was won by God through Christ.
Revelation 12:7-11:
7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
God Sanctioned Government Authorities to Enforce Laws
We are now watching as the government in the USA has begun major changes in our national affairs in order to prevent future terrorist attacks after the invasion of the terrorists on September 11, 2001. Increased security measures in all levels of our nation’s operations have been instigated. The USA has gone on the offensive to root out terrorists nationally and abroad. President Bush has declared war on terrorism. He has launched a world wide coalition, as other nations are joining in this war. We are all facing changes in our lives. The whole world is experiencing war, or is under the threat of war, with ominous weapons looming over all the people of the globe. The evil of war is discussed daily in the news with reports of possible attacks from nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons, as well as conventional armaments. The Bible is not silent about this subject, as it warns us it will increase more and more as the time for Christ’s second coming approaches.
Matthew 24:6-8:
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
Some Christians are having difficulty with the actions of our government in the area of war as the heart of Christianity is to love our enemies, not destroy them. How do we reconcile this as Christians? We must understand that the Bible deals with the role of government differently than that of an individual Christian. Throughout the Bible, the main role of governments was to protect its people from threatening invaders and to maintain law and order within its borders. This was done by maintaining a military force. Those who would argue against our country’s military position, must also ask what our nation would be like without policemen and prisons.
God set boundaries on mankind by establishing ruling authorities that would make and enforce the laws He gave. The purpose for this was because He knew unregenerate society, without any restraints, would seek to destroy good men. God’s desire is that all men would come to Him and live by His laws. However, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and broke His law, sin entered into the world and was passed down to all of mankind through Adam’s seed. God, in His love for mankind, made a way for men to come back to Him, through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. Because Jesus lived free of sin and obeyed the law of God perfectly, He became the sin offering and died upon a cross, thus paying the price for all men’s sin. He then rose from the dead the third day showing that He indeed was the son of God. Now those who accept what Jesus did and repent of their sins can find their way through faith to be reconciled to God. This sacrifice covers and cleanses men even from the worst of sins including murder. Now, through Christ, even murderers can be forgiven and restored to a relationship with God so they can live forever with Him; however, they must repent and give their lives wholly to Christ.
Where we find most of our problems with the military action of our government versus loving our enemies is that God’s law of justice for the taking of a life demands that life be taken; yet, God’s spiritual law of mercy and forgiveness grants that a murderer can be forgiven and restored. How can we reconcile this? We must understand that God instituted civil authorities to maintain order in the earth. God uses them to restrain evil and they should be obeyed for this purpose.
An analogy would be like a family that had a son at home and who was given love, freedom and many privileges. However, one day the son committed an evil crime and was sent to jail. The rules he lived under at home while he was obedient must now be changed to the rules of the jail because of the son’s sin. The same is true with God. His will is to bless the earth and all those who obey and live in harmony; but for those who disobey, He had to set up separate rules so that the ones who are evil do not destroy the good. War is like that, as God uses civil authorities to maintain order in the earth. In the New Testament we see that even Jesus surrendered to the governing authorities because He was submitted to God.
John 19:11: “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above…”
Romans 13:1-5 (RSV):
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
2 Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval,
4 For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain; he is the servant of God to execute his wrath on the wrongdoer.
5 Therefore one must be subject, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience.
From these verses we see that governments can elect to bear the sword (go to war) to deal with evil men. Although the act of war is a harsh form of punishment upon evil invaders, the alternative is far worse — the destruction of innocent people by wicked aggressors.
No soldier who is a Christian desires to kill another; however, the Lord Himself, did not chastise a Centurion soldier in the Bible in the matter of his occupation. On the contrary, the Lord commended this man for his understanding of authority and his great faith when he called upon the Lord to heal his servant. Our military men need our prayers and the protection of the Lord as they go to battle. This should be the work of the church — prayer for our men’s protection and prayer for our president and heads of state. Our critical words will not change things, but prayer will. We must pray that the war would end quickly so we can return to peace, and especially prayer for our enemies, that they might be saved. We can pray that good will come out of what Satan means for evil.
Matthew 8:5-10:
5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
1 Timothy 2:1-6:
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
What is the Bible Definition of Murder?
God knew when He created men with free wills that not all would follow and obey Him. However, He also knew that many would want to love and serve Him. In giving men free will, He also had to establish laws for men to live by. When we look at the Ten Commandments listed in Exodus 20:1-17, we can see that these laws were given for the good of mankind. One of these laws is in verse 13: “Thou shalt not kill.” You may wonder if God said “do not kill,” why He would then decree that governments could send men to war to kill other men. The reason is that the Hebrew meaning of the word translated as “kill” actually means “murder” or “to slay someone in a violent manner unjustly.” So, in the Ten Commandments God is saying, “Thou shalt not murder.” Unjust premeditated killing with the wrong motives of hatred, vengeance, greed, jealousy, etc. is murder. Killing in self defense to protect oneself is not murder nor is executing condemned killers. The very founders of this nation were known to carry a Bible in one hand and a musket in the other in order to defend the freedom they sought here. The freedom to worship God was one of those freedoms they fought for and died for”(Bible.com).