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Posted on 10/23/2003 1:00:12 PM PDT by presidio9
Ask any Christian if they believe that God placed George W. Bush in the White House and most will answer in the affirmative. Lt. Gen. William "Jerry" Boykin, the man leading the search for Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, is one of those Christians – and he is not shy about admitting it.
He has stated publicly that Bush is "in the White House because God put him there for a time such as this." A statement made with that kind of conviction is bound to grab the attention of both Christians and non-Christians alike.
Is Boykin correct? After all, Scripture is quite clear that "the authorities that exist are appointed by God" (Romans 13:1). Could it be that God lifted up a man of great courage to lead us through this dark time?
Forget about U.S. economic and security interests for a moment. There are those in this country who genuinely believe that what the war on terror boils down to is a spiritual conflict between good and evil – the U.S. being chosen as the champion for good, of course.
Not surprisingly, there has always been a tendency among evangelical Christians to talk about the war on terror in blatantly spiritual terms. We have heard it said that we are not merely fighting al Qaida and the Hussein regime, but that we are engaged in a war against the Evil One himself.
Speaking to a church group, Gen. Boykin explained, "The enemy is a spiritual enemy. He's called the principality of darkness. The enemy is a guy called Satan."
While this may sound like something the Church Lady would say on Saturday Night Live, the Bible does seem to support Boykin's conclusion. Ephesians 6:12 says, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places."
The problem here is that too many Christians are over-spiritualizing the war on terror, straying beyond the teaching of Scripture and giving rise to a number of questions: Can evil spiritual forces be kept at bay with guns and bombs? In focusing so much on the evils of foreign terrorism, are we neglecting the spiritual attacks going on right now in our own homes? Have we really been chosen by God to lead some new crusade for His honor and glory?
Many evangelicals would say there is no question that the United States is a nation that has been chosen by God. He has blessed us richly throughout our history, and since we are a Christian nation with the most moral form of government in the world, why wouldn't He use us to lead a global war against evil?
It is true that Christianity is the predominant religion in the United States, and there is no denying that biblical teaching and Christian principles had a strong influence on the founders of this country. But given our constant departure from those principles and our continual rejection of God's commands, I don't see how we can call ourselves a "Christian nation."
A Christian nation, by definition, is a nation that follows Christ, and that is in no way an accurate characterization of the United States. God has indeed blessed us greatly over the years, but we have responded to His grace and mercy with defiance and disobedience.
Within our own neighborhoods we can find examples of the very evil we claim to be fighting throughout the rest of the world. Consider the evil of abortion. Since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that brought infanticide into the mainstream of society, we have witnessed the government-sanctioned murder of over 40 million innocent human beings, an accomplishment of which even the worst terrorist nations cannot boast.
Given our capacity to commit such acts of evil, can we honestly say that we have been chosen by God to lead a holy war on terror? I will grant that it is possible – given the fact that Scripture is full of examples of God using evil people and nations for His divine purposes – though I hardly think that is the question we should be asking.
The question we should be asking is this: Are we willing to humble ourselves before Christ and repent of our own sins? The U.S. may quite possibly be an instrument of God's divine judgment against terrorists who prey on innocent populations, but that should not be viewed as a sign that God looks favorably upon us.
I do believe it is God's will that George W. Bush is our president. I also believe that the United States has a place in God's plan for the world. However, that does not mean that we are automatically blessed as a result, nor does it mean that our nation will continue to flourish as it has in the past.
The Bible makes it perfectly clear that being used as a tool for judgment does not mean one is exempt from judgment (Genesis 15:13-14, Ezekiel 7). To think otherwise can only lead to pride – and pride always comes before the fall.
This writer is as bad as those liberal nutjobs who said about 9/11 "well, the US had it coming, after all, we have such a disparity of incomes, and we don't have public health care, and we intervened in Chile a long time ago, and blah blah blah".
The difference between the United States and the nations and organizations that we fight, if you want to use Roe as an example, is that we have the ability to change Roe if we want to - and that we have a debate at all.
Those who seek holy war, should read it.
"God of our fathers, who by land and sea have ever lead us to victory, please continue your inspiring guidance in this the greatest of all conflicts.
Strengthen my soul so that the weakening instinct of self-preservation, which besets all of us in battle, shall not blind me to my duty to my own manhood, to the glory of my calling, and to my responsibility to my fellow soldiers.
Grant to our armed forces that disciplined valor and mutual confidence which insures success in war.
Let me not mourn for the men who have died fighting, but rather let me be glad that such heroes have lived.
If it be my lot to die, let me do so with courage and honor in a manner which will bring the greatest harm to the enemy, and please, oh Lord, protect and guide those I shall leave behind. Give us the victory, Lord."
"May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't. "
It sure wasn't me. There was an infection in the land and maybe God wanted to bring matters to a head, so to speak.
The nutjobs are not limited to liberals...Recall the idiot Falwell and his little buddy Robertson said it was our fault God lifted His 'protective shield'.
The war is not about religion. It's about convincing the enemy of mankind to seek out a different planet to conquer or die on this one. It's about surviving as a free people.
What profit hath the flesh if choice is destroyed? Live free or die trying.
Earth to contientious objector: We don't seek war, we are already involved in one. We didn't start this war, it was thrust upon us 20 years ago today.
You are mistaken. The current war involves the secular world against an evil religion.
I object to calling American action a holy war between Christians and Moslems because Christianity has serious problems, too.
Really? Most? Not any Christian I know would dare such herracy.
Marxist DemocRATS and other Leftists appreciate any useful idiot that aids them in their efforts at being the emasculators of America in particular and civilisation in general. Hahahaha
Here's another soul-mate for you:
QUOTE: "Liberate" is Orwellian doublespeak for _invade and occupy_. It's used to make wars of conquest palatable to the public. To me, using the terms "liberate" or "collateral damage" signifies utter insensitivity. Sorry,but that's how I feel.
Mark Twain hated "liberate" too.
If he were here today, he would heartily denounce Bush's proposed "liberation" of Iraq. ...
Witnessing the US exploitation of Cuba and the Philippines, Mark Twain became a self-declared "anti-imperialist" - and opponent of war. (In the Philippines they put up a Mark Twain memorial and in Cuba too, I believe. He is their hero.)
In _The Mysterious Stranger_, he made some shrewd observations on war propaganda, anti-war support - and courage. (I often feel disheartened when I see people caving in to the current onslaught of propaganda. Reading Mark Twain's words makes this a little easier to accept.)
Anti-war support wanes quickly, Twain felt, because of the individual's "desire, for safety's or comfort's sake, to stand well in his neighbor's eye".
This need to be accepted still exists. But today peace proponents can encourage one another worldwide - thanks to the internet.
So the anti-war support for Iraq has actually gained momentum, especially in the US.
And if public resistance together with Francis Boyle's plan succeed, Bush will never make a speech about Iraq's "liberation" - by US daisy cutters and 'smart bombs'. Just for once, Iraqis may get a chance at determining their destiny. ~ bon courage, Elga Sutter
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