CHRISTIAN MESSAGE
By WARD PIMLEY
Pastor, Journalist, Author
This blog has been devoted to Christian meditations, but this is a first step in broadening its reach to topical issues.
These discussions will be based on biblical principles as our Christian faith should inform our positions and viewpoints.
So, here goes …
COMPETING VIEWS
EVERYONE IN THE WORLD knows of the recent “dust-up” between Israel and Iran and between Israel and Iran’s proxies — Houthis, Hamas, and Hezbollah — the three Hs.
The question is, from a Christian perspective, what should be the position of the United States? Should we as a country become involved in a military contribution on the side of Israel, and if so, to what extent?
Let’s examine two possibilities: First, that Jesus preached non-violence, leading us to avoid unnecessary use of armed force. This view would emphasize using the bully pulpit, combining the pulpit’s teaching side with its preaching side.
This view would exhaust all “soft” policy, which is “statecraft” or negotiation, before engaging in “hard” policy, which calls on military force as a last resort.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” – James 1:5 ESV
“For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2:6 NKJV
The chief alternative considers the biblical response to evil. In the Old Testament, the Jews were to wipe out the natives in the Promised Land because God’s patience with them and their evil had worn out. He was imposing judgment on them.
In Revelation, we see Jesus will wipe away all evil with just the spoken word – His Word, not ours – as He rides on a white horse from Heaven to take His throne in Jerusalem to reign over the land in the Millennium.
The account of three battles in Revelation – Gog and Magog, Armageddon, and the final, unnamed battle, will spill tons of blood as God eradicates evil from the world.
God’s wrath is righteous anger, while ours often is self-centered and harmful to community.
So, how would we settle this discussion? Engage militarily or speak our truth into the storm?
SPEAKING BOLDLY
BOTH VIEWPOINTS have merit, but one point this column would make is that whichever course the church takes, it should speak boldly and without compromise.
How then can the church speak conflicting viewpoints boldly and without compromise?
All such questions can be answered via the same formula: walk with the Lord, seek His counsel, read His Word, pray to Him, and seek His face. As we draw closer to Him, He will draw closer to us and reveal His answer.
Let us as the church never chart any course without first seeking the Lord’s face and asking for His counsel. We should not ask Him to bless whatever it is we decide.
This column questions how many in the church universal are seeking His face, turning to Him for His answer rather than asking Him to bless their answer.
The view of this column is that the U.S. should make strong statements in support of Israel and its right to exist and that Israel is to own the land given to it by God. That includes Gaza, the Golan Heights, and Lebanon.
This column also believes the U.S. should bless Israel and support Israel through military might and that the bombing of Iran’s nuclear reactor sites was proper and in line with God’s declaration of support for the Jewish people.
SEEKING HIS FACE
MORE IMPORTANTLY than making a one-time decision is the process by which we continually seek God’s answers to our questions.
Let us as the church never chart any course ourselves without first seeking the Lord’s face and then asking Him to bless whatever it is we decide.
This column is clear that the U.S. took the right course in bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities and then seeking a peace settlement, but at no time does this column end the process of seeking God’s face.
We should always be humble, come together in prayer, learn from one another, and follow God’s lead as we understand it.
We might well find that as we do so, God will reveal more of His commandment to us such that we will mold our response in some way, much like sanding a block of wood makes the block more aesthetic, easier to handle, and more useful.
PRAYER
ALMIGHTY GOD, PRINCE OF PEACE,
You are both the Lion and the Lamb,
the conquering warrior and the humble sacrifice.
Lead us into making the right decisions in all matters of public policy, that we as a church may represent You in truth and honor, according to Your desires, not according to our own.
Lord, we bless You and thank You, we praise You and we worship You.
In Jesus’ name we lift this prayer.
AMEN
Ward's Words | BY WARD PIMLEY 