There is one simple solution to ending war! If everyone, every institution and all those in power exemplified the love that God shows each of us, then we'd love each other and evil would be defeated by the love of God and love of others. So simple yet so far removed! Mankind's heart is inclined toward evil!
James 4:1 "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not."
The NIV is a good commentary explaining this somewhat better:
James 4:1 (NIV) "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God."Examining this closely it's easily seen that sin causes war. It's always a violation of a particular commandment. This one is "Thou shalt not covet". Sin compounds itself:
James 1:14 "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death."James 1:15 explains James 4:1-2 perfectly! Coveting (desiring what is wanted) leads to war (death). Hence, one commandment begets another and the desires of the heart brings on war! If we had ample faith then we would not covet and hence we would not sin. War is because of sin, but our weak faith in God opens the door for sin to enter in. This all goes back to love. War is because love is lacking and because man places desires (pleasures) above love. This is exactly the same reason that Eve did wrong in the beginning. It's always goes back to "original sin"! God is undermined! This notion applies to nations as well as individuals.
Ecclesiastes 3:8 "A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."There is a time for war. It's to uphold what's right. God, although be believes that those "who live by the sword shall perish by the sword" (Matthew 26:52) leads the heart of a righteous man to protect what's righteous.
Romans 13:1 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil."This brings up the concept of a "just war". The "just war theory" is based on Christian beliefs; that a wrong must be righted. For instance terrorism must be fought because the innocent get killed. War is justly fought to preserve lives because live is sacrosanct, it's a gift of God! However, "just war theory" tells us that before force is used peace must be pursued by other means. God's will is that we shall not fight wars! However, wars are ordained by God if the fighting trumps evil. In fact before the end comes there will be an apocalyptic war called "The Battle Of Armageddon".
America, because of our Christian heritage, has fought j"just wars". We're normally not the instigator, but the protector. There are exceptions. In fighting the war against the Confederacy Lincoln failed to use all peaceful means of a solution. Whereas, the Supreme Court was to the arbitrator by law, Lincoln ignored the Constitution and became the aggressor under the disguise of the protector. Lincoln took it upon himself to be what he perceived to be the judge of right over wrong. He believed that it was necessary to battle because the courts were unjust (Dred Scott Decision). However, on the whole, America has fought just wars and has become the world's policeman. This nation is presently condemned for endeavoring to "do good".
Because we love America, patriots have fought proudly for America, not even considering that our wars are just. Few fail to even note that America fights to remedy wrong, this fighting in the army of God. Americans have always stood ready to preserve liberty. (Sidenote: They actually fight oppression better on the battlefield than they do at the ballot box. Whereas, patriots fight to overturn despotism abroad, they often vote to preserve despots domestic!). Foreign despots at one time waged war on the battlefield, but have become more wise. They fight wars from within through exacerbating crisis within America, pitting one against the other!
A patriot is one who fought for his country. In America patriots have generally fought for what's right. So then, patriots are soldiers of God seeking to allow good to triumph over evil! We should honor patriots for risking and giving their lives to fight just wars. Many members of our families have risked their lives to maintain peace. That's why we should war: to maintain peace when negotiation fails! That's just! Many of those same soldiers died in battle, but Providence allows many to return home. For those of us who have loved ones, we're blessed. There was no guarantee that our family member would live, but they did.
My own brother, Lamorris Richmond Herrin (called Rich) volunteered to serve in the USAF. He didn't do that because of patriotism, but as a vocation and a career. However, he went to war in Viet-Nam once by dictate, but then again by choice. He did this while thousands were shirking their duty and fleeing to Canada. Many felt that Viet-Nam was an unjust war, but using the tenets of a just war, Satan deceived the majority. In the face of protests and ridicule, Viet-Nam warriors waged a dignified war even while the nations leaders caused thousands to lose their lives in response to protests by students and other deceived persons at home. (Think traitor Jane Fonda).
Those who fought in Viet-Nam came home disgraced by the actions of our leaders. The cause was just, but our leaders were cowards. They faced the enemy abroad, but failed in defeating the enemy at home; those deceived by Satan. We lost our first war because those at home neglected to see ruthless communism for what it is" a cancer on the world and the epitome of evil. The unpatriotic voices of those at home cost the lives of our heroic soldiers fighting wrong!
If I had been a soldier in Viet-Nam I would have been disheartened at the lack of support from my own nation, both officials and the public. I would have hostility for the lack of support! However, our soldiers came home and resumed their interrupted lives, most scarred forever by the deaths they'd seen and that justice failed to triumph; and for the first time! However, not one time did I ever hear my brother complain about the lack of support. Although, each time he went to the battlefield to serve the wounded as a medic, he risked his own life, he did it anyhow. He understood that freedom is precious and his job was to do what's right!
I recently stood before his grave and honored this patriot. He didn't die in war, but succumbed to the enemy anyhow. Whereas bullets were shielded from him by a loving God, cigarettes destroyed him from within. He fought for freedom abroad, but failed to recognize the battle within. His heart failed him gradually due to the effects of tar and nicotine. He had the courage to face enemy mortar, but lacked the will power to give up that inner craving. He suffered on his deathbed as profusely as he would have on the battlefield. Surely, the war is waged by principalities and must be won wearing God's armor.
Honor those veterans on this Memorial Day who risked their lives. They deserve it! They are heroes and patriots. Rich fought so that I didn't have to. Your loved one did the same for you!
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