War & Violence ~ For my brothers and sisters in Christ that abide in His presence and He abides in them

This morning when I woke up, my body was vibrating with God's love in the new year, I recalled a conversation from the night before about the war, and the presidential candidates. God began to show me things in a different light, and I began to ask why most Christians, including myself, believe that defending our country by physical force is somehow God's will. I do believe that God protects me and my family. but aren't we putting our trust and power in the hands of our government and military when we support war to defend our freedoms? Aren't we supposed to put our trust in God? And why is it okay to murder our enemies, but it's not okay to murder an unborn child? Jesus makes it clear that, not only are we not to murder another human being, but we are not even to stay angry, or curse them.

Matthew 5:21-22 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire."

I don't read anywhere in the New Testament where Jesus or any of his followers fought back physically to protect themselves or their families (except for Peter whom Jesus reprimanded, and then healed the mans ear that Peter had cut off). Scripturally; war doesn't add up, at least not under the new covenant of grace. If we live by the law, aren't we subject to it and make what Jesus did of no affect?

Hebrews 8:13  "In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away." 2 Corinthians 3:6  "who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

Jesus said in Luke 6:22-23  "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets."

It's as if we value our freedom and comforts more than God's word and His will. True freedom has nothing to do with physical comfort. Jesus said in Matthew 5:44-46  "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?" And again in Luke 6:27-29  "But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either."

Peter wrote in 1 Peter 3:17 "For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil."

As followers of Christ, the war we should be waging is in the Spirit. As Paul says in Ephesians 6:12  "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."
We need a spiritual military force to pursue the forces of evil and possess the kingdom for our God. As Jesus said in Matthew 18:18-20  "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

The closer I abide in the presence of God, the more I believe we need to surrender to God, and begin to fight the real fight in the Spirit, by the Spirit. We have this notion that America is a Christian nation, but is it really? I think it was a necessary step in our journey toward heaven on earth, but it is not a Christian nation Let's reconsider our position on war, the use of physical violence, and our future. It's not that we do nothing, it's that we do it in love, and the guidance of the Spirit of Christ.

Paul writes in Romans 8:18-33  "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies."