Reflections on New World Order, Part Three

Three years ago when the United States invaded Iraq, there was much discussion within the church about war and what consitutes a just war. Sadly this discussion has dissipated with the peace-loving hippies and the war mongers each taking their sides along the political divide. Now, I don't have much to contribute to the discussion on just war. I'm honestly not sure how Scripture calls the church to view war. But, I do know that there is a war being waged in the spiritual realm that is infinitely more important than Iraq.

Since 9/11 I have fallen into the trap of believing that my security rests in the ability of our federal government to wage war against the terrorists who are trying to kill us. The hope of the free world depends on guns, spies, and wire-tapping. But, as I look through Scripture, I see that the world will not be won to good by such things. God frequently rebukes Israel for their reliance on the weapons of this world. "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the LORD." (Isaiah 31:1).

In fact, Paul writes to the church in Corinth that we are wagging a war that is not being fought in the same way the world fights wars. "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world." (2 Cor. 10:3-4). There is a battle going on right now of good against evil, and the rise of Islamic terrorism is certainly related to it. But, the weapons we are supposed to carry in this battle against evil are not bombs or guns.

I suggest that the weapons we are to gird in this fight are meekness, love, and the truth of the Gospel of Christ. Jesus himself sets out the example of how we are to fight by his life in the body and death on the cross. Jesus declared that he had a thousand legions of angels at his disposal but knew that force would not win people's heart to him. The hard truth is that we are to love our enemies and seek their good. "If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you." (Proverbs 25:21-22).

Now, I'm not sure how this translate into foreign policy. But, I do know that it is a call to the church to get involved in the current conflict not by taking up arms but by serving and loving those who hate us. I'm not trying to persuade people to be against the war in Iraq or to denounce the federal government for their efforts against terrorism. I'm speaking more toward the church and the individual Christian. Are we trusting in guns and bombs to bring goodness and righteousness to the Middle East? Do we believe that better intelligence and a strong military will bring salvation? Instead, let us follow the radical course of incarnational love for those who hate us. Only such love and service will win the world to the Gospel.