A short while back, I was watching a random news report in the break room with my very conservative manager. The topic of war, specifically the “War on Terrorism”, was brought up. I politely said my piece about how I didn’t believe in war or violence of any sort and his honest question to me was, in Bush’s situation, what would I have done?
I didn’t have a good answer then. I don’t think there is a good answer. On the one hand, people die; and on the other hand, people die. It’s a lose-lose situation. My response is that there isn’t a good solution because long ago, we as a human race forsook that Utopian society we might have had. We forsook the love of God for the love of self; forsook the Immaterial for love of material; forsook the plan of grace and love for one of murder and hatred.
There is no good answer because we are fallen as a human race.
But I believe that despite all this, Christ has called Christians to lay down their arms and take up his cross. To be hated by the world. To be shamed. To die. But we are not told this without the wisdom and knowledge that in death is victory. For who can fight terrorism with more terrorism? Who can fight murder with more murder?
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
Peace on Earth and good will toward men.
–Amanda
I Heard the Bells On Christmas Day
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Till, ringing singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!
Well said. I’ve been learning about how Jesus was rejected by so many people, and therefore knows the persecution we have and will go through. He understands our pain. And He’s there for us. =)
True, this. In persecution and death, we can find love and grace. And that’s why the wisdom of the cross is foolishness to the world.
What would I do in Bush’s position? It’s a bit like those moral dilemmas in philosophy. Would you kill one person to save five? Alter the railway course? Harvest the organs of one healthy man to save an emergency ward? But in the end I just wouldn’t ever let myself be in Bush’s position.
And if war came about, a desperate war for survival rather than reaction or economic gain, there’s no need to join the fighting. There’s so much opportunity for aid and charity there. If everyone had the same attitude, there wouldn’t be a war to start with – just a couple of bitter parties throwing stones at each other, and a populace that refuses to join in. Hahaha. If only.
I totally agree– I wouldn’t let myself be in that position, either. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
And it’s exactly like those dilemmas. You must recognize that something is deadly wrong with your universe when the only two options seem to be death and death. Obviously, you’re doing something wrong and need to turn some other way.