When It's Right to Fight — Part 2
October 30, 2002

A common misconception is that Jesus was a pacifist; that he would never cause harm to anyone. A careful search of the scriptures really refutes this argument.
Jesus did not teach pacifism. Instead, he taught restraint. In Romans 12:9-21 we see instruction on how to deal with those who oppose our Christian faith - "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse (v14)." "Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone (v17-18)." Then in chapter 13 we see the responsibilities we have to obey secular leaders and civil laws, as long as they do not conflict with God's laws.

Then there is simply the basic common sense revealed in scripture regarding our responsibilities as citizens. We have an obligation to defend and protect those who are family and neighbors. War against an enemy nation or people is one of the ways we defend and protect our families and neighbors. Not to do so is to invite fear and the imminent threat of intimidation and conquest by an enemy. What sort of husband would I be, for instance, if I were not prepared to protect my family against an evildoer? What confidence would my wife, mother and two daughters (all who live in my home) have in me if they believed I would not take the necessary steps to protect them? This extends to the nation as a whole. Jesus never once told Roman soldiers (Centurions) to lay down their arms. Nor did John the Baptist, nor any of the disciples. In fact, these followers of the Lord instructed soldiers to conduct themselves in an even-handed manner, acting fairly in their dealings with the populace, and not to take advantage of their authoritarian role.

When I first trusted Jesus as my savior I was a sergeant in the Marine Corps. I met many different Christians in the ensuing weeks. One of these was a sailor who had come to faith in Christ and felt he could no longer serve in the military. He was in the process of applying for Conscientious Objector (CO) status, which, if granted, would be the means for him to be discharged from any further military obligations. Here was someone who had served several years in the Navy, even as I had in the Marines. We came to different conclusions as to how to resolve taking action against another human.

An observation I have made over the years is that Marines are some of the most peace-loving, passionate and kind individuals I've ever known. As a whole, they will go to great lengths to resolve differences peaceably. However, when it becomes clear that fighting is the final solution, they are a terrible force to be reckoned with! This is true for our military as a whole, and Americans in general. What sets the Marines apart when it comes to fighting is that they have turned it into an art form!

What I want to say next is offensive to some in our society. Man is inherently evil. My position on this stems from observing life and studying the Bible. There are truly evil people in this world, people who have evil intentions, people who do not care one bit for any other human being. Consider the Beltway Sniper! Here is someone who is indiscriminately shooting and killing people that are simply going about their daily lives. Then you have evil dictators like Saddam Hussein. The book has not been written yet on the massive abuses and atrocities this man has committed against not only foreign enemies, but against his own people. This is a man who has made it very clear that he wants to destroy the United States. Do we allow him to do this without taking steps to defend ourselves?

If I say I love my country, it also means I love my fellow Americans. It goes down even further than that. I love the people of Ripon. At the very core, I love my family. I must protect them from those who would want to harm them. How could I say I love them and not be willing to protect them? How could such inaction possibly honor God?

Since most people in the world are decent, law-abiding citizens of the many nations around the globe, we can expect to be at peace with them. But sometimes a ruler comes to power that sets a different agenda, such as Hitler. I do not believe the Germans of the 1930s were interested in taking over the whole world the way Hitler espoused. Only a few years earlier they had experienced a devastating defeat at the hands of the western allies in WWI, and were now in a serious economic depression where the Deutsche Mark had virtually no purchasing power. Yet they allowed themselves to be manipulated by one of the most diabolical leaders in the history of the world. England's Prime Minister Chamberlain had received assurances from Hitler himself that Germany would not continue in their aggressive attacks on their European neighbors. Ironically, in late 1941 the Japanese ambassador to the United States was smiling and meeting with President Roosevelt, assuring him of Japan's friendship with the United States and that they had no intentions of continuing their conquest of the Asian rim. You know what happened next!

As a Christian, should I believe those who have no credibility? Or should I expect man to follow his baser nature, a nature marred by sin?

So, until I have been convinced otherwise, I will continue to protect and defend those I love. That includes you.