God Is Not A Politically Correct Dove

Biblical support for America's armed forces that are fighting to free nations and to win the War on Terrorism
By Jim Croft

No matter how righteous the cause, voices of liberal protest inevitably arise whenever America enters armed conflict. Often, these voices assert that God is solely for peace and that Christians are obligated to hold politically correct dovish positions in regard to war. These assertions are biased and incomplete representations of God and what the Bible actually teaches. The purpose of this article is to offer the members of our armed forces, and their families, comfort. God and the Bible fully support our armed service personnel that are engaged in warfare against oppressive regimes. Each fact that is presented will be followed by proof texts from the Bible. At the conclusion there will be a list of verses that can be used as a shield of protection by and for our military warriors.

God Is Not A Pacifist

  1. The Bible does not mandate that every Christian be a conscientious objector in regard to war. It is a matter that the Lord leaves to individual conscience and choice. God has never obligated Himself to be a pacifist. Through the ministry of the prophet Samuel, He commanded King Saul to make war on the Amalekites. Saul's refusal to completely obey the Lord's instructions cost him the kingdom. - 1 Sam. 15:1-23
  2. Believers are not to retaliate in situations where they are being persecuted specifically because of their faith. They should also exercise restraint within interpersonal relationships when others take advantage of them. However, they are not required to turn the other cheek in every circumstance. The posture of tolerance is not transferred to matters regarding wanton criminals and national security. The Lord has ordained that armed authorities be available to punish those that criminalize others and threaten national liberties. – Matt. 5:39-45, Jn. 15:17-21, Rom. 13:1-4
  3. Some claim that Christianity and violence are mutually exclusive. Many times in New Testament history God responded to wickedness with violence. In many of these instances spiritual leaders were His accomplices to inflict wrongdoers with physical harm. Peter called in Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, and the Lord struck them dead. The Holy Spirit enabled the Apostle Paul with the authority to smite Elymas with the temporary loss of sight. The leaders of the churches of Corinth and Ephesus turned at least three persons over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh that they might come to repentance. One of Satan’s primary tools is physical affliction via sickness. The inference is that the excommunicated had the potential to experience pain and suffering until they had a change of heart. - Acts 5:1-11, 13:8-12, 10:38, 1 Cor. 5:1-5, 1 Tim. 1:20
  4. The Lord has planted the principle of sowing and reaping into life on earth. Those that plant either a good or a bad seed are sure to reap a crop that is a multiplied reflection of that which was sown. God's economy dictates that barbarous regimes reap what they have sown. The only effective defoliate for such crops is a change of behavior coupled with reliance on God. - Gen. 8:22, Job 4:8, Jud. 1:6-7, Gal. 6:7-8

God Identifies With War

  1. He is called a Man of War. - Ex. 15:3
  2. God is the Commander and Chief of Armed Forces. One of His names is the Lord of Hosts (Jehovah Saboath). The Bible refers to Him in this manner 281 times. The Hebrew words used indicate that the term could reasonably be translated as, the Lord that organizes military campaigns. – 1 Sam 1:3
  3. He helps with offensive strategies. A divine personage that identified himself as the Commander of the Lord’s Army appeared to Joshua and gave him instructions for the battle of Jericho. – Josh. 5:13-15
  4. He is a defensive weapon. King David was a warrior and a man after God's own heart. He used military terminology to depict the way in which he had learned to envision God. He called Him his Shield, Buckler, Tower, and Fortress. - Psa. 3:3, 18:2, 61:3
  5. God has an arsenal of military weapons. King David knew God intimately and perceived Him as possessing weapons of war such as swords, spears, bows, arrows, warhorses, and chariots. – Psa. 45:3, 35:3, 7:11-13, 64:7, 68:17
  6. He leads battles against evil. At the end of this age Jesus will lead His heavenly warriors in the Battle of Armageddon. It will end the need for war on planet earth. – Rev. 16:14-16, 19:11-21

The Lord Wants People Informed About Warfare

  1. The Lord is a realist about the potential for unprincipled men to be oppressive. God purposely allowed some of Israel’s enemies to remain in the land so those that had not experienced war could learn about it. – Jud. 3:1-2
  2. He does not believe that teaching children about war will wound their psyches. After the death of Saul and Jonathan, King David commanded that all Israeli children be taught the Song of the Bow as a tribute to the fallen warriors. – 2 Sam. 1:17-27
  3. The Scriptures endorse heroism and the prowess of those skilled in battle. Within the covenant society of the Holy Land, the people celebrated the exploits and abilities of those that fought for the nation. Women danced as they sang about how Saul killed thousands and David tens of thousands. Men that could use either hand to wield weapons of war and those that had single handedly defeated multiple opponents were the boast of the population. - 1 Sam. 18:7, 1 Chron. 11 & 12
  4. God supports the draft. Those that were recently married or were engaged in essential fields of employment were exempt from conscription. He also knew that the protest of cowards could discourage troops. Therefore, the fearful were permitted to stay at home to prevent them from contaminating the brave with fear. - Deut. 20:5-8
  5. He knows military tactics. The Lord gave His people specific instructions about the strategies of warfare: officers were to encourage and order their troops prior to a battle; opponents were offered peace and paid harsh consequences if they refused; and every effort was made to preserve the ecological environments of besieged cities. – Deut. 20:1-19
  6. He is aware that civilians can come into harm’s way. The Lord of Hosts commanded that all enemies that resided within Israel’s borders be executed. It appears that He did so to minimize the potential for future conflicts. With this in mind, our troops should never fear divine condemnation in the event that they inadvertently inflict collateral damage. – Deut. 20:16-17

God Participates In Battles For Just Causes

  1. 1) Though invisible, He is helpful. He caused the wheels of the Egyptian chariots to fall off as they pursued the company of Moses. – Ex. 14:23-25
  2. He has Special Operations units. One of God’s special forces tactical teams tricked the Syrians into fleeing from the battleground by causing them to hear the sounds of heavenly warhorses and chariots – 2 Kings 7:6-7
  3. He sends angelic units to assist the outnumbered. When the Syrian army surrounded Elisha’s home in Dothan, an angelic army encircled him with protection. The angels afflicted the Syrians with blindness. Subsequently, Israel captured the Syrian battalion and treated them kindly as POWs. – 2 Kings 6:11-18
  4. Many of the miracles that are recorded in the Bible relate to the Almighty’s intervention and assistance during periods of armed conflict. The short list of biblical heroes that experienced God’s guidance and assistance in matters of war includes: Abraham, Lot, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samson, Deborah and Barak, Jephthah, Saul, David, Jonathan, and Jehoshaphat. – Deut. 4:34, Heb. 11:30-40
  5. A great number of David’s Psalms were prayers and thanksgivings for victory over his military foes. – Psa. 35 & 149

He Uses War To Rid Nations of Evil Regimes

  1. Two aspects of God’s eternal nature are His goodness and His severity. Any presentation of Him that neglects either of these is inaccurate and incomplete. – Rom. 11:22
  2. He condemns national leaders that are cruel and corrupt. Throughout biblical history He has used the armies of man to express the severity of His displeasure in relation to the corrupt governmental administrations of various nations. – Hosea 13:16, Dan. 4:35
  3. The doom of the wicked is sure. Iraq’s Saddam Hussein claimed that he was the reincarnation of ancient Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezer. Hussein’s alleged predecessor was driven insane by his pride and obsessive thirst for power. His insanity was orchestrated by the Lord to teach him that God gives kingdoms to whomever He wishes. For seven years he roamed the land eating grass like a cow. His son, Belshazzar, lost the kingdom to the Medes. Interestingly, our armed forces’ comrades in the war to depose Hussein’s regime were the Kurds of Northern Iraq. They are the descendants of the Medes of antiquity. – Dan. 4:25, 30-35, 5:1-6, 23-31
  4. God removes evil. Present-day Israel was once the land of the Canaanites. The Israelis, because of cruelty and wickedness of the Canaanites, were empowered by God to dispossess them of their territory. – Deut 9:1-5

The New Testament Honors Soldiers

  1. Prior to the ministry of Jesus, John the Baptist preached repentance to the inhabitants of Israel. The only requirement that he put upon service personnel was that they refrain from extorting money from people and making false accusations. – Lk. 3:14
  2. The Jewish elders of Jesus' day wanted Him to come and heal a Roman officer’s servant. Jesus sent the Spirit of Faith for healing to the man's home and healed the soldier’s servant. - Luke 7:2-10
  3. The first occurrence of the Holy Spirit being poured out on Gentiles to bring salvation and the baptism in the Holy Spirit to an entire neighborhood was prompted by the righteous acts of one soldier. The angel of the Lord clearly told Captain Cornelius that his gifts had come before God as a memorial of his kindness. As a result God graced all of his friends and relatives with the gift of eternal life. - Acts 10:1-5, 24, 34-48
  4. The Apostle Paul referred to his co-workers as fellow soldiers. – Philip. 2:25, 2 Tim. 2:3
  5. Every believer has spiritual weapons at his disposal. Any Christian that does not have a warrior’s mindset is ill-equipped to lead an effective life for the purposes of the Kingdom of God. – 2 Cor. 10:3-6, Ephes. 6:10-18

For Protection, Personalize These Verses In Prayer

  1. My father was a highly decorated officer of the US Army that served in WW II and the Korean War. His commands had very low casualty rates though they were in many battles. His secret was that he would pray Psalms 91 each day over himself and his men.
  2. If you are outnumbered, pray this text - 2 Chron. 14:11 … "Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you."
  3. In the event that chemical and biological agents are used against you, ask the Lord to send it back on the enemy. You can also proclaim in faith that no deadly thing can harm you. - Psalm 35:8 “Let destruction come upon him unexpectedly, And let his net that he has hidden catch himself; Into that very destruction let him fall.” Mark 16:17-18 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; [18] they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
  4. Go into battle with praise on your lips and faith in your heart. The battle is the Lord’s. - 2 Chron. 20:15 “He said: ‘Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says to you:’ 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's.’ [21] After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.’ [22] As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated. [23] The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and annihilate them. After they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy one another.”
  5. Confess that no weapon will accomplish the malicious intentions of the enemy on you and your comrades. - Isaiah 54:17 “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
  6. Make sure that you are spiritually prepared for eternity - Romans 10:9-10 “… if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

Jim Croft Ministries & Gold Coast Christian Church
8130 Glades Road, #327 Boca Raton, FL 33434
Tel: (561) 218-5630, Fax: (561) 451-8969
Web: www.pccchurch.org/jc_ministries.htm
e-mail: jcroft8942@adelphia.net

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