On the Illegitimacy of the Bush War on Iraq

The following document is from http://www.shortreport.com/031403.htm

As our nation stands on the brink of war, I have three questions for you:

• 1. Do you have a Biblically centered opinion on this war?
• 2. Are you praying in accordance with what you understand God's will to be in this matter?
• 3. Are you engaging in the public debate about this issue?

Do you have a Biblically centered opinion on this war? Personally, I think our President is right on in his attempt to disarm Saddam. I do, however, know godly Christians who are not convinced President Bush has yet made the case for war with Iraq. Good people can disagree on this. However, if you oppose the course our President is taking us, might I mention two points for you to consider:

a. Do not oppose on the basis that all war is immoral and inherently anti-Christian.

I've stated in previous ShortNotes how God has given "the sword" to government to protect its citizens from evil-doers (Romans 13:1-5). It is the God-given responsibility of our President to use force, if necessary, to defend our country. Nor did Jesus do away with force when He gave the Sermon on the Mount. I don't have time to answer the arguments for pacifism at this time, but let me simply state that I believe making a case for pacifism from the Bible can only be done with weak and inconsistent Bible interpretation. There may be room for a Christian to refuse, for his consciences sake, to be personally involved in war, but I really don't see how a case can be made that there are no instances in which a nation would be justified in going to war. This is what many are saying and it is simply wrong. For further teaching on what the Bible says about war, let me encourage you to order the taped message I gave on this topic last year. Cost is $5.00 (plus $1.25 s & h) and can be requested by dropping me an e-mail at tomshort@columbus.rr.com (make sure and include your mailing address).

b. Do not resort to personal attacks on President Bush.

I've heard our president called everything from a cowboy to a terrorist to a moron and worse. Such personal attacks are despicable and reveal the inability of his detractors to seriously debate the issues. And while every Christian ought to show basic respect for his leaders (1 Peter 2:13), I think we should be extra careful about joining in the chorus of attacks on this president. Why? Because much is being written about how President Bush is the most devoted Christian we have had as president in quite some time. He has unashamedly spoken of his dependence upon the Lord and commitment to prayer. Newsweek ran a cover story about his faith just last week in which it pointed out that most presidents make passing references to God and the Bible, but George Bush builds his convictions and values upon what the Bible teaches. Oh that you and I might have such an honorable thing said about us! George W Bush is a good man who is seeking the Lord in a decision far more difficult than you or I will ever face. He deserves our prayers and our support.

Are you praying in accordance with what you understand God's will to be in this matter?

I certainly hope so. Here's what I am praying for:

• For George Bush and his advisors: Boldness, courage, wisdom and strength from God
• For Saddam Hussein: That he would come to his senses and accept regime change -- leave the country and allow a new government to be put in place.
• For our troops: that if it comes to war, we will have a quick and decisive victory with a minimum amount of casualties (both of our soldiers and of innocent Iraqis).
• For our world: That we would not let Saddam divide us.
• For Iraq and the entire Muslim world: that they would wonder why "the Great Satan" keeps winning and that it would cause many of them to become Christians. Also, that they would celebrate their liberation from tyranny and appreciate what we have done to give them freedom.
• For the Iraqi army: To become confused and easily defeated. Better yet, for mass surrenders once the shooting begins.
• For our country: To humble itself and seek the Lord for our only ultimate security.
• Do I pray for peace? Certainly, but I also pray that we not have a false peace that leaves the security of free nations in the hands of a blood-thirsty tyrant like Saddam Hussein.

  Are you engaging in the public debate about this issue? It seems to me that those who are against President Bush are speaking far louder than those who support him. I certainly understand that there are situations in which you may not want to alienate a person you are trying to win to Christ by making an issue of war. Personally, I had to consider whether or not to address this issue when I preach on campus. I've concluded that "war and peace" and our "war on terrorism" are moral issues more than political issues. Silence on the moral issues of the day simply means we, as God's people, have become irrelevant. Therefore, I've decided not to remain silent. This will NOT be the major thing I speak about, but neither will I bury my head in the sand and ignore such a significant issue. I hope you don't either.

  Now, for some of the "ATROCITIES" already happening.. When we use the word "atrocity," we usually think of a cruel and inhumane act. But the word can also mean "an appalling act or situation." I use this later definition when I talk about the following "atrocities."

  a. How disgusting that our national security has now come done to seeking the approval from Guinea, Camaroon and Angola --three countries on the UN Security Council that have swing votes. Because we have chosen to work through the UN, we are now in the position to have to beg and bribe third world, corrupt, dictatorships for the right to take down one of their own.

  b. You probably didn't read about the "Peace Protestors" who vandalized a 9-11 memorial in La Habra, CA over the weekend. These unruly radicals expressed their anti-war sentiments by burning and slashing 86 American flags and defacing tiles and posters of remembrance of those who died on Sept 11th. Nearly as disgusting as this show of hatred for our country was that local police did not arrest these vandals but said they were only exercising their right to free speech. (Since when does ones right to free speech include destroying someone else's property?) (Note: after public outrage, the police are now investigating whether or not a crime was committed.)

  c. Speaking of outrageous intolerance: You probably also didn't hear of the professor at Cypress College in California who offered students in her speech class extra credit if they wrote a letter to President Bush protesting the war. She refused to give any credit if you wrote to him in support of the war! Such abuse of power in the classroom is unconscionable in a free society. Fortunately, a student contacted the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education which contacted the administration and the dean took action. The school has suspended the teacher (she should have been fired) and apologized to both President Bush and the students in the classroom. Have you seen similar abuse of authority at your school? If so, drop me a line and I'll put you in contact with an organization that can help you stand up for academic freedom.

  d. Christians are sending a confused message. The media loves to trot out liberal ministers who twist the Bible to fit their own political agenda. Watch out for wolves in sheep's clothing. As I said above, good Christians can disagree on whether or not war is the best course of action at this time, but to think the Bible promises a universal peace before Jesus returns is simply abusing the teaching of Scripture.

  e. Have you notice how the Pope has issued far stronger and clearer statements of condemnation of this potential war than he did of child-molesting priests in his own church? My advice to him: clean up your own house before you try to clean up another's, or, as Jesus said, "Take the log out of your own eye before you try and take the speck out of your brother's eye" (Matt 7:3).

  f. You may not have heard of Rep Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) favorably comparing Osama Bin Laden to our founding fathers. Although her statements were condemned by other members of Congress, how shocking can it be that we have elected officials in this country who can't tell the difference between a man who kills thousands of civilians out of cold-blooded, premeditated hate with the hope of one day imposing his will on a whole country and men who pledged their sacred honor and risked their lives to secure liberty for themselves and others.

  g. Speaking of "understanding" Osama Bin Laden, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) recently spoke to a group of high school students in which she wondered out loud why so much of the world loves Bin Laden but hates us. Her answer? Because Bin Laden has used his money to build public housing, schools, roads and day care centers while we use ours to build weapons!!! Hello???!!!! It would have been much better to say he used money to build terror training camps and Islamic indoctrination centers called madrases. And to claim Bin Laden "built day care centers" when he presided over the most women-hating and oppressive regime of the past several decades!!! How has this woman survived so that she still has a seat in the Senate? Simple: the main-stream press has given her a pass. Had they treated Trent Lott the same way, he would still me Senate Majority leader, but they didn't.

  h. Finally, as we consider the "peace protestors," I have an interesting trivia question. Do you know who planned the very first "peace movement"? None other than Joseph Stalin. This former dictator of the Soviet Union has more blood on his hands than any person of the twentieth century -- indeed probably more than any other person of all history. But in 1946, he realized that the US was the only super power and so he organized a peace movement to protest any international gains by America. Over the past 57 years, this movement has been true to their roots -- always protesting American foreign policy, never protesting Soviet (or Russian) foreign policy. Think of it: can you name a single military move the US has made in the past 57 years that didn't have "peace protestors" opposing it. Can you name a single Soviet military move (invading East Block countries, Afghanistan, Baltic nations, east Asian nations, etc) that had protestors here or in Europe?

  We can complain all we want about this stuff and get no where, or we can determine to get involved: to write letters to influencers, to vote, to speak up, to get educated -- simply to make a difference for good in this world. As Edmond Burke said, "All that's necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing." I want to be one who "does something" and I trust you do as well.

   return to main document 

  
  

  FAIR USE NOTICE

  This site contains material the use of which has not been authorized by the copyright owner. The material is made available in an effort to advance understanding of philosophical, political, and other issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml.

  contact | report an error | forum | Frontline's "Long Road to War" Materials in this section of the site for which original source documentation is specified are owned by their respective copyright holders. All the rest of the contents of this section is maintained by, and © 2003-2004, Brendan Lalor.