2004-1-31 17:39:00
Those who use the Bible to teach that God is against all wars are mislead indeed.
The basic principle is given in this scripture:
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
"A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; A TIME OF WAR, and a time of peace." Eccl 3:1-8
Here we are clearly told that there is a time and place for all things, even "a time of war," as well as "a time to kill."
While it is true that Jesus has been called the Prince of Peace we are also told that "The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name." Exodus15:3
Here is another one:
"The LORD shall go forth as a mighty man, he shall stir up jealousy LIKE A MAN OF WAR: he shall cry, yea, roar; he shall prevail against his enemies." Isa 42:13
A principle for going to war is thus stated: "And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies." Numbers10:9
Thus we see that the Bible gives oppression as a reason to go to war. This was the justified reason for the revolutionary war in America, for instance.
Old testament stuff you say? Let us then move to the new:
"And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." Rev 12:7-9
The archangel Michael made war against the dragon so peace could once again be maintained in heaven. According to pacifists he should have allowed the dragon to upsurge the power of God and do what he willed and offer no resistance.
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful." Rev 17:14
When the lamb (the Christ) is attacked does he do nothing? No He "overcomes" his enemies.
How does he do this?
"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him (Christ) was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and MAKE WAR." Rev 19:11
Christ overcomes his enemies by making right use (righteousness) of war.
If we move to modern esoteric literature one would be hard pressed to justify a black and white pacifist attitude. DK maintains that pacifists often do more harm than good and would allow evil to triumph while good men give their life's blood to allow then the opportunity to continue their existence. DK supported the war of the Allies against the Axis powers from which good definitely did come. He also supported the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan, Italy and Germany were freed from tyrants and now enjoy much more freedom than before the war. The rest of the world is freed from the totalitarian threat that existed at that time.
Let me quote again from a Master of Wisdom:
The second point upon which I would touch is the arguments brought out by the pacifists of the world. All true and good people are pacifically minded and all hate war. This is a fact which the academic idealist and pacifist often forgets. Such people tell us that two wrongs do not make a right; and to meet murder with murder (which is their definition of war) is sinful; that war is evil (which no one denies) and that one must not take part in it. They contend that thinking thoughts of peace and of love can put the world straight and end the war. Such people, fighting the existent fact of war, usually do little or nothing concrete to right the wrongs which are responsible for the war, and permit their defence-personal, municipal, national and international-to be undertaken by others. The sincerity of these people cannot be questioned.
It should be remembered, in countering these ideas and in justifying the fighting spirit of the Christian democracies, that it is motive that counts. War can be and is mass murder, where the motive is wrong. It can be sacrifice and right action, where the motive is right. The slaying of a man in the act of killing the defenceless is not regarded as murder. The principle remains the same, whether it is killing an individual who is murdering, or fighting a nation which is warring on the defenceless. The material means, which evil uses for selfish ends, can also be employed for good purposes. The death of the physical body is a lesser evil than the setting back of civilisation, the thwarting of the divine purposes of the human spirit, the negating of all spiritual teaching, and the control of men's minds and liberties. War is always evil, but it can be the lesser of two evils, as is the case today.
The present war, if carried forward to a successful completion by the defeat of the totalitarian powers, constitutes a far lesser evil than the subjugation of many nations to the unparalleled cupidity, the appalling educational process and the defiance of all recognised spiritual values by the Axis powers. If the totalitarian powers should conquer, it would mean years of turmoil and revolt; their victory would result in untold misery. DK The Externalization of the Hierarchy Pages 179-180
"Among the misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms as the blackest." Ghandi
Copyright 2004 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved