DO YOU THINK WAR IS SIN?
Brother Steven Zuraff was asked the following question by a friend of his who lives in South Dakota. He thought it would be good to share it and his reponse with his email friends.
(Question) What is your belief on the killing of Osama bin Ladan (OBL)? Do you think if he was unarmed and shot in the head it is murder? Do you think war is sin? I have a son possibly going in to the military. I have mixed feelings about taking lives or even the death penalty. Eventhough I support these things I would like to have a peace that it is right. What say you?
Even better what does God say?
(Steven's reply) Hi......
Greetings to you in Jesus name. May the Lord bless and keep you and your family today and always.
You ask a very good question, which I believe the Bible gives good counsel about. Is war sin? War is a result of sin. If Adam and Eve had not eaten from the forbidden tree in the garden and sinned, there would have been no wars. The slaying of Abel, by his brother Cain, would not have been the first murder followed by millions more down through the centuries. We live in a fallen world now, even as Christians. But there is a difference between murder and killing, vengence and justice. Whether war is sin or not depends on whose side you are on. In the Old Testament God told Israel to fight and kill their enemies. In the Old Testiment God gave Israel the Ten Command-ments, which the sixth one says "Thou Shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13; (NKJB) (my note: the King James Verson says "Thou Shalt not kill.") Eventhough He gave Israel this command, He commanded them to kill those occupying the Promise Land as they entered. Plus, the Kings of Israel went out to fight their enemies as did King David. (Deut. 20:1-4) They were victorious when following the Lord, and lost many battles when they were not. (Read Deuteronomy thru 2 Kings.)
..................Israel was a type, of God's coming Kingdom which Jesus will begin to rule from Jerusalem when he returns. Jesus will fight and destroy His enemies at that time. There is evidence in Scripture that we Christians in our immortality will fight with Him against His enemies. (Zach. 14; Rev. 5:10; 20:1-5; 1 Cor. 15:24)
In the New Testament we have a balance between Jesus telling us to turn the other cheek as individuals and the instructions given to government leaders and those serving in government authority. As individuals we are not to take matters into our own hands, eye for and eye, because vengence is God's. (Rom. 12:19-21), we can call the police, and leave it to proper authorities. That will be justice, not vengence. And if the proper authorites don't take care of it, God will in his own timing if we leave it in his hands, which may not be until eternity if He so chooses. As we move into another chapter Romans 13:1-7. we see why. God has ordained all authority. One of their responsibilities is to protect it's citizens from those you will do evil, (v.4) As I understood Romans 13 and other scriptures, the United States government has a God given responsibility to protect its citizens from domestic and foreign enemies. As Christians, I find nothing in scripture that prevents us from serving in government positions, policeman, firemen, and even in the military. Example Cornelius in Acts 10 was a Roman soldier and was a leader of his men. As such he was called a devout man of God. (v.2) The Bible doesn't say how he performed his duites, but the fact remains he was a Roman solider as a Christian. In Acts 8 Philip was sent to a eunuch who was an official in the Ethiopian government. The eunuch accepted the Lord, was baptized, and went on his way. (Acts 8:26-39) In Acts 16:19-33 an Phillipian jailer and family accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, and continued as a jailer.
Hitler started a war with the world and murdered 6,000,000 Jews. That was completely wicked and sinful, but nations rose up to protect themselves against him, and worked against his evil. I believe God used those nations, including the U.S. to defeat Hitler's and Satan's plan to destroy all the Jews and to take over the world. God brought good out of the evil of Hitler when he established Israel as a nation again in 1948. Not all positions taken in a war are just. Hitler's wasn't, but I believe our part in that war was just. When you consider the goals of Islam and the Muslims, which are to destroy Israel and push them into the sea, and put to death all Jews worldwide, that's evil and sinful. Osama bin Laden was one of them. He lived his life hating Jews and Christians, putting many to death, not on the battle field, but innocent men, women, and children who were not able to depend themselves. I believe he got his just dues, and will stand before Jesus someday to account for what he has done with his life. As we all will. Did God use the U.S. military to take him out? I don't have a "Thus saith the Lord," on that, but when we study Scriptures, we see God down through the centuries working in the affairs of man, including warfare, at times using them to destroy evil. Also as I pointed out above, God has given authority for governments to wield the sword against those who will do evil. Osama bin Laden was evil.
I have a son in the U.S. Air Force serving at Dover AFB, Delaware as a member of a ground crew servicing C17 aircraft. On occasion he is deployed overseas.......He's not a combat soldier, but his work supports those who are. I am humbled by his service to our country and utilimately to God. He is a Christian man who I want to be light and salt to those he serves with. To me that is his first duty, to serve the Lord while in the Air Force, as the Roman solider Cornelius did in Acts 10. It is my personal belief that God commands His people to go into the whole world, and sends them. (Matthew 28:19-20) Non-Christian soldiers need a Christian witness from Christian soldiers. Why? He wants all men to be saved. (2 Peter 3:9)
...... you will have to decide and settle this in your heart before the Lord. What I have written is simply my commentary as I see and understand the Scriptures at this point in time in my life. God's word is true and without error, but my comments are flawed and often hit the ground. So, do your duty as a Christian and search the Scriptures. (Acts 17:11)
Blessings in Christ Jesus ...... Steven
P.S. This email may be forwarded by those who wish.
(Question) What is your belief on the killing of Osama bin Ladan (OBL)? Do you think if he was unarmed and shot in the head it is murder? Do you think war is sin? I have a son possibly going in to the military. I have mixed feelings about taking lives or even the death penalty. Eventhough I support these things I would like to have a peace that it is right. What say you?
Even better what does God say?
(Steven's reply) Hi......
Greetings to you in Jesus name. May the Lord bless and keep you and your family today and always.
You ask a very good question, which I believe the Bible gives good counsel about. Is war sin? War is a result of sin. If Adam and Eve had not eaten from the forbidden tree in the garden and sinned, there would have been no wars. The slaying of Abel, by his brother Cain, would not have been the first murder followed by millions more down through the centuries. We live in a fallen world now, even as Christians. But there is a difference between murder and killing, vengence and justice. Whether war is sin or not depends on whose side you are on. In the Old Testament God told Israel to fight and kill their enemies. In the Old Testiment God gave Israel the Ten Command-ments, which the sixth one says "Thou Shall not murder." (Exodus 20:13; (NKJB) (my note: the King James Verson says "Thou Shalt not kill.") Eventhough He gave Israel this command, He commanded them to kill those occupying the Promise Land as they entered. Plus, the Kings of Israel went out to fight their enemies as did King David. (Deut. 20:1-4) They were victorious when following the Lord, and lost many battles when they were not. (Read Deuteronomy thru 2 Kings.)
..................Israel was a type, of God's coming Kingdom which Jesus will begin to rule from Jerusalem when he returns. Jesus will fight and destroy His enemies at that time. There is evidence in Scripture that we Christians in our immortality will fight with Him against His enemies. (Zach. 14; Rev. 5:10; 20:1-5; 1 Cor. 15:24)
In the New Testament we have a balance between Jesus telling us to turn the other cheek as individuals and the instructions given to government leaders and those serving in government authority. As individuals we are not to take matters into our own hands, eye for and eye, because vengence is God's. (Rom. 12:19-21), we can call the police, and leave it to proper authorities. That will be justice, not vengence. And if the proper authorites don't take care of it, God will in his own timing if we leave it in his hands, which may not be until eternity if He so chooses. As we move into another chapter Romans 13:1-7. we see why. God has ordained all authority. One of their responsibilities is to protect it's citizens from those you will do evil, (v.4) As I understood Romans 13 and other scriptures, the United States government has a God given responsibility to protect its citizens from domestic and foreign enemies. As Christians, I find nothing in scripture that prevents us from serving in government positions, policeman, firemen, and even in the military. Example Cornelius in Acts 10 was a Roman soldier and was a leader of his men. As such he was called a devout man of God. (v.2) The Bible doesn't say how he performed his duites, but the fact remains he was a Roman solider as a Christian. In Acts 8 Philip was sent to a eunuch who was an official in the Ethiopian government. The eunuch accepted the Lord, was baptized, and went on his way. (Acts 8:26-39) In Acts 16:19-33 an Phillipian jailer and family accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, and continued as a jailer.
Hitler started a war with the world and murdered 6,000,000 Jews. That was completely wicked and sinful, but nations rose up to protect themselves against him, and worked against his evil. I believe God used those nations, including the U.S. to defeat Hitler's and Satan's plan to destroy all the Jews and to take over the world. God brought good out of the evil of Hitler when he established Israel as a nation again in 1948. Not all positions taken in a war are just. Hitler's wasn't, but I believe our part in that war was just. When you consider the goals of Islam and the Muslims, which are to destroy Israel and push them into the sea, and put to death all Jews worldwide, that's evil and sinful. Osama bin Laden was one of them. He lived his life hating Jews and Christians, putting many to death, not on the battle field, but innocent men, women, and children who were not able to depend themselves. I believe he got his just dues, and will stand before Jesus someday to account for what he has done with his life. As we all will. Did God use the U.S. military to take him out? I don't have a "Thus saith the Lord," on that, but when we study Scriptures, we see God down through the centuries working in the affairs of man, including warfare, at times using them to destroy evil. Also as I pointed out above, God has given authority for governments to wield the sword against those who will do evil. Osama bin Laden was evil.
I have a son in the U.S. Air Force serving at Dover AFB, Delaware as a member of a ground crew servicing C17 aircraft. On occasion he is deployed overseas.......He's not a combat soldier, but his work supports those who are. I am humbled by his service to our country and utilimately to God. He is a Christian man who I want to be light and salt to those he serves with. To me that is his first duty, to serve the Lord while in the Air Force, as the Roman solider Cornelius did in Acts 10. It is my personal belief that God commands His people to go into the whole world, and sends them. (Matthew 28:19-20) Non-Christian soldiers need a Christian witness from Christian soldiers. Why? He wants all men to be saved. (2 Peter 3:9)
...... you will have to decide and settle this in your heart before the Lord. What I have written is simply my commentary as I see and understand the Scriptures at this point in time in my life. God's word is true and without error, but my comments are flawed and often hit the ground. So, do your duty as a Christian and search the Scriptures. (Acts 17:11)
Blessings in Christ Jesus ...... Steven
P.S. This email may be forwarded by those who wish.
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