Jesus told Saint Peter, "You live by the sword, then you will die by the sword."
Many times, in discussions of War, this simple truth is forgotten.
Patriotic Americans (like myself) will stream into Recruiting offices to "defend our country," but in being willing to "take up the sword," Jesus' words are rather chilling.
If soldiering is your profession, then expect to die by the very means that you are living.
John McCain, a heroic former Naval pilot, sadly, learned this the hard way. Although McCain was not physically killed, after numerous bombing runs over Hanoi, eventually, one of the anti-aircraft missiles fired by the Communist Vietnamese, did in fact clip the wing of his bomber, McCain was sent hurtling to the ground in his parachute, landed in a lake in the middle of Hanoi, and was taken prisoner. Although McCain physically lived, he learned through several years of grueling P.O.W. life that whoever lives by the sword, eventually dies by the sword.
But, how then are we as a Nation State to defend ourselves?
Is "first strike" (e.g. the invasion of Iraq) ever an option?
After studying this issue some, I have come to the conclusion that whenever a Christian holds political office, the only position that one can ascribe to is the Christian Just War tradition as passed down through the centuries by St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas.
Historic Just-War cites numerous sets of criteria for what constitutes a "just-war." Is the war only for defense? Is the war fought only with proportionate means? Is the governing authority that wages a war in fact a legitimate governmental authority?
Although there are numerous arguments that tried to declare Iraq a just-war, sadly, Iraq does not fit just-war criteria. This was the invasion of one sovereign nation state (the Unites States of America) into another sovereign nation state (Iraq). Iraq had not directly attacked us, and therefore the War in Iraq was never a just-war.
Having stated the obvious, the War against Al Qaida is a war that, sadly, is in fact just. Al Qaida, although a transnational terrorist group is nonetheless in the attack mode against us. We must fight and to do otherwise would be just plain stupid. Without the magistrate bearing the sword (Romans 13) against Al Qaida, then yes, these rogue terror cells will eventually be blowing up our places of commerce, our national historic sites, and eventually even our infrastructure.
Here, the principle of proportionality comes into play.
If Al Qaida strikes us, then we are to strike back with equal force.
Blessings in Jesus,
Rob J. King, in the Just-War Tradition
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2 comments:
Another way to paraphrase Jesus:
When you go to War, you kill, AND you die.
Iraq ceased to be a War on May 1st, 2003. It has been an occupation ever since.
The struggle against Al Qaida is a symptom of our national arrogance. People with extreme views will always exist, and do in any religion. See Oklahoma. What we must do is provide enough of a structure for law enforcement and a social, spiritual, physical and economic foundation, not just in our country but around the world, that extremists never get a significant opportunity to grow their membership from those people who just want a good life for their families.
We are at a crossroads in history. We can choose a new path, of peace and fellowship according to the wishes of Jesus; or we can continue on the path of war, death and Imperialism, which was Jesus' greatest fear.
The choice is ours.
Chad,
Well, that pretty much sums up what Jesus was saying to Peter!
And yes, we are a military occupying force in a nation that is not our own, and thus, violating the tenets of the Just-War Tradition.
Finally, the cross-roads that we are at, I think we actually have already crossed. Most American Families, I think, want us OUT of Iraq, and want a better life to include Universal Health Coverage, Just Wages that you can actually live off of, and be able to go to the park to play softball or football with their sons . . .
BUT, how this is done is a different story. I seek the Nation's HIGHEST Office for NO PERSONAL gain (I'd rather work my way up as President of a College or University somewhere . . .). BUT, I see that the elderly can often be extremely self-seeking, passing on their debt, bad lifestyle choices, etc. to we X'er
s and Millenials and younger, all of whom are already MORE cash-strapped than they are while they sit back and enjoy their cushy military or corporate retirements!
Not to make it a "generational war" BUT the generation from age 48 - 78 really left the United States of America in a HUGE mess!
Blessings in Jesus,
Rob
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