The menace of war and the promise of peace

“Cannons and fire-arms are cruel and damnable machines;

I believe them to have been the direct suggestion of the Devil.

If Adam had seen in a vision the horrible instruments his children were to invent,

he would have died of grief.”

- Martin Luther

At times it feels there are hawks everywhere—but a Dove is on the believer’s shoulder.

Benjamin Franklin was certainly right—“there never was a good war or a bad peace.”

Incredibly, this world seems to thrive on war—over 100,000 killed in Syria so far!

Afghanistan and Iraq have been battlegrounds for years, and are not yet quiet.

Millions have died in combat, with “the war to end all wars” not yet fought.

Ukraine trembles in the shadow of her giant threatening neighbor Russia.

Will America’s paratroopers in Poland keep the menacing bear at bay?

“Wars and rumors of wars” (Matthew 24:6) pervade the daily news.

Peace at last is the promise of Scripture—God speed the day!

“They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. ”

Isaiah 2:4 ESV

Johnny R. Almond

Pastor, Colonial Beach Baptist Church, Virginia

Author, Gentle Whispers from Eternity—Scripture Personalized

GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized (copy & paste to browser for blog & book info)

Martin Luther had it wrong. ANY technology, any inanimate object, any non-human life form is amoral. How and more importantly WHY that technology, object, or living thing is used by humans is a moral choice that imputes nothing to it. Addressing the issue presented, you may (not) want to reference Luke 22:35-37 and Romans 13:3-4 where Jesus and Paul speak about the "cannons and fire-arms" of their day.

Ben Franklin wasn't too astute of a theologian either. Perhaps he would take God to task for the rescue of Lot by Abraham, the conquest and/or defense of Caanan, etc.?

Lest I be misunderstood, I am not necessarily advocating in particular for the use of deadly force by individuals or governments nor in general for the un/righteousness of war. There is MUCH more to be said about and around these topics, but suffice it to say we ALL can find ALMOST exactly what we WANT to find in Scripture. The simplest answers are always the easiest, but are usually at best naive and therefore fraught with danger.

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Comments

Don Loops April 28, 2014 23:39

Martin Luther had it wrong. ANY technology, any inanimate object, any non-human life form is amoral. How and more importantly WHY that technology, object, or living thing is used by humans is a moral choice that imputes nothing to it. Addressing the issue presented, you may (not) want to reference Luke 22:35-37 and Romans 13:3-4 where Jesus and Paul speak about the "cannons and fire-arms" of their day.

Ben Franklin wasn't too astute of a theologian either. Perhaps he would take God to task for the rescue of Lot by Abraham, the conquest and/or defense of Caanan, etc.?

Lest I be misunderstood, I am not necessarily advocating in particular for the use of deadly force by individuals or governments nor in general for the un/righteousness of war. There is MUCH more to be said about and around these topics, but suffice it to say we ALL can find ALMOST exactly what we WANT to find in Scripture. The simplest answers are always the easiest, but are usually at best naive and therefore fraught with danger.

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