Have you heard the melee of opinions as to what would be an appropriate US response to last month's attack? "Nuke 'em", "Seek dialogue with them", "Impress them with a change of foreign policy", "hunt them down", "do nothing and they'll leave us alone". I have been asked what the Christian response must be.
Obviously the ideal world condition is that of peace. The Church must use its influence to help the nations of the earth to be at peace. For example - if any land given to the Palestinians is being unlawfully taken to build Jewish settlements in Israel, thereby increasing hostility, we must speak up. When the Islamic government of Sudan tries to bomb people in the South of their country into submission its time for protest. Propagation of the message of peace will require all our energies. Sadly, even military preparedness can be a means towards peace. The old saying goes: "if you love peace, prepare for war."
We realize that we are living in a world where evil forces and philosophies are actively in conflict with these Christian ideals. There may arise such international emergencies as will require a nation to resort to war in defense of its ideals, its freedom, and its existence. When war is declared each thinking person has a personal decision to make: Do I believe that this is a just war?
While thus committed to the cause of peace, the Church must recognize that the supreme allegiance of the Christian is due to God. Pastors cannot bind the conscience of church members relative to participation in military service in case of war. I consider the military strikes in Afghanistan to be just retribution and more importantly furthering the cause of anti-terrorism. I cannot however tell you what to believe about this. Here's some good advice to those who embrace armed response: the individual Christian as a citizen is bound to give service to his or her own nation in all ways that are compatible with the Christian faith and the Christian way of life. If we fire upon the enemy, we must ponder carefully the so-called Rules of Engagement.
So what about pacifism? For some it's a natural outgrowth of the Christian teaching and of the desire for peace on earth. Thus some Americans have conscientious objection to certain forms of military service. I ask you to support for these people the same exemptions and considerations regarding military service as are accorded members of recognized noncombatant religious organizations, like the Red Cross.
We are not providing a loophole for cowards. Remember the meeting scene early in the movie The Patriot? Every church should already have a register whereon its members may record their convictions as conscientious objectors. I hold in suspicion a last minute rush to get onto such a register.
Much has been said about this being an attack on our way of life. Freedom is under fire. Both political and religious freedom rests upon biblical concepts of the dignity of man as God's creation and the sanctity of one's own individual conscience. A very important election is due in New Jersey. Pay attention. Participate in political activity in support of these biblical concepts. Be ever vigilant against threats to this precious freedom. Good soldiers and bad politicians hurt us once before - in Vietnam.
Freedom is constantly in danger, so elect to public office at all levels of government those who believe in these principles and who are answerable only to God and the constituency that elected them when carrying out a public trust.
Pastor Andrew, should you be saying these political things? The role of the Church is to be prophetic and constantly to remind the people that "righteousness exalts a nation" (Proverbs 14:34).