Monday, May 02, 2011

Enmity Of Man

Please take a moment and examine the picture to the left before you proceed.

One nation invades another, claiming to execute the justice of their god upon their enemies. Soldiers, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters are killed. Innocent ones lives are taken in the despicable actions of war. Young men, many who don’t even know what they’re fighting for are executed with delight. Throats are slit, bullets pierce skulls and bodies are dismembered with national pride. Flags are hoisted high. The “winners” are the heroic, victorious ones in the eyes of their nation and detested enemies by others. The “losers” are wronged and wounded, no matter which side it is and their nation mourns. One is bad, one is good. After one attacks the other, the latter, if capable, organizes and wages war upon the formers land, executing revenge, driven by retaliatory rage. They are completely justified in their actions in their own eyes. The “victors” rejoice over death, territorial conquerings or vindicated killings of evil leaders.

Tell me, when seated in a completely unbiased chair that is not swayed by personal convictions or national-minded prejudices, who is right? Who is good? Who is evil? If all actions mirror one another, who really rises up out of the ashes triumphant?

Who wins when the actions are exactly the same?

I’ll tell you, neither. All involved lose because absolutely nothing is resolved or removed…. nothing! The cyclical pattern of kill and be killed continues for all time. All involved continue to willingly surrender to the fleshly demands to conquer and prevail over their self-defined evil enemies, generally excused away in the name of their “god”.

What a sad day we too have arrived upon when millions, many proudly professing to be "Christian patriots", state that the murdering of Bin Laden somehow (and I quote) "makes God happy" and how acts such as this by our military "shows why God blesses this nation".

The wars and senseless killings in the name of “freedom” are nothing more than a globally militarized game of “he pushed me first” that has cost this nation, and all others involved, millions of lives.

Lord forgive this Nation for acting exactly like those that She claims to despise. We are all created in Your beautiful image. The only difference between me and the most vile of all sinners and murderers that roam this fallen earth is Your grace. I have nothing good of myself and choose to cry out, “Forgive us Father for we know not what we do.” I will not stand beside my geographical neighbors as they raise national banners of false victory that mimic the rejoicing of those whom they claim to hate and desire to eradicate.

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles. Proverbs 24:17

"As I live!" declares the Lord GOD, "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live." Ezekiel 33:11

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Related articles: When Men Become Expendable: Part 4, War - Hypocrisy Of The Nations - Pursuing Truth


9 comments:

Anonymous said...

TRUE TRUE TRUE, thanks for sharing.
Kay

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Andrew said...

In response to your comment "Anonymous" (not Kay) who or what right do we have to call ourselves a Christian Nation? just because we fake saying "under God" doesn't in any way make us a "Christian Nation" nor is it God's desire for anyone to perish apart from knowing him so for Christians to go kill others would make us no better than the crusaders in the dark ages going on a Holy War. Gods Kingdom is not set up in America and never will be set up here in America so for us to go after someone and eradicate terrorists has absolutely nothing to do with God it has everything to do with fallen man. Just remember the crowds that followed Jesus they wanted him to come and eradicate the Romans did he? absolutely not, did he even condone his own followers drawing swords against his own captors because he realized that His Kingdom wasn't here on this earth but was up in Heaven

Joel Spencer said...

Anonymous: *sigh* There's simply not even enough text allowance within this comment box to appropriately respond to your comment so I'll keep it brief. You stated, "this nation has the right to eradicate terrorists....". Wow.

I don't even know where to start with this one. And as far as if "we're the most Christian nation there is" means that 7 out of 10 will SAY that they are Christians yet their only defining characteristic is that they attend a certain building a couple times a week, then yes, the US is surely "the most Christian".

But, that means absolutely nothing according to Scriptural definitions of a Believer, so we can throw that out.

Lastly, the name of Jesus (well, God anyway - no one talks about Jesus) does not just give someone the "right" to execute whatever plans they desire. Friend I encourage you to arise from your slumber and step outside of your American-Christian world and see globally.

The kingdom of God is not housed upon American soil.

Joel Spencer said...

Andrew: People really do desire the same king as those in Jesus days did. A powerful ruler that executes their will and plans on their behalf.

Remove our enemies, wave your magic wand and do as we wish, make us prosper, give us earthly favor.

Ugh. Is such a dangerous mindset that, when one is in it, cripples (if not completely disables) their ability to see Jesus for who He truly is and living as one not of this world.

The majority don't see that America is in fact, a temporal kingdom of this world that is passing away, just as any other.

Valerie said...

Joel,

You said "The kingdom of God is not housed upon American soil."

Nor any other country either for that matter, but that one comment helps put things into perspective.

Joel Spencer said...

Absolutely Valerie. No kingdom of man is large enough (nor remotely capable enough) to house the Kingdom of God.

anna said...

What type of christian are you?

Joel Spencer said...

What "type"? Ummmm, the kind that strives to live as Christ is really the only type I want to be.