Most of us think about war nationally. Most of the Muslims do not. It is much bigger than a national consideration. For them it is about the triumph of their God over all other false gods. Allah will reign. They are fighting false faiths like Judaism and Christianity. That is what war is about to them. They are fighting holy wars. When the towers fell 6 years ago, Bin Laden rejoiced at the approval of Allah being manifested in the towers’ collapse.
And most Americans scoff at this concept of Holy War. They laugh at the idea that gods would fight it out through their humans adherents or that one true God would manifest his omnipotence through military endeavors. We are far to civilized for such concepts.
And yet, I have been leading our bible class through the books of the Kings. And there, the concept of Holy War is much too prevalent to ignore. God no doubt manifests his reign in a military way in these pages. He shows that he alone is God by wiping nations off the face of the earth. Those who watched the wars received a powerful message about God. In war, there was witness to the one true God.
I am fully aware that that was a different time when God had his people contained in one nation who he had chosen. I also recognize that we live in the last days which has implications for our waring and our peacemaking. I do not believe that God has chosen America as his new Israel. And so I am tempted to say “who cares” about the war from a kingdom perspective. Oh we can discuss the ethical nature of the war, but ultimately the outcome of the war has no lasting impact on the kingdom of God. Right?
But when I rip me feet out of the tar of my own perspective, I begin to wonder. When the Muslims war against America, they believe they are fighting the Christian God. Allah is waring with Yahweh. And when they succeed in their plans, they are convinced that Allah is manifesting his might and proving that the Christian God is weak if not nonexistent.
So here is the question. While God has not chosen America as his nation to manifest his glory in particular, doesn’t he surely care that his reputation, his perceived glory is on the line in this war between us and the Muslims. And if not for the sake of his name among the nations, what about for those nation’s salvation? Does he not ache to manifest the truth that Allah is no god and he is God alone for his sake or for the sake of those perishing in false belief? And if he does, would not their defeat, especially if a crushing one, wake some of their hearts to the truth about Allah and about Yahweh and his Son Jesus. Surely, this did happen in times past. It could be argued that often in the OT, warring was Israel’s primary witness and this at God’s direction.
It is easy to suppose that God has simply given the Muslims over to the hardness of the hearts, and therefore will not give them a manifestation of his glory, knowing that such an act would not stir faith in their hearts. But truthfully, the cases of God doing this are rare in the Bible, and much more prevalent are narratives and verses about God’s long-suffering pursuance of all people unto salvation by whatever means necessary.
Could it be possible that God wants America to defeat the Muslims not because he has chosen America, but rather because the Muslims have chosen to associate him with America? It is possible that he will act to bring crushing defeat for his name’s sake or for the salvation of the Muslims? Is is possible that even today, in 2007, God still connects war and witness?
Phil,
This is a good post. Yet, what would you do with the times God used other nations to punish Israel (I agree whole-heartedly with your assessment of America not being the new Israel…I am just using your example)? Was God not demonstrating his glory and love and discipline through “pagan” nations?
Is it possible that God has allowed radical muslims to inflict terror and pain in this country because we have totally screwed priorities and have done a crappy job of living out what it truly means to follow God in the way of Jesus? Again, as you say, not that America has replaced Israel but, as yourself, I am talking about what if we, as Americans, have messed up God’s reputation among the nations?
I think, this is me, what tends to happen is that we tend to assume, as Americans, that God is on our side because we are fighting against those who don’t believe in the true God. Yet how many times did God use other nations to remind Israel of some things?
I must tread very carefully and cautiously here (and I am not fleshing out all I believe in this post, nor am I saying that I agree in totality with what I am about to say…I am just throwing out the questions): why do we assume that God will use us to teach others a “lesson” or to bring glory and honor to his name? what if God is using others to remind American Christians of what he truly wants from us and who he truly is and from there to be, as Christ-followers, light among people and to live as God would call us to in and among the world?
I don’t know…maybe we haven’t “ripped our feet out of the tar of our own perspective” quite far enough.
Or maybe this comment is just a bunch of crazy talk.
Either way, would love to hear your thoughts and comments. Thanks for a thought provoking post (they usually are)!
Tom,
Your post is very helpful in pointing out the difficulty of staring into the mystery of God’s workings in the world.
You do this by pointing out the one-sidedness of my argument. What if God is disciplining the believers rather than witnessing to the unbelievers?
While I certainly agree that this is a possibility, let me think out loud a little. Here are my questions with your approach:
1. With God’s church scattered throughout the nations, how can he truly bring oppression upon his people militarily so that they notice the oppression is upon his people and not just a bunch of religiously diverse people? Once again his job was easier when his people were in one place in one nation for the largest part.
2. Would we possibly recognize our defeat by the Muslims as God’s hand when we have seem to have no neurons running in our brain between the concept of war and God? And if we will not, does God give up that means when it no longer leads to and end. if bringing oppression no longer even leads to the contemplation of repentance, do he put that means on the shelf? Or does he just send messengers to bring his true purpose to light?
3. If you are right, the oppression is not intended to last forever. Once the people of God repent, God will deliver us and destroy our enemies punishing them for even the evil of oppressing us. But again how can the people of God collectively repent in our current state? And if it is not collective, how many does it take. If you and I repent while the rest of the church misses it, do we keep being oppressed or does God deliver everyone because our our repentance? Or is it that the true people of faith will all finally see the truth, and those who continue to miss it in our churches are simply the chaff among the wheat?
Your turn…
Phil,
Great response. Good questions. Let me try and tackle your questions in two ways. First, it might be just as hard to convince Muslims around the world (rather than just the Middle East) that their god has been defeated just because the Americans have won (or may win) the war against some radical, extreme Muslims. And beyond that, victory on our side, if it happens at all, will be very hit and miss in a way. So in the end a stalemate be what comes of this war.
Second, assuming that people here could collectively repent (and I tend to agree with your statement stating that would be tough to actually have happen)…but what if, our liberation from oppression and injustice comes in ways we don’t expect? What if the crushing of our enemies finally happens at the end of time, but liberation (in part) comes through being convinced of our materialism, consumerism, self-centeredness? And what if it, in the end, isn’t a national thing, but rather a personal (or even community of faith)thing that has national implications?
I go back to, again, that even if America were God’s chosen instrument that convincing Muslims of the defeat of their god would be hard….not every muslim accepts what radicals and extremists are doing in the name of Allah.
BTW…i think God should teach ‘Boomers’ a lesson.