Do the Words of Jesus Apply?
Monday, June 11th, 2007
t is not the general nature of this blog to speak on political events or idealogies. However, from time to time, I find myself compelled to address certain things of a political nature from a Christian perspective.
Sometimes that results in a very unpopular view. There are certain things that are “fashionable” for Christians to hold to here in America. Speaking out against those things is often misconstrued as speaking out against Christianity itself. Or, at best, one is viewed as a political liberal, and therefore not a good Christian.
The “War on Terror” is one such issue. It has the ability to polarize people so quickly. And while I don’t seek to make a case for or against the current military action, I do think it is high time that those of us who are citizens of the Kingdom of God consider the tightrope that we must walk in balancing our American citizenship with our Heavenly citizenship.
Recently, someone sent me one of those ubiquitous “forwards” in email. You know exactly the type of thing I’m talking about. The type that ends with “If you believe this, send it on to everyone you know.” The email was entitled “Could Not Be Said Better”, and is quoted here only in part:
Written by a housewife from New Jersey and sounds like it! This is one ticked off lady.
“Are we fighting a war on terror or aren’t we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores on September 11, 2001?
Were people from all over the world, mostly Americans, not brutally murdered that day, in downtown Manhattan , across the Potomac from our nation’s capitol and in a field in Pennsylvania ? Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn’t they?
And I’m supposed to care that a copy of the Koran was “desecrated” when an overworked American soldier kicked it or got it wet?…Well, I don’t. I don’t care at all.
I’ll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in and repents for incinerating all those innocent people on 9/11.
I’ll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere possession of which is a crime in Saudi Arabia
I’ll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs.
In the meantime, when I hear a story about a brave marine roughing up an Iraqi terrorist to obtain information, know this: I don’t care.
When I see a fuzzy photo of a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners who have been humiliated in what amounts to a college-hazing incident, rest assured: I don’t care.
When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take it to the bank: I don’t care.
When I hear that a prisoner, who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and fed “special” food that is paid for by my tax dollars, is complaining that his holy book is being “mishandled,” you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: I don’t care.
And of course, the email finished with these “noble” statements:
If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your e-mail friends. Sooner or later, it’ll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behavior!
If you don’t agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don’t complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great country!
…Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM. AMEN
Now, I realize that these types of sentiments are very popular. However, after giving it a lot of thought and prayer, I composed a reply to person who had sent it on to me. I didn’t touch on the idea that I found equating the death of an American G.I. with the death of Jesus quite offensive. But at any rate, here was the reply I sent to my friend:
Greetings! It’s been quite a while since we corresponded personally. I have felt for several days, however, since receiving this particular forwarded email from you, that I needed to share something on my heart with you. After much prayer, and attempts at writing that have been abandoned, I am finally taking the plunge to share these thoughts with you.
I pray that you will receive them in the spirit in which they are intended. Having said that, feel free to test my words yourself and accept or reject them as you feel led by the Spirit of God.
Since 9/11, it has become increasingly difficult to see our Christianity as anything but enmeshed in our American citizenship. In other words, our patriotism and feelings of support for our country have blurred the lines between our citizenship in the USA and our citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven.
One very unfortunate side effect of this is that the War on Terror (among other things) has become a “religious war”, as evidenced by the email you forwarded below.
I can only assume, based on the closing remarks in the email, that you forwarded it on because you agree with the contents of it. And it is those contents to which I am responding.
It is very easy to get passionate about our country. It is very easy to see this war as something that is not only necessary, but right. And overall, the point of my response is not to question that. However, I think it is vitally important that we who claim the name of Christ are willing to evaluate our thoughts and feelings alongside the teachings of the very Christ whose name we bear.
Jesus spoke about how we should view our enemies. And what He spoke was pretty direct. He said that we should love those who hate us. Consider this passage (Matthew 5:38-48):
“You have heard that it was said, ‘AN EYE FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH.’ But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Many of the statements included in the email you forwarded are in direct opposition to these words of Jesus. Would you agree?
“I’ll start caring when Osama bin Laden turns himself in….”
“I’ll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Bible….”
“I’ll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry….”
I think you can see my point. The sentiments expressed in these statements that I’ve referenced are of the nature of “an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth”. This is starkly contrasted by the words of Jesus. If I could paraphrase the words of Jesus a tad, “if you only care about those who first care about you, what reward do you have?”
Give it some thought. I’d be open to any disagreement or discussion that you have regarding this. I know the forwarded email said to just delete it if I disagreed, but I feel like my relationship to you as a brother in Christ calls for something different.
I sincerely hope and pray that my words here are not offensive to you. And I deeply regret that my first “personal” email to you in several years is to take issue with a forwarded email that you have sent on.
May God bless you, and may His Spirit allow whatever truth may be in my words here to be seen, and the grace to identify and correct whatever I may have spoken in error.
“Finally…whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”
What do you, my readers, think?Until next time,
steve ![]()


