The un-realism of just war

This has got to be the best thing I've read in a long time... The Criswell Theological Review this past October features an essay by Stanley Hauerwas titled, "Why War is a Moral Necessity for America or How Realistic Is Realism?". I urge you to read its entirety.

Hauerwas spells out how absurd the theory of just war is much better than I have ever been able to (probably because he's done a lot more research - and he's smarter). He explores the arguments of "realists" who support just war, pointing out their arguments are entirely unrealistic using their own arguments contrasted with reality. He then explores the reality of the mythical nature of America's worship of war. Hauerwas goes through a brief history of the Civil War explaining exactly how war itself has become an idol American families are asked to sacrifice their sons, brothers, and fathers on the altar of, and how the Civil War is the touchstone every war since has compared to in order to further more sacrifice.

He finally contrasts the sacrifice of men to the god of war with the Christian perspective, explaining "that is why we do not trust those who would have us make sacrifices in the name of preserving a world at war. We believe a 'sacrifice' has already been made that has brought an end to the sacrifice of war." Because when we worship war, we continue warring to justify the deaths of the warriors who came before us.

The essay ends with this powerful statement:

If the Civil War teaches us anything it makes clear what happens when Christians no longer believe that Christ's sacrifice is sufficient for the salvation of the world. As a result, Christians confuse the sacrifice of war with the sacrifice of Christ.

But don't take my word for it, read the whole essay yourself. It is packed full of historical information regarding the allegiance of our souls.

The cunning use of flags

I'm bugged by flags displayed in church gatherings. It's becoming more and more bothersome to me as time passes. I understand the congregations that display flags of the countries representing nations their missionaries are in, but it's when we fly a flag displaying the congregation's national allegiance that I am concerned about.

Flying a nation's flag over a building, on a ship, or on a vehicle, means this place/conveyance is under the authority of that nation. I suppose there's nothing wrong with individuals being subject to the authorities, but it is when the Church, the bride of Christ, the "new nation," is placed under the authority of an earthly nation that I am cautious of the symbolism.

This past week it became even more apparent when I was visiting a congregation and they brought out the flag of the United States of America and the Christian flag. Why these need to be displayed on the platform from where the message of the gospel is taught is beyond my understanding, but it was the symbolism of where the flags were placed that really sank in my gut. The US flag was positioned behind the speaker's right shoulder (the place of honor, in keeping with the US flag code) and the Christian one was placed behind the left shoulder, which is a place of subservience.

The Church should be not subservient to the US, or any other nation.

Later in the week, as I was pondering flag placement, I drove past the local Roman Catholic parish and noticed the flag placement. At first I thought they must not have got the memo because they had three poles, equal heights, with the US flag first, the Holy See flag second and the California state flag third. I figured it was wrong because the flag code has US first, state second, and other flag third. But then I remembered the Vatican City is a city-state, and therefore gets privilege over the state flag.

But the Holy See is not just a city-state where the pope lives, it is the ultimate authority for Roman Catholics. Now the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church was taking the second place behind our nation. It might not mean much to non-Catholics, and probably misses the symbolism on the rest, but it should be incredibly insulting that the one true Church of Christ (to Catholics) is taking the second place behind our nation.

I think symbolism is important. It is a subconscious even that does inform the way we think. I recall a story I heard on the radio about how languages with male and female nouns cause users of each language to think about these objects differently. For example, German speakers give a bridge (die brucke) feminine traits such as "fragile" and "elegant" where a Spanish speaker (el puente) say the bridge is "strong" and "dangerous."

These very minute difference do change the way we think about things. I believe this has also changed the way Christians feel about their respective countries - remember "For God and country" is British, and "Gott mit uns" is German. We often are told that service to one's country is a "Christian duty"; why so many Christians have killed one another over the years. We don't have a view of one Christian nation that doesn't have borders; one allegiance to the Kingdom of God. We split our allegiance, and are then confused as to our priorities.

This change can be done within the Church. It might seem subservient to not display flags, or to display our first allegiance in the place of honor with the US flag in second place, but it will change the way we think about where our honor is given.

August Town

I was just listening to a ska reggae song from Duane Stephenson on Pandora. It's a good song.



Check out the lyrics:

Artist: Duane Stephenson
Song: August Town

A word from the wise, don't try to make life on your own
Remember that Jah Jah’s by your side, for I was a soul who was lost
and my life was in dismay, for among evil forces in which I played yeah
guns and ammunition were my chosen way of life,
with God's fearing people I chose to strive,
for all of the lives that are taken, they can never be replaced,
but still Jah Jah chose to remember my face,

(Chorus)
Though I never lived like he wanted,
I'm still mindful of what he taught me
So now I beg and plead, I'm on my bended knees
'Cause Father you rescued me
I've got the scars to show, I barely made it along life's road
'Cause when my life got dark, you was the only spark
You were the light at the end of the road

When I was a young boy growing up in August Town
we ate from the same pot, we were idling all around
from corner to colour and corner, from rockers to jungle turf tire
rising to dreadhieghts and river all around, and then the football ground became a battle field and my life seem so surreal
people were falling all around, but Jah helped me to stand my ground
Only Jah, Only Jah, could have helped me to stand my ground

Never lived to please him, I never lived like I should
O, Father you rescued me yeah yeah

I've lived and I've learned, I have made mistakes along the way
Now I beg for forgiveness, each day as I try to pray
so take it from me son, you can change the world today
and am living proof, living proof that crime doesn't pay

Avoid the problem

Jesus said, "When you saw I was thirsty you gave me something to drink."

John said, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." (1 John 3:17-18)

I think the Church has found a loophole. If we wear blinders, or cut ourselves off from the world, we don't have to see anyone in pain, anyone hungry, anyone thirsty. If we don't see them, we're not liable. We don't have to care for them.

Let's take off our blinders.