Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
This week’s lesson from the “Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide”, is titled “The Promised Son”. On Tuesday’s lesson titled “In These Last Days”, one of the scriptures cited is Isaiah 2: 2-3. As we read around these verses to add depth to their meaning, verse 4 mentions that familiar phrase, “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks”. This intrigues me. And it raises some questions for which I have no absolute answers. Perhaps you have answers.
As I think back on our secular nation (USA) I think of how, on occasion, we have taken a very pacifist attitude toward our national defense… and almost lost our freedoms as a result. In particular, the years between the World Wars. Nationally, we believed that dismantling our military, displaying our commitment to never have another war like the First World War, would inspire a reciprocal response in all neighboring countries. That we needed to put such substance to our commitment.
However, this placed our nation, “The Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave”, in such grave peril that for the 3 years of 1942-45, we were in a fight for our lives against a Satanic mad-man in Europe and an authoritarian empire in Asia. Our “beat(ing) our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks” in the 2 decades between those wars, almost weakened the USA to the point where we could not rescue the rest of the world or hardly rescue ourselves. However, this did not happen. We were able to rally and to restore peace and cosmos out of immense bloodshed and chaos. History faithfully records that only a strong military defense is an effective deterrence to aggression. Good intentions do not work in this world of sin.
So, going forward from this day forward, what would our God of love has us do? Do we naively talk peace and “beat our swords into plowshares” or keep our swords sharp? Here are a few of my musings…
· I have always honored the SDA historic stance toward military service. Encouraging active humanitarian support for the country whose laws of religious freedom enables us to worship as we please. To become part of the Medical Corps to help save lives in the midst of war. But what of active military service? Some would say that the only way to stop the killing from aggressors, is to kill. And that seems to be true. As aggressors are overwhelming you, making a case for peace is not the time nor the place. The words and your intent will not be heard as you fall to your death.
· Christ told the 11 disciples in Luke 22:36-38 to bring a sword with them as they left the upper room heading to Gethsemane. And Christ also told Peter in Matthew 26:53 that He Himself could have 12 legions of angels to defend Him. It seems that Christ was not against having the capability of arming ourselves or of having the resources to achieve victory in the face of aggression. However, Christ also told Peter to put-up the sword and to not use it because those who take the sword will also die by it (Matthew 26:52) and Christ Himself did not call for the legions of angels, even though He could. There is no virtue in not using a sword if you have none. Nor of not using the legions of angels if they are not available. Virtue comes in having the ability to so act, but choosing to not so act.
· God originally told the Israelites that He would fight for them as they entered “The Promised Land” (Exodus 23:20-33). And all Israel acted in faith of that promise at the taking of Jericho. But, they then went their own way at the next city (Ai) and sought to take it by their own means. A major rout amid an act of faithlessness. Yet God did not leave them because they did not do things His way. Instead, God said He would be with them even as they fought (see Joshua 6, 7, 8).
· Christ did not resort to violence (as we understand it). The “whip of cords” that Jesus took in the temple was not to harm or to kill. “Jesus smote them not with the whip of cords, but, to their guilty eyes, that simple instrument seemed like gleaming, angry swords, circling in every direction, and threatening to cut them down. Even the disciples quaked with fear, and were awe-struck by the words and manner of Jesus, so unlike the usual demeanor of the meek and lowly man of Galilee. But they remembered that it was written of him, ‘The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up’.” (The Spirit of Prophecy book 2 pg. 118-119). In following our Savior, should we not do as He did? Or do we do as Nehemiah directed in his time of trouble and have our swords, spears and bows ready (Nehemiah 4:13)?
There are more examples, I am sure. Yet this will suffice for now to raise the question, “What should an American Christian do regarding swords and plowshares?” There are so many variables here. If we take-up the “sword” is it for pride sake or righteousness sake? If we insist on the “plowshare” is it because of cowardice or love? America is not a Christian nation, as so many would have us think. Christ is not the leader of our nation. For that matter, He is not the leader of any nation on earth. He can be the leader of any individual on earth. He may even be the leader of isolated groups within any nation. And this may lead as close to an answer that I can conceive.
God has made each of us to be a sovereign person. Each with a conscience. Each able to choose for themselves. And no one of us is to be conscience or sovereign over another. Each are free to choose their path. How (or how not) to follow our Savior. Each must decide for themselves in this matter… and all matters. Each will stand singly and alone before our Lord one day. Not as a member of a group. Not as an American. Not as a Seventh-Day Adventist. Each. And so each must decide… and then stand on that decision. To be true to their conscience. True to how they believe. And then allow all to their own conclusion, too.
Here is one last example. When Ezra the priest saw the faithlessness of the Israelites, He pulled out his own hair (see Ezra 9:3). When Nehemiah saw the same faithlessness, he pulled out their hair (see Nehemiah 13:25). Two identical yet opposite responses. Which one was right? Both? Neither? Yet both persons acted upon their conscience. And so must we. Each must prayerfully consider… decide… and then stand-by and act upon those decisions. God’s work on earth suffers from those actuated by pride or by cowardice. Let each be persons of prayer. Persons of honor. Persons of integrity. Persons who go about “doing good” (Acts 10:38). Persons who see the need, and then shoulder the responsibility for that need. This is what we are called-for. And let God be your guide with each thorny issue that arises. He will surely lead each aright… if we but prayerfully and humbly listen.
With brotherly love,
Jim