The mind is amazing, I guess I never really take the time to wonder about it till I have had to use it for a while. I have a subscription to World magazine now, World is a weekly Christian magazine that puts issues in politics and society in a Christian Perspective. I think most of the writers are Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic so they hold to a very Fundemental outlook on life. The other subscription I now have is to First Things, look on http://www.firstthings.com to get the info on it. I really think some of the issues brought up in the Magazine are very important. I decided I need to learn about what is going on around the world as well as how I should think about what is going on.
I know some of you might be saying "Why not check out secular sources to find balance in the coverage?" To this I answer, I am immersed in the secular sources. Most people go about regurgitating the latest political buzzwords, the all to convienent and truistic trade words of your particular party, and the clever commentary of our media conditioned culture that hold no water whatsoever. All the while not really knowing what they are saying only repeating as a parrot would. The only thing I see when I watch the presidential debates is a blithe boxing match where the contestants are more concerned with the looking good than they are are with winning. Since I do not claim to be so well endowed with understanding and discernment as to be able to extract the egg from the cake. Meaning to draw out some minuscule measure of truth from the floodtide of lies pervading our media. I am forced to look to those who have spent there lives trying to understand these positions and it just so happens; they are Chrisitan. Besides I noticed that my mind is a blank slate, whatever I fill it with seems to take the reins of my heart and soul. With the knowledge that the media is not fair in it's reporting and whatever enters my mind dramatically shapes my outlook, I just think it safer to guard my heart and read Christian sources. Mind you I will stay this same course until I am steadfast in my resolve concerning the Christian Worldview.
I wrestled with the idea of going to Iraq for some time up until maybe a week ago. I wondered about the justification of going to Iraq based on all of the arguements with the weapons of mass destruction. I wondered about the justification based off of the Just War theory. I wondered about the Justification based off of God's word. Throw in Farenheit 9/11 and you have yourself one confused young Marine. Should I be over in Iraq guarding oil wells, risking my life for the sake of finacial gain? Is my president somekind of money grubbing jerk who uses Christianity as his cover for all manner of evil? I decided I don't really care. There are so many superficial issues that vexed me about going. I will not go over all of them I will only state why now I say I do not care anymore.
After speaking with many people on the issue, looking in the word and trying to understand Jesus's stance on war and reading some articles I came to my current understanding. The view I now hold is that the justifcation for going comes not from international law and the Just War theory, not even from national security concerns, nor revenge. No amount of evidence showing how dishonest the president is will alter the fact that what is going on in Iraq is God ordained. When I look at Scripture and read the words Christ speaks about loving our enemies, turning the other cheek, and accepting persecution it seems initially like a open and shut case. Why not hold to Tolstoyian philosophy concerning war, it seems biblically based off of the beatitudes. This until I open my eyes and realize the same Jesus who spoke those words is the same God who destroyed whole nations of people who rebelled against him. The same God who cares for the poor, downtrodden and the oppressed. This immutable Spirit tells me to break the yoke of sin and set the captives free. I know from reading harrowing accounts from Iraqi people who lived in Saddams regime how very evil it was. The times he used chemical and biological weapons on his own people, or had women raped in front of their husbands to coherse the man to some purpose of Saddam's. The rape was often times videotaped and sent to family members in order to bring disgrace to the family. He had torture cells with meat grinders in them to grind victims while still alive. There are many more examples besides to show the wickedness of his regime.
In the end my justification comes from the fact that ideally war sucks and should not be. There should not be over 30 dictators in the world that oppress their people with violence, but the fact is there are. In the world right now there are millions of people living in hell on earth. God cares for these people and blesses the United States in order to reach out to them with loving compassion. Since the war in Iraq the country has been opened to the Gospel in a new and refreshing way and a evil regime has been brought down. This to me is something that is pleasing in God's sight. If the U.S. is acting out of completely selfish motives God will deal with us. In the mean time I might as well focus on His purposes in all of this and not my own, or someone elses political or personal agenda. If I have offended someone or you completely disagree with my reasoning you will have to talk it through with me, becuase I suck at writing. I have much more sound justification than what I put down here, but my lack of writing skill hinders me from giving it proper heed. Well I will write more later, Jesus Loves you!!