Barbarians at the Gates

Those on the left assume if you’re a conservative, you were gung-ho for the Iraq war. Let me disabuse you. First of all, for full disclosure, I must confess while the influence of Adam has made the just war theories more palatable, in my BA days (Before Adam) I had heavy pacifist leanings (I was also more of a moderate than a true conservative) and still sympathize with the position.

Today, I believe a nation does have the right to defend itself, and don’t know if I’d really turn the other cheek if I was attacked (I doubt it,) but in general I tend to be wary of preemptive strikes and even warier of fighting other country’s revolutions for them.

Since France helped us win ours, we do have an obligation to “pay it forward,” (we’ve already paid it back twice,) but I’m not sure Iraq fit the bill. I would say that obligation is toward countries already fighting against an oppressive regime. I don’t recall there being any fighting in Iraq before this started, but my memory is short, and there could have been with the Desert Storm operation Bush Senior fouled up. If he’d finished the job, there wouldn’t be a war in Iraq now. Bush Junior, hence, isn’t driven by oil, (have you seen the prices at the pump lately?) but family honor.

That said, my biggest concern going in wasn’t any of that. We may have been physically ready, but we are not and were not spiritually ready and I did not see how we could win a war when we’re offending God. As my jewish latin teacher in high school said, America today is in the same moral condition Ancient Rome was before it fell to the Barbarians. Now we’re also in a war with Barbarians (I mean the Muslim world, not the pro-abortion crowd) and instead of waiting for the Barbarians to sack us, we’ve taken the war to them. Do we think that will make it any better? If we don’t repent, we’re still going to fall.

If we will not learn from Rome, let us learn from Israel. For I tell you truly, the Lord has done as he said he would and gathered his people from every tribe and every nation. But, if we go astray, will we not also come under the same curses he warned our fathers of? It is no secret our nation is in great debt today. That was the first of the curses he warned of.

He also warned of, among other things, that we would be “smitten before thine enemies; thou shalt go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them.” That describes the left in this country to a T. They are desirous to flee from the barbarians (we like to call them terrorists now adays.) Do we think it a concidence, that when our nation served God, we went out as Israel did against Jericho and defeated our enemies, but since we have turned from God, now we are as Israel when the people sinned and displeased God then tried to go up against Ai Only after they repented were they able to go up and defeat AI.

For those of you who don’t want to go read all those links, I believe this next portion (Joshua 7: 2-12, NIV) is most parallel to where we are with Iraq. Different situation, but the principles are the same:

2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, “Go up and spy out the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.

3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there.” 4 So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, 5 who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries [c] and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water.

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”

10 The LORD said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

I believe God has the same word for us today. The good news is Christ has come and fulfilled the Law of Death to bring forth the Law of Love, so we don’t need to light anything or anyone on fire.

But, we must still do as the Lord said to end the curses:

“If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land or if I send pestilence among My people, if My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

–2nd Chronicles 7:13,14