By Doug Engle
Did you know that... since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 268-292 days of peace? During this period, as per a 1963 article in The New York Times, there were over 14,531 large and small wars, in which 3.64 billion people were killed. Also, since 650 B.C., there have been 1,656 arms races, only sixteen of which have not ended in war. The remainder have ended in the economic collapse of the countries concerned.
Currently there are between 120-180+ armed conflicts globally, as per the Council on Foreign Relations. Recent data indicates at least 11 of these are major, "full-scale" wars, with speculations that this is one of the most violent periods since WWII. Key areas of conflict include Ukraine, Israel, Iran, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar and various regions in Africa (DRC, Somalia & the Sahel region) and Latin America. Search "List of ongoing armed conflicts" on Wikipedia for more detail.
I would suspect that in each of these wars, at least the past 2026 years or so, each side has had individuals professing Christ who sincerely believed that that particular conflict was proof that the Lord would be returning soon, and that He was unquestionably on their side, and viewing their enemies as satanic forces to be eradicated and undeserving of mercies, as can be easily proven thru propaganda from those eras.
So, what do we do with this information? If you're a Christian (and many of you profess Him), we know that there were occasions when God's people entered into armed conflicts over the centuries, some more biblically justifiable than others... much violence done in the name of Jesus, sadly, especially considering He taught and lived an example of turning the other cheek, loving one's aggressor and doing good for those who hurt us and our loved ones... which is excused in about every circumstance as irrelevant for that particular occasion...
I'm not saying our forefathers weren't sincere in their desires to serve and please Him while also being unflinchingly patriotic... my own father valiantly fought in WWII in the Pacific Theatre in the Army Air Corps, and my uncle Paul Leonard (who just passed into Glory) gave most of his life as a selfless chaplain praying peace with and for dutiful soldiers over numerous conflicts then present and past. And those are just a few examples of probably millions of stories of courage and character in an effort to protect others, marginalizing or decrying that is not my central point, and might aggravate existing cases of PTSD.
But more than ever before, we have opportunities to reconsider our allegiances... especially those who fly the Christian flag... can one be completely nationalistic (or tribalistic) and still be pleasing to the Lord? I am proud to be an American (most of the time), but first and foremost I belong to my King Jesus, and sometimes obeying Him may cause perception of going soft on the other. This world is not my home though, I'm just passing through. And we can win wars that lose souls... that send people hastily into a lost eternity for the sake of saving some type of face or dominating others... do we care? "Well, of course we care, but..."
Some have said, "war is hell" and "there's no atheists in the foxholes". But I believe in a Hell that makes every conflict seem insignificant, and I've never understand how we can love our enemies and kill them at the same time, without slightly feeling compromised along the way. This isn't about what we do nationally, but more about what we say we believe and what we do (or support others in doing)... and whose side is God really on?
I believe God's on His own side, and I don't live in Old Testament ethics where Jesus has given updates in the New. I do believe Christ is returning soon, and also concur that we are living in "the end times" although I think those started roughly 1,993 years ago with His ascension. And we are called to prepare and be ready, not for government overreach (as we were never called to worry about them anyway), but rather living faithfully with our eyes on Christ, and resisting the corrupting narratives that seek to disrupt that.
What you do with a gun is between you, God, and probably the courts. But I've known far more conflict resolution that has come thru humility, trust and prayer than a single shot fired. Learning to love Him with all our hearts, minds, souls, temporal resources... and showing that by how we take care of our own but also those around us as if they were our own, and not with remainders but firstfruits, as if our monies are actually His. And believing that in the face of tyranny, God is still faithful to provide assurances as to His plans. Not trusting people but treating them as though we trust Him implicitly.
I don't have a corner on this, myself, I get anxiety attacks, discouraged, unrighteous anger, sloth, unholy fear, coveting and the rest of the gamut that proves I still have an old nature bent on keeping myself fat, dumb and happy... but as I see people hurt one another in the name of "truth", I think of the title of an acquaintance's book, "adventures in missing the point" and wonder "how long".
Especially when it's professing Christians maligning others, and particularly when they're fighting non-Christians in the name of whatever they're fighting for. To see folks of other religions or no religion doing it is a different feeling... still hard, but not as much. Oh, to be pilgrims and strangers again... visitors of earth and immigrants of Heaven. And this will all be over any day now, not because of any particular global conflict, but because He's made promises... and I believe His as He's never forsaken any so far... or not in my recollection.
We can still honor those who fight on our behalf though, to serve and protect... while continuing to march to the beat of whatever drum is driving us... I think of that childhood song, "I'm in the Lord's army!" (yes, sir!). And I used to enjoy playing with guns, still do I guess... but more as a sport... I don't think I could ever take a life, no matter what happens to this country or any of the rest. But that's me. Some of you are ready to, or already have... we each have different callings... but that idea that there have only been 268-292 days of peace on earth the last several millennia... speaks volumes about human tendency, huh?
It makes me think of that classic line from Bryan Adams, "Turn off the news, shut off the world, before it's all too late... reach me, teach me love is stronger than hate." Yes, it is. And Christ's love is stronger than mankind's, and one gets more rest through it.
And for the ex or non-Christian reading this, He still loves you regardless of what you're doing with Him, whether you believe or don't. Turn or return to Him today, while there's still opportunity, I beg you. Nothing you've done is beyond His ability to forgive and transform hearts. Nothing.