From: prayer@prayeralert.org [mailto:prayer@prayeralert.org]
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2003 8:35 PM
To:
Subject: WAR WITH IRAQ: Part #6
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Capitol Hill Prayer Alert Foundation
P.O. Box 7334
Arlington, VA 22207
Telephone: (703) 754-3629
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WAR WITH IRAQ: Part #6
Civil Government as God’s Sword
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no
power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever
therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God... For he
is the minister of God to you for good…he bears not the sword in
vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath
upon him that does evil... (Rom 13:1-5).
With diplomacy having proved fruitless, the U.S. is now at war with
Saddam Hussein and his wicked regime. Thousands of Islamists across
the globe have pledged with Saddam to strike against Americans,
Christians and Jews “on the ground, at sea and in the air” as part
of a larger Jihad. Anti-war, anti-Bush Americans shamelessly rail
against the President as fervently as the French, Iraqis and Islamists.
Yet, President Bush and Congress have steadfastly fulfilled the
unpopular role Scripture teaches God has given them.
--God Ordained Civil Government & Use of The Sword – God anoints
civil governors to use the power of the sword to accomplish the
righteous purposes. Christians should uphold their leaders and
pray that they wield that power with wisdom and success.
--Protection – Calvin wrote, “the Lord has designed [government] to
provide for the tranquility of the good, and to restrain the
waywardness of the wicked; by which two things the safety of mankind
is secured: for except the fury of the wicked be resisted, and the
innocent be protected from their violence, all things would come to
an entire confusion… this is the only remedy by which mankind can
be preserved from destruction [if we fail to support government’s
righteous use of the sword] we avow ourselves as the public enemies
of the human race (Calvin’s Commentary: Romans 13).
--Justice – Earthly authorities are the agents of God’s wrath. Even
“a wicked prince is the Lord’s scourge to punish the sins of the
people… [But] the well ordered administration of a commonwealth
[will effect] rewards for the good, and punishment for the
wicked … [It is by] Divine goodness [that men] are defended by the
sword of princes against injuries done by the wicked” (ibid.).
--The Sword Must Not Be Born in Vain – “They… are armed with the
sword, not for an empty show, but that they may smite evil-doers…
whenever he visits the guilty with death, by executing God’s vengeance,
he obeys His commands. Contend then do they with God who think it
unlawful to shed the blood of wicked men. (ibid.).” Ambrose, Aquinas,
Calvin taught that for the civil authorities charged with the
public safety, ineffective use of the sword was just as wicked as
its unrestrained use.
Calvin taught that God’s wrath could be understood only when it is
intermingled with His love, justice and mercy. America’s Christian
roots, despite our current backslidden condition, have remarkably
taught our attitude toward national defense and war. Our philosophy
and methodology of precision warfare, kindness toward our enemies,
efforts to protect non-combatants, determination to maintain
discipline among our troops, etc. may model a Biblical view of
warfare more perfectly than any nation in world history. For this
we should be deeply thankful!
Please Join Us in Ceaseless Prayer:
-Heavenly Father, TURN America in REPENTANCE to You (Joel 2:15-20).
-WIELD our Troops as Instruments of Your WRATH & MERCY. PROTECT them
& MINIMIZE the loss of innocent life! (Is 54:16-17; Hab 3:2;
Ps 79:6-10)
-ANOINT those You ordained to Protect us at home and abroad. STOP
the terrorist horde & OPEN the Muslim World to the Gospel. In Jesus’
Name, Amen (Gen 45:7; Ps 107:33-42; 121:all; Mt 24:14).
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