There is an existential fact that must be soberly accepted. Evil exists! And as long as evil has a free course to manifest and express itself, war will be sadly unavoidable if not inevitable. The syrupy notion that if we could all just get along then there would be no war is fanciful simplicity at best and a gross ignorance at worse. Evil’s existence and intent does not afford us the option of wishful thinking. And the only way to constrain it most oftentimes is through righteous and justified force. My friends, if evil could seek to pursue its desires even in heaven through rebellion, and war could break out in a perfect environment such as heaven, then how is it that anyone could ever even begin to imagine that humanity could ever attain to some kind of a wonderful, peaceful utopia through a working out of our mutual misunderstanding’s and differences? How do you negotiate with evil? You cannot negotiate with evil! You cannot compromise with evil! The sobering truth is, Evil exists in this universe and it will not be eradicated until the day that Jesus Christ Himself casts the Devil and his angels, and all those who do not obey the gospel of God into the Lake of fire!
We read in the Book of Revelation:
“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” (Rev.12:7-9)
Satan has been instigating rebellion and war since time immemorial. From the moment He stood up and said; “…I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ (Is.14:13). Until the time he will finally be vanquished by the Lord Jesus in that great and final battle we read about in Revelation when; “Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea. They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.” (Revelation 20:7–9)
Now, please don’t misunderstand nor misconstrue me as engaging in “war-mongering”! No! I’m simply being biblically realistic. If some of God’s perfectly created creatures, in a perfect environment such as Heaven, could rebel and then engage in fighting in order to “have their own way” (which is the fundamental root cause of all sin and evil), then what makes any reasonable person suppose that we can appease or negotiate with evil here on earth? As James clearly tells us, “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war.” (James 4:1–2)
In the light of these facts, it ought to be obvious that it is incumbent upon a moral people to restrain and constrain evil to whatever degree is necessary in any given situation. To restrain and constrain evil carries with it the idea of ‘by any and all means necessary’. Therefore, brute force at times is a necessary component in the restraining of evil. Nevertheless, there are those today who think that Police and Law enforcement officers should not carry firearms. Some countries in Europe such as Britain and France have even disarmed their regular duty police officers. Some believe entire nations such as the United States ought to unilaterally disarm themselves as an example to the rest of the world! Of course, that would be sheer lunacy! It is utter nonsense in regards to the realities that exist. To unilaterally “disarm” in the hope that it would create a sentimentality of mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence is pure fantasy. That mindset is either completely delusional, or it is absolutely ignorant of the intrinsic nature of evil. I would suggest it is both.
Without a doubt there are, to be sure, a plethora of disagreements, disputes, cultural differences, and misunderstandings that plague humanity which can be worked out in diplomatic and peaceful means, and often are. What I am stressing, however, is the fact that there is an existential Evil at work in the world that must always be carefully watched and confronted with both moral clarity, and strength, as well as force when necessary. Someone once said that all it takes for evil to win is for good men to do nothing!
Moral Cowardice is not a virtue
There is an ever increasing moral cowardice and an unwillingness in the world today to recognize evil for the evil that it truly is. Moral cowardice looks for moral equivalencies where none exist. However, there is no moral equivalency between good and evil, or light and darkness. Sweet is not bitter, and bitter is not sweet, no matter what today's social engineers may want you to believe. As Isaiah declared; "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, And prudent in their own sight!" (Is.5:20-21)
You might ask, why it is, that in these days in which we live, there seems to be a real reluctance amongst so many people in the public sphere to acknowledge that evil actually exists? Not just bad behavior, but a deep and malevolent existential evil? It has often been said, that 'ideas have consequences', and today we have a generation of leaders and politicians, educators, authority figures, media, and political pundits, who, after having been brought up in a morally relativistic educational system and societal climate, they simply have become incapable of recognizing evil for what it is. Moral cowardice is therefore, the logical end result of moral relativism. It refuses to acknowledge existential evil. More dangerously still, it fails to understand the pathology and ideology of evil intent and desire.
Therefore, when leaders have become moral cowards, they also become appeasers. The historical record of Neville Chamberlain's dealings with Adolf Hitler is a prime example of the consequences and dangers of moral cowardice. When people with a blurred sense of moral clarity come to power, such as we have today, good and evil become subjective equivalencies that oscillate within shifting situations. Who can say then who is the oppressor, or who is the oppressed? Who can declare who the villain is, or who the victim is? The moral coward would rather rationalize and justify the evil, and give it an appearance of being a misunderstood goodness then to actually deal with the issue of evil. That of course would be unduly judgmental in their eyes. Do we not hear some equating today's terrorists with yesterday's patriots? Or, actually calling today's terrorists, 'freedom fighters'? Murderous thugs, pillage, rape, and behead innocent people, and the moral cowards amongst us want to engage in a sociological debate as to the reasons why these people feel the need to do these things?!
To those that lack moral clarity, evil is merely a symbolism, nothing more than a misunderstanding of sorts, it’s simply the result of a failure to communicate properly. Therefore, it must be something you can come to a mutual understanding with, or compromise with, so they reason. However, Evil will always be further empowered by the abject failure of those who entertain the idea that you can compromise with evil. The fact is, when you compromise with evil, evil always wins! If you compromise your food with poison, you will end up in the hospital, or worse yet, dead. In any compromise between good and evil, it is only evil that will profit.
The challenge that is set before us is will we continue to countenance leaders who have no moral clarity? Or, will a people rise up with the moral courage to speak the light of truth into the darkness of the moral relativism? Do we have the moral courage to speak out? To call out the evil for what it is? To rebuke those who would exchange light for darkness? To speak out against those that call evil, good, and good, evil? The writer of Proverbs said; "He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” Him the people will curse; Nations will abhor him. But those who rebuke the wicked will have delight, and a good blessing will come upon them." (Proverbs 24:24-25)
The ironic consequences of moral cowardice. War.
The fact is, as long as there is evil in the world, God Himself will use war to accomplish His eternal plans and purposes. God Himself has, (as we can see from the biblical record), and will continue to cause nation to rise up against nation in order to execute judgment on a nation for the evil that it commits. It is an eternal principle of God in a fallen world. As we read in the Book of Ezekiel: “The word of the Lord came again to me, saying: “Son of man, when a land sins against Me by persistent unfaithfulness, I will stretch out My hand against it… I [will] bring a sword on that land, and say, ‘Sword, go through the land,…” (Ez.14:12;17)
When a people are filled with moral cowardice and incalcitrant evil, God will bring war down on their heads!
“Now the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD. And he gathered to himself the sons of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and defeated Israel…” (Judges 3:12-13)
Throughout history God has used the nations for His purposes both for peace and for judgements.
“The LORD will roar from on high and utter His voice from His holy habitation; He will roar mightily against His fold. He will shout like those who tread the grapes, Against all the inhabitants of the earth. ‘A clamor has come to the end of the earth, Because the LORD has a controversy with the nations. He is entering into judgment with all flesh; As for the wicked, He has given them to the sword,’ declares the LORD.” Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, evil is going forth From nation to nation, And a great storm is being stirred up From the remotest parts of the earth. “Those slain by the LORD on that day will be from one end of the earth to the other.” (Jer.25:30-32)
“Proclaim this among the nations: Prepare a war; rouse the mighty men! Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up! Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, “I am a mighty man.” Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, And gather yourselves there. Bring down, O LORD, Your mighty ones. Let the nations be aroused And come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat, For there I will sit to judge All the surrounding nations.” (Joel 3:9-12)
Paul tells us in Romans 13 that the governing authorities are, "...God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing." This is one of the very few places in the bible where we see what a legitimate and proper use of taxes are, which is (in part) for the governing authorities to provide for protection and the common defense against evil. Everything from ones own individual and personal right to self defense, to a police force, to a local and state militia, to a national standing army is for the defense against and the constraint of evil.
It is the height of fantasy and a fallacy to ever think that in this sinful and evil world, where satanic powers are empowering wicked men that there will ever be “world peace”. However, the bible indicates that there will be a false sense of peace that will last for a very short season that will be brokered by someone called, (among other things) the “man of sin” but then, “…While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly…” (1st Thess. 5:3)
Never will there be a true and lasting world peace until the “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6) comes to enforce it.
“And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.” (Is.2:4)
But that time, is not yet! Oh Yes, one glorious day it will come! But first this world will go through horrors that not even Hollywood could imagine!
-Andy White-
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