War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. -- John Stuart MillNow, some of my favorites:
I do not fear death--Aragorn, LOTR
The eyes bring to seeing what they wish to see.--Shelley
There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out fear.--I John 4:18
There is no crying in baseball. --A League of Their Own
Death!--Rohirram at Pelennor Fields, LOTR
I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;--Deuteronomy 30:19
I am no man.--Eowyn, LOTR
Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.--II Chronicles 20:17
This list could go on forever, but that's a start.
I think the idea of something being "worth war" is a matter of perspective and how you see the world. What we think is worth "war" is in reality and in the big picture only another manifestation of men's pride,arrogance...and fear.
ReplyDeleteI love quotes...they just put a message in a nutshell. Super!
One of my favorites:
For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. II Tim. 1:7
The quote is, "The decayed and degraded state of oral and patriotic feeling which thinks that NOTHING is worth war is much worse."
ReplyDeleteThere are those who would defend no defenseless creature because war itself is evil. There is such a thing as a righteous war and an evil peace.
I think to come to a true state of peace, one must count the cost. It often proofs that the price is much to high for most people. Or perhaps they simply don't know any better. Ignorance thus, still remains the greatest sin.
ReplyDeleteI don't think there is such a thing as "righteous war"...since the fruit of any war is only further distruction, pain, loss and death. This ultimately will only further the cause of desire for revenge, and destruction...which will again and again bring war. When will it stop?
Anon,
ReplyDeleteBy your reasoning, we should have left Britain and France to Hitler. The fruits of that war was freedom and life--for those saved and those fighting, too.
The first thing Christ does when he returns is make war with the nations with his army of soldiers. The fruits of that war will be peace and prosperity for the whole world, but a lot of people will die, unrepentant, first.
Revelation 9
This is very true. America saved Europe from further destruction. However, did it even have to get to that point? Could the peacemakers of our world have stopped this before Hitler and his SS men had such power over Europe?
ReplyDeleteI believe in good and evil. But can evil be conquered with war? Could it bring LASTING peace? It seems that war fixes problems for a time until that energy gains momentum again and then somewhere, at some point it starts again. The question would arise, "What can people do in the interum?" The answer is not popular and some would scoff at it. Pray. More people must pray for peace and commit to a much higher purpose. I know it sound too simple. I know.
I understand where you are coming from with Rev. 9. Again, I wonder about Revelations in general since so many teach it in the way they have been taught. It depends what your church background is and your doctrine.
I supsect in the end we will all be very suprised how God will save humanity. He is Love and I must believe that it is LOVE that will conquer not war.
I'm not picking on your post...honest. I'm just expressing my view point. Thank you!
God is more than just Love; we box God in when we claim that God is one thing and not another. Or, perhaps, should we throw out the Old Testament because it does not force God to conform to our sunshine-and-daisies definition of God?
ReplyDeleteFrom what I understand, diplomats tried everything to promote peace between WWI and WWII. The ultimate problem is that evil does, has, and always will exist. Does that mean we shouldn't fight it? Of course not!! If we do not fight it, we are party to it.
Walk softly and carry a big stick is a solid international relations approach but only works if you're willing to use the stick.
Sunshine-and-daisies definition of God belongs in Sunday school, not what is being talked about here.
ReplyDelete