Choices in wartime are tough
NOVEMBER 6, 2007 (TUESDAY) – Paul Tibbets died recently, at 92 years of age. He was the pilot who commanded the B-29 which dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. He never considered his mission as controversial. As he said, it was war. We cannot possibly understand, in 2007, the wartime situation in 1945. Based on the costly victory in the two-month battle of Okinawa, in which civilians joined the fight, the predictions were that the battle of Japan could last as long as five years, with millions of lives lost on both sides. Like most wartime decisions, the choice was not between good and bad; it was between bad and worse. Many veterans of that era always felt they lived to return home because of that difficult decision having been made.
The threat of nuclear war still looms, especially as smaller countries gain nuclear capabilities. The terrorist acts of September 11, 2001 testify that there are those in this world who would not hesitate to use weapons of any kind to destroy us. This situation brings up the possibility of more wars in the future to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Thoughts like these are very troubling, and we Christians should be driven to our knees in response. We can find no better scripture to guide us today than 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will 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.”
In the meantime, let us live our lives to please the Lord:
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:1-12 NIV).