I don't often quote bible verses, but in Mass today this one particularly struck me. Those who have known war will get this.
James, 4, verses 1-4:
Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You who covet do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war. You do not possess because you do not ask. You ask but do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend on your passions.
Amen.
7 comments:
I'd like you to discuss that verse because I'm a Bible Study leader and I'm stuck on it. Of course, I definitely have NOT been military...thanks.!
Z,
I interpret it to mean that we humans are generally guilty of warring in order to gain materially. It is through envy or a desire that man covets what another man has. This desire leads to armed aggression.
Whether it be to steal another country's land, resources, or otherwise dominate, this leads to wars. Now having said all that I think these verses are a lament rather than an admonition against war.
I say that because the Catholic Church does teach just war theory indicating it believes some wars are justified. I agree.
I don't profess to be an authority on the Bible, but this reading just struck me and caused be assess and reassess it in my mind. I would be interested on your take.
Well, L&O, I surely like your take on it.
I hope I'm wrong when I read "you do not possess because you do not ask" as "if you ASKED believing God can do anything, you'd get without fighting." Frankly, this could be good Scripture to hold up the loony left/Christian lib philosophy that war is NEVER the right thing to do.
But, I AM NO EXPERT, either, TRUST ME.......and I do believe God used human armies to fight for His just motivations and goals in the OT, so...........how can we deny armies must fight for the good NOW?
What do you think of what I said? I hope you can prove me HORRIBLY OFF BASE!!! Because I do NOT believe God would WANT us to shirk His righteous wars and I DO believe America's a country created and held up by Him.....as long as keep honoring Him, which is slipping by the day, sadly.
Z,
I'm interested in your take on the OT and God's using men to fight just wars. I'm not sure about God as a puppetmaster to fight wars. I don't know if that's what I believe is the case. Maybe God allows man, through his free will, to make mistakes, commit atrocities, and do good works. I have struggled throughout my police and military career to explain the atrocities I have seen. It caused me to be an infrequent visitor to church for quite a while. I never had a crises in belief in God, I had a crises in belief in church. I'm back, but I still struggle to explain many things to myself. I constantly ask for God's help.
but, L&O, the wars I mean were wars God wanted; righteous wars he commanded, sort of...HIS wars.
People say "why didn't God twang his magic twanger and MAKE things go His way?" and I feel they DID go His way, but he doesn't twang, he employs us! Does that make sense?
Z,
Yeah, it does. I realize I am at God's mercy. But I also realize that God, or at least I believe, that God gives us free will and expects us to make the right decisions. When we don't, we suffer the consequences. I don't know at this point what I think about the OT and God's decision to put us in harm's way to fight his wars. Let me think on that.
I'd like to hear your thoughts..I always admire your comments..thanks.
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