**** WAR ****
The original Jesus Christ was very anti-war. Just like from the hippies of the 1960's, the saying "make love, not war" is more synonymous with original Christianity than anything else I've ever heard. No true Christian would kill in a war. In A.D.64, Nero and the Romans claimed that Christians were not patriotic and would not fight in the Roman army. Early Christians (wrongly) believed that by becoming a martyr (torture and death by Roman persecution) for not cursing the name of Jesus and denying their faith, was a very honorable way to die and to spread the faith. This is the reason most did not oppose it with violence [ref. Caecilianus A.D.311]. Early Christians didn't pray to the emperor, they prayed for the emperor. [Matt 26:52]: "... all who take the sword will perish by the sword.'" [Luke 9:54-56]: "His disciples ... said, 'Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, ...' But He turned and rebuked them, and said, 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy (any) men's lives but to save them.'" If all of the working people in the world were true Christians, then no leader would have power to wage a war, because nobody would kill for him or for other wealthy people.
The Roman Empire became Christian because of the Emperor Constantine (his mother, Helena, was a Christian). He did not became a devout Christian until A.D.312 when he supposedly saw a cross of light superimposed on the sun, just before he went into battle with Maxentius. He ordered his men to paint Christian symbols on their shields. They quickly won a famous (outnumbered) victory at the Milvian Bridge, just outside of Rome, because the opposition was frightened of God to kill someone with the Christian symbol. This is one reason that Christian wars were fought later, in the middle ages.
In A.D.410, the fall of the Roman Empire was blamed on the Christians because of their pacifistic influence, which weakened the Roman military. In A.D.426, Christian Bishop Augustine of Hippo, North Africa, was asked "Why did God allow Rome to fall to the Barbarians?" He answered, "Rome fell by God's will because no earthly city is founded on goodness or justice. Only the City of God, to which all Christians aspire to belong, is eternal and will survive the ruin of the old order. In this short life it does not matter under whose dominion a man lives, so long as he does not commit impious acts" [ref. De Civitate Dei].
God sees the entire world, equally and fairly, not just one particular country at a time. Therefore, when somebody talks highly of their country, they are sort of putting down other countries. This can lead to all out war. God does not place these boundaries to divide who is your friend and who is not. It is only supposed to be for the organization, management, sharing, distribution, etc. of goods, mail, communications, etc. It's like how there is (and should be) many school buildings, instead of just one; so people don't have to walk/drive so far to get to it. But some kids think it's a basis for gang fights; as for the same reasons that their parents believe that country (national) boundaries are a good foundation for war, boycotts, ostracism blackballing, etc. You never penalize or discipline any kind of geographic "group."—(research what "logically" [but not saintly] caused World War II). Remember, God does not only see you, God does not only see your family, God does not only see your neighborhood, God does not only see your city, God does not only see your state, God does not only see your country; God sees the entire world.
Greedy war is a horrible sin; however, President George Bush deployed U.S. troops to Somalia for humanitarian reasons only. This was the first ever deployment of the military, of the most powerful nation in the world, for humane purposes only. The angels in heaven danced and singed in an abundance of rejoice, because this was the single greatest achievement in Christian history. Thanks George. I do believe that Bill Clinton has followed the same principal—Somalia and Bosnia, "peace keeping missions." Way-to-go Bill. The seed to the end of war is now planted [Matt 5:9]. However, and regardless, all militaries/ guards/protectors should be volunteers only. It is a sin to "draft" anyone into any kind of military. Please note that there can be a very fine line between Godly military action and evil military action; because, most current-day people cannot tell the difference; especially with their own personal selfishness (Satan) usually deciding the issues. Also, and again, you must always be certain that your defensive/offensive methods does not ever kill/ hurt "innocent" people/bystanders.—It is very likely that they will not internally "forgive" you, or saintly justify your method(s). Since it obviously does not "correct" the "guilty" person when you kill them, you can only kill/harm someone(s) that intends to (directly or indirectly) kill/harm an "innocent" person(s); which "may" include yourself. (Please read elaboration of "exception (2)" under commandment six, of The Ten Commandments, in This Paper).
If you can justify killing your enemy's "innocent" people to get to him/her (or to win the war); it would be like if your enemy (leader) was personally shielding him/herself with your most loved-one's body (your spouse, your child, etc.). Would you shoot through your own loved-one to "get" your enemy? Would it be worth it then? It is the same in the eyes of God; and God will not pardon you, in your afterlife, for hurting/killing His "innocent" and "semi-innocent" loved-one(s).
The destruction of war has slowed the overall progression of technology. If everybody had listened to Jesus, and no wars had taken place since his life; then mankind would have had television, cars, airplanes, air conditioning, etc. before the time of the Renaissance. Likewise, had we not had the wars since the time of the Renaissance, we could now technically have what we will have to wait hundreds of years for.
A lot of wars have been fought just because one leader wants to be in charge instead of the other. And proof of the power of ignorant human emotion shines here brightly: Historically, both leaders’ people/fighters will get very emotionally angry and proud for their leader's cause. But, for some reason, within the same country, if the man/woman that you did not "vote for" becomes leader, then nobody seems to go too far out of control. So I guess people can somehow still function and stay alive, even if the exact person that they wish to be in charge isn't. And people define these emotions as "civilized."
As a child, I was dumbfounded by how (basically) all people on each side of a war/battle emotionally and logically truly believed that their side was the good side, and how (basically) all the people on the other side were so evil that they "deserved" death. As an adult, I have reasoned out the possibility that "both" sides could be in the wrong; and nobody else in the world realized that but Me. But I'm also the kind of person that can look at a cat or dog, and for some reason, I am not able to see the "big" difference between human (even My own) and animal intelligence. As a matter of fact, I can better see logically why humans do what they do, when I observe the (more truthful) emotions of an animal. So far, we humans just seem to dominate and monopolize by reacting to our animal emotions more dangerously, destructively, and for much longer periods of time. The "progressive" logic that God is programming into humans seems to stay on the back burner; simply because most people just use their simple told/taught logic, because it takes a lot less time and brain energy. And ignorant and selfish "pain motivation," with much cover-up dishonesty, still seems to take precedence over Godly "goal motivation." The "reasoning process" capability is there, in all humans, but most people enjoy the less strainful "repetitive" logic of just thinking as they've always been taught (or brainwashed) by their idols (leaders). Like how old computers used to take hours to process what they can do now in seconds, "wondrous" progressive logic in humans is not yet anywhere near instantaneous; especially when peoples' minds (reasoning abilities) get so tired (worn down), that they become very "set in their ways," to the point that they can (dangerously) never admit that they were wrong.—About the only Godly "progressive" difference that I can see between these people and a dog is that the dog can't talk; hence, people that will not alter to "fair" change, can only communicate their repetitive "conservative" thoughts. If a thought or question requires the brain to consider and reevaluate a lot of tedious "outlined" intermediate information, to accomplish a better (progressive) final "one thought" result, these humans ain't gonna get it. And another problem with a lot of people, is that they lack much of the "intermediate information." And, all minds really get immovably "conservative" fast when the world/system seems to work more their way—like if you're "lucky" and wealthy; which is what most all of our "power" decision makers are/become.—Poor people, on the other hand, are generally educated more poorly; therefore, they will lack a lot of the "intermediate information," that will hamper their efforts to change the world into becoming more fair; instead, they become violent criminals, drug abusers, suicidal, etc. because they lack knowledge, strength, and/or because nobody can admit to their victimizations and sufferings.—You can actually "hear" a lot of the "living Hell" in modern day rock music. People that "hate" this music will likely very much "hate" parts of their afterlife.
Like in the 1960's, real men (like true strong Christians) will go to jail instead of war, because it is much harder (oppressively difficult and burdensome) to go to jail than to war; because all their selfish (and/or brainwashed) people/peers in their environment (society) will condemn, denounce, damn, blame, blackball, and despise them; and they will feel like, and will be called "cowards"; (they may not realize it at the time, but they are the Godly "smart" type of cowards). And because, they will still have more freedom in war than jail. In the eyes of God, Vietnam War veterans are at the same sinful level as the guy(s) that blew down the Oklahoma City building; because both killed "innocent" people, for a military reason. Especially the vets that ignored My advocates (protesters) that were trying to tell them how they could get out of it (like face-to-face at the induction centers). This is something that most Americans aren't smart enough to correlate. Also, My government recently blew away an elderly former Nazi guard, on his front porch, who would logically be at the same sinful level as any person in any military, or any police officer, that "takes orders." And, no, I'm not a Nazi.
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