Are we reading the Bible, or just being “biblical”?

Not too long ago I read a great blog post from a leading thinker and theologian, Scot McKnight over at Jesus Creed.  In this particular post, Scot address the long battled issue of Christianity and drinking alcahol.  His argument was different than most when it comes to this issue.  The jist of it was that there are far too many churches and Christians who promote a “biblical” way of living, while not understanding or acknowledging what the Bible really says.

This morning I was sickened by both the online GQ article and slideshow I saw which reveals how Donald Rumsfield used to attach scriptures to pictures of the Iraq war in his reports to President Bush.  I’ve attached the article below, followed by a link to the actual pictures should you decide to view them.

on the morning of Thursday, April 10, 2003, Donald Rumsfeld’s Pentagon prepared a top-secret briefing for George W. Bush. This document, known as the Worldwide Intelligence Update, was a daily digest of critical military intelligence so classified that it circulated among only a handful of Pentagon leaders and the president; Rumsfeld himself often delivered it, by hand, to the White House. The briefing’s cover sheet generally featured triumphant, color images from the previous days’ war efforts: On this particular morning, it showed the statue of Saddam Hussein being pulled down in Firdos Square, a grateful Iraqi child kissing an American soldier, and jubilant crowds thronging the streets of newly liberated Baghdad. And above these images, and just below the headline secretary of defense, was a quote that may have raised some eyebrows. It came from the Bible, from the book of Psalms: “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him…To deliver their soul from death.”

This mixing of Crusades-like messaging with war imagery, which until now has not been revealed, had become routine. On March 31, a U.S. tank roared through the desert beneath a quote from Ephesians: “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” On April 7, Saddam Hussein struck a dictatorial pose, under this passage from the First Epistle of Peter: “It is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.”

View photos here.

I have always struggled with the idea of patriotism.  I love my country and my freedom, but always struggle with reconciling being a Christ-follower with being an american citizen.  I support our troops, but never war.  I vote, but hate politics.  You get the idea…

I’m angry at the sight of these pictures!  I’m sickened when violence of any kind is justified as being biblical!  

Those of us who claim to be Christian must understand that what we sometimes do, or not do, in the name of being biblical isn’t neccassarily what the Bible really says.  War may seem biblical to some, but the Bible claims God and His Kingdom are one of peace.  I understand the occurence of violence and wars in the Old Testament, and it’s difficult to understand why God allowed Israel to battle so often with other nations, but when the Scriptures speak much more to justice, peace, and restoration…it’s foolish to claim violence as biblical!

As a pastor I find it more important than ever to teach the importance of context in scripture.  There seems to be so many divisions within the body of Christ today and many of them happen simply because context is removed from our interpretation of the Bible.  Today as I viewed the images of weaponry, and soldiers-in-action being tied to ancient (yet still God inspired) writings and prayers, I was reminded of this importance.  Context matters!

We can talk Just War Theory all day long, but what our past administration has done is wrong.  It’s a disprespect to our soldiers, and an abuse of the scriptures from these men who won millions of votes based on their claim of being born-again. 

I hope this post is more constructive than deconstructive.  I’m fairly passinate about this subject and can only hope that my little voice makes a difference by challenging readers to be thoughtful, prayerful and open-minded towards our faith in a just and merciful God.

In an age where wars are too often brought into the conversation of the end times, or “last days”…let us consider the prophecy of Isaiah as he envisioned to coming of the Kingdom of Heaven.

In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house
      will be the highest of all—
      the most important place on earth.
   It will be raised above the other hills,
      and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
  People from many nations will come and say,
   “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
      to the house of Jacob’s God.
   There he will teach us his ways,
      and we will walk in his paths.”
   For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion;
      his word will go out from Jerusalem.
 The Lord will mediate between nations
      and will settle international disputes.
   They will hammer their swords into plowshares
      and their spears into pruning hooks.
   Nation will no longer fight against nation,
      nor train for war anymore.Come, descendants of Jacob,
      let us walk in the light of the Lord!

 

Love and Peace.