Does God approve of our killing civilians in Iraq?

Question

If we are truly Christian, and one of the ten commandments is clearly "Thou shall not kill". Then why does my church support this massacre?
Please, no personal attacks. This is a serious question.

Answer 1

Churches are confused. This is an immoral war. We are in the wrong and God will be the final judge. My church is a Pacifist and we do not believe this war--or wars in general, are God's intentions for us. I am glad you can think for yourself.

Answer 2

I haven't heard of any churches supporting this war on Iraq. I have heard of them praying for the women and children for their safety and welfare. You should ask yr church leader why they are supporting the war. Sometimes they could be confusing their loyalty to the country than to abiding with the will of God.

Politically I couldn't understand the justification for the invasion. It started with the search for Osama Bin Laden after the 9/11 attack. But US turned everyones attention to Iraq and made an excuse to invade whilst everyone was still angry with the 9/11 massacre.

God never approves on killing people. And to reiterate it has never been Gods way for us to take things into our own hands and decide the fate of other people.

We are told to love each other and especially your enemies and those whom you hate. If you say the Lords prayer everyday, you are told to forgive others as God has forgiven you.

Answer 3

I assume by "our" you mean the United States of Americe. What about all the civilians killed in our country on 9/11? That was pure murder. I guess the real answer is that we are not just simply going over there and killing their civilians like ours were killed here. It's called a war. This country has been in many throughout its history. Research them. Sometimes, even though its unfortunate, civilians get killed. Its a sad and unavoidable result of war.

Answer 4

Maybe your church supports the Old Test God? RIght after he gave those 10 Commandments, he told Moses to go into the next nation and slaughter everyone there except the virgins. So, obviously, the Old Test God supports such things.

Answer 5

The bible does say you should defend your country and protect those that are weaker than you which does say that if you are at war it is not wrong to kill in that sense but to just go out and kill civilians with no regard, no it is not right. God sent men to war with others to see that justice was done. In the case of a murderer, he should be put to death for the death he caused. In the bible. It is the authority of the country that should do it and not just anyone on the street but it does say if you take a life, you give your life for it. In the case of war, you kill those that are trying to kill you but not the innocent bystanders. Accidental death of a bystander is going to happen in any war but it is not the thing you try to do but only that some will be killed in trying to get those that are trying to kill you.

Answer 6

I am kinda surprised that your church supports the war. I support the war but normally churches do not get into that kind of thing.

We are not killing civilians in Iraq. Most of the civilian deaths are done by the terrorists who blow them up by the hundreds in suicide and car bombs.

The USA does not target civilians intentionally.

Answer 7

No personal attacks should be waged here, for the battle is not ours, but the Lord's. (2 Ch. 20:15)

To answer your question, let us take a view at Matt. 24:4-8

Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains."

The last part of verse 8 states, "all of these are the beginning of birth pains." The church does not support a massacre, but what the church does support is God's kingdom. And God right now is in the midst of creating new life for everyone; offering them the chance to recieve Christ before He comes so none are left behind to endure the 7 years of tribulation that the book of Revelations speaks of. God states in his law, "Thou shalt not murder." Yes, none shall murder. However, if you look throughout the Bible, battles are fought constantly. And casulaties are a part of war, people's lives will be lost. It is a price, a sacrafice that must be paid sometimes in order to have God's will be done. Is it fair civilians lives are being destroyed, innocent people? No, it is not fair to us. But the question is not is it fair to us, but is it fair to God?

This is one of those situations that either you have full faith in God and His Word and Will, or you don't. You either read the Bible and believe it, or you don't. Simple as that. War is a black and white deal, like God is. God knows wars and battles will occur, and He knows of the lives that will be lost. This is all a part of birthing pains; aka: labor pains. All that Matt. 24:4-8 speaks of, is all a part of His plan. Pain, killing, war, battles...although negative...can have a cleansing affect if for the right reasons. I know that sounds nearly sacrilege or just downright wrong on the worldly sense...but let's put it this way...

When Jesus comes back, when it is time...will we see God? Will we believe He has come back? How will we know it is really Him? What will be the signs? What will He look like? And honestly, if you think about it...God very well could come down here and do things and say things that just will not line up with what humans think to be good or right to hear. Some might even feel He will be the anti-christ, or even satan himself; because God can do things that look evil...but underlying it all, His motives are purely for our benefit as well as His. But in order for us to see those motives, for us to see that even though bad things look like they are happening...we need that Word on our side. We need to know Him like no other worldly person does.

So back to this question you asked...does God approve of this killing considering the commandment of thou shalt not kill. Honestly, referencing the Bible...I would see nowhere that He would disapprove considering the motvies behind these battles. Though innocent lives are lost, think back to the most precious innocent life lost ever...Jesus. He was purely inncocent as He was being strung up on the cross; He did no wrong. He was perfect. The only time He sinned, was when He was up there, beaten and bloody...and he cried out, "Lord, why have you forsaken me?" But God had a plan for that sin. His plan was to have Jesus go to hell and beat satan and his demons in 3 days, and He would rise again to show His people that even hell cannot kill God.

War cannot even kill God. Even though people will die in war, God is still well and alive. No matter how many people die, there is a plan that has been made; and right now we are just beginning to feel the birthing pains.

Answer 8

The word for 'kill' in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek is 'murder', which leaves us the authority to kill in self defense, or in capital punishment. (Capital punishment was even commanded in some cases, in the Bible, which further supports what I have just said.)

I question whether God approved of unprovoked attacks like the one on the US warship Cole, the one on the American Embassy in Beirut, and the massacre of the defenseless BlackHawks in Somalia. Must we wait until we are attacked again before retaliating...?

I am sure that our nation's enemies would like us to wait, and hesitate, and dialogue with them, and learn what they want, and give in to their demands, before we retaliate.

Except that their demands are that we all convert to islam! And death to any who refuse! Just like in the case of the kidnapped reporters recently. The islamo-fascists have stopped demanding ransom, or the release of their fellow fighters, ar anything else that they could have demanded, but they said, "Convert to islam now or we will kill you, and if you ever repudiate islam, we will hunt you down and kill you."

But Christ says that we must not give up faith in Him or deny Him even if it means dying ourselves!

So, show me an alternative to killing our enemies. There are no more civillians in this kind of war. They have the support of all their citizens, tacitly or explicity. It is islam vs. Christ, and while any Christian may become a martyr if God so wills, it is also true that we are not ALL called upon to die in that manner. We must fight to prevent further fighting and cruelty to our own loved ones and others.

If you have ever fought youself, perhaps years ago, as a boy in the scoolyard when some bully would challenge you and try to corner you, then you already KNOW whether letting him beat you up and take your lunch money would satisfy him permanently!

No, of course not. It is either fight for freedom and life itself or live as a slave and have to pray to Mecca six times a day for the rest of our lives. And I personally refuse to subject my kids or anybody else's kids-- EVERYbody else's kids-- to that kind of slavery, because it would last until the end of time.

It's not a nice alternative. But it is the ONLY alternative.

Answer 9

You are a brave person and a truth seeker. Yes God will never approve evil doings and massacres as done in Japan, Iraq, Afghanistan, and many where else.
http://www.missionislam.com/conissues/motherofallterrorists.htm

Answer 10

OH SHUT UP !!!!!!!!!!! Does Allah approve of muslim terrorists killing THOUSANDS of Iraqi civilians every year ?? Religion is the problem with this world. 90% + of ALL of the wars in history are over religious reasons. So basically RELIGION = WAR !!!!

You have been given a factual, serious answer.