Would Jesus Have Fully Supported The Iraq War?

Question

This may seem like a strange question, to which i probably know the answer, but since so many Christians support the Iraq War and George Bush claims to follow the word of Jesus, does that mean that Jesus would have been 100% behind the Iraq War, if he were alive today?

Answer 1

Jesus prayed for the people who were torturing him - "forgive them Father, they know not what they do".

He taught that you should love your enemies and that if they struck you on the right cheek you should offer them your left, that if they stole your shoes you should offer them your shirt.

He laid down his life rather than punish those who persecuted him.

Jesus responded to everything in his life with total and unconditional love. So should we.

Answer 2

I don't think Jesus would have supported the Iraq war. Even the Bush administration has not made a sensible case for the war. Ever since the weapons of mass destruction excuse turned out to be a mistake, or a lie, the administration has attempted to link the invasion to terrorism. Unfortunately, for Bush, they've been forced to admit that Iraq was not involved in 9/11 and was not a clear and present danger to the U.S. Still they keep harping about the war on terror even though there's more terror now than ever.

Jesus had some common sense and wisdom. He probably would not have made such a foolish blunder as the Iraq invasion. It's true that Bush claims to be a follow of Jesus but then so does Benny Hinn.

Answer 3

Nobody can really know for certain, of course, but Jesus does say that we are to honor the government the God has put in power. God gives both great leaders and dictators their power. In that sense, Bush went to war so I will support that. In addition, Jesus was a healer and a saviour of mankind. His entire point on this planet was to save a people that he loved even though we sin against him with our whole hearts. So, from that point of view, I don't think he would at all disagree with getting rid of someone like the Iraqi government that murdered people by the thousands.

I don't bother about whether the war was right or not. The fact is, we're at war now and we can't give up because that would leave Iraq in a much worse state. I pray that God would keep the soldiers safe and that Bush and the other leaders would honor God in their actions.

Of course, he also says that we should turn the other cheek. I don't know, and I don't think anyone can. I just pray that God would give the leaders wisdom, and that's the best I can do.

Answer 4

Good question. Jesus was all about turning the other cheek and forgiving his enemies.

You can certainly try to follow the words of Jesus but we don't always succeed at that.

While He may not support a war He does love all in it. Both sides. He may not like what they do but that's a whole other subject.

I don't think He supports the war. But can I truly know the mind of God?

Does that mean we can't support a war? I don't know. Should we support our troops? Certainly. Should we show love to our enemies? Yes.

I guess the question is, what is our motivation for supporting the war?

If it is to remove an evil tyrant from power, sure, why not?

If it is to push a certain religion or ideaology? No way.

That was not Jesus' way. His way was to present truth and it is up the individual what to do with that truth.

I guess my own point of view is no but who I am to judge the mind of God?

Answer 5

There is no way Jesus could support the war. But with out Gods help the people of earth are left up to themselves to figure out their differences and war is one of the ways we have devised. God would never advocate something that degraded another human much less put an innocent person to death, and that has happened many times over there

Answer 6

Uhhhhh...no. The Lord does not support or encourage the senseless shedding of blood and loss of human life. I would support the war if someone could convince me that we are actually accomplishing something right in it all, something that is worth all of that. But now it's all about us "being right" - no matter what. And we are wrong. We needed to respond to the terrorist attacks of September 11, but this was not the correct response. This has been a very costly and senseless war, and we are going to lose it no matter what at this point. It's just a matter of how much more money and blood are we going to pour into that hole before we eventually have to tuck tail and leave. I know that sounds bad, but that's what I see. "There shall be wars and rumors of wars..."

Answer 7

He would support the concept of protecting the innocent. He would not support the flawed execution we have pursued. We entered Iraq as liberators. But we wasted that credit by sending in corrupt rebuilding teams and excluding people who should have been our allies. Now it's gonna take real intelligence to extricate ourselves gracefully.

Good luck on that!

Answer 8

George Bush following the word of Jesus? Now that;s a scary thought. Jesus would detest the war.

Answer 9

Why are you speaking of Jesus in the past tense? Why do you think we are blessed enough to know what the Lord is thinking? How do you know what so many Christians support or believe? You sound presumptuous and predjudicial.

Answer 10

In the first century, the Jews were living under the hated yoke of the Roman empire. Slavery, scourgings, floggings and impalement were sanctioned by the Roman government. This was not thousands of miles away from the Jews, it was right in their backyard – day in and day out. Surely they desired freedom from such conditions! Were they prepared to violate the teachings of Christ to get it?

Nowhere in the Bible do we have a record of Jesus suggesting, commanding or even hinting to his followers that they ought to take up arms against the Romans. Neither did Jesus do it himself. He continuously taught them to seek God’s kingdom government first. He continuously taught them to love their enemies. He continuously taught them to pursue peace and to be peaceable themselves. He himself fled from seeking political office (John 6:15) even though he obviously could have done much as king.

Now the question arises, since Jesus did not support, condone or even suggest that the first-century Christians participate in carnal warfare against the hated Romans, can anyone reasonably suggest that Jesus would support carnal warfare today? Be it on this ground or thousands of miles away? Can anyone truly conceive of Jesus in uniform, armed to the teeth and snuffing out lives on soil – foreign or domestic? Can we truly picture the Prince of Peace engaging in carnal warfare?

Hannah