War and patriotism

[JohnS]

http://www.breakpoint.org/Breakpoint/Chann...+and+Prayer.htm

Middle East: A Call to Fasting and Prayer

Ash Wednesday, 2003

Greetings in the Name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:

We enter the season of Lent this year with a cloud of terrorism and war hanging over the world. Many of us believe that our country is justified in going to war against Iraq, that the conflict fits the category of just war, and that intervening in Iraq is a necessary part of the larger war on international terrorism.

Still, no one wants to go to war when there are other alternatives and the Church has always been God's great alternative. Christians, as the people of God who follow the Prince of Peace, should be doing everything in our power to bring peace into the world. And even the most humble of believers can wield the greatest instrument for peace: Praying for God's miraculous intervention.

We know from 2 Chronicles that King Jehoshaphat of Judah was a great warrior with a large, seasoned army. But when Jehoshaphat was confronted with an invasion, instead of riding out to meet the invaders, he led the people in prayer. "We do not know what to do," he prayed, "but our eyes are on you." And God's deliverance came in a thoroughly unexpected way. Jehoshaphat's army didn't wield a sword or fire an arrow.

Christians should follow the example of Jehoshaphat in prayer. Yes, America has the finest fighting forces in the world. Troops are in place and all the arguments for war have been mustered. This is all necessary, but we remember that prayer is mightier than our armies and that God alone gives the victory or defeat.

Fasting and prayer are the Christian response to this perilous hour. God in His providence may yet spare us from war. We must ask him to intervene. Pray that, by God's mercy, there will be no reason to go to war. Pray for wisdom for our leaders and for God's mercy on Saddam Hussein and the Iraqi people. Pray as well that, if war is inevitable, it will be short and that God will spare civilians. Pray too for the protection of those in uniform and that our leaders will be wise and merciful.

The 19th-century British parliamentarian William Wilberforce said that the hope for England depended, "not so much on her navies and armies, nor on the wisdom of her rulers, as on the persuasion that she still contains many who love and obey the Gospel of Christ, that their prayers may yet prevail."

The same can be said of the United States today and it is for that reason that we have joined together to urge Christians of every tradition and denomination to make fasting and prayer for peace part of our Lenten devotion as individual believers, as families, and as congregations.

Please set aside time to fast and to kneel before the mercy seat of God. Plead with him for peace in our time.

Leith Anderson

President

National Association of Evangelicals

Kenneth Boa

President

Reflections Ministries

Charles W. Colson

Founder

Prison Fellowship Ministries

Mark L. Earley

President

Prison Fellowship Ministries

Jerry Falwell

Founder/Chancellor

Liberty University

Franklin Graham

President

Samaritan's Purse

D. James Kennedy

Senior Minister

Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church

Richard Land

President

Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission

Southern Baptist Convention

Richard John Neuhaus

President

Institute on Religion and Public Life

Sandy Rios

President

Concerned Women for America

Pat Robertson

Founder and CEO

Christian Broadcasting Network

Joseph Stowell

President

Moody Bible Institute

[OneAccord]

http://www.geocities.com/biblestudying/america.html

[Guest shadow2b]

Love it or hate it, this patriot is leaving for it in the morning.

It's been fun on these boards but I'll probably have limited contact for awhile.

God bless you all and hope to check in soon.

Be good.

t.

GOD-BLESS-YOU-TED-& I PRAY NOW_FATHER<PLEASE KEEP MY BROTHER TED SAFE & RETURN HIM TO THOSE OF US THAT NEED & LOVE HIM IN JESUS NAME AMEN-------

[Guest shadow2b]

WIP,

I can tell you that it's some of these very verses that you posted that keep many, many people from the Lord.

Verses about slashing open pregnant women's bellies and dashing babies on rocks are indeed very difficult to come to terms with.

[OneAccord]

Good post, Shadow.

Yes, about repentance.  I think our nation should be praying like Daniel 9, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes:

[Timothy]

Isaiah 58:5-8 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.

[ted]

Thanks for the prayers, folks.

In TX now and waiting for the next step.

Gotta go but I'll be checking in here and there.

Love in Christ

t.