What Does the Bible Say About...

War

With the war going on in the middle east I am going to turn the tables to that subject for today. What does the Bible say about war?  It's a good question but perhaps misunderstood by Christians. And any of those who don't claim the name of Jesus, are really against our involvement there. So for this post, lets look to the Bible for answers to it. 

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Many people make the mistake of reading what the Bible says in Exodus 20:13, “You shall not kill,” and then seeking to apply this command to war. However, the Hebrew word literally means “the intentional, premeditated killing of another person with malice; murder.” God often ordered the Israelites to go to war with other nations (1 Samuel 15:3; Joshua 4:13). God ordered the death penalty for numerous crimes (Exodus 21:12, 15; 22:19; Leviticus 20:11). So, God is not against killing in all circumstances, but only murder. War is never a good thing, but sometimes it is a necessary thing. In a world filled with sinful people (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Sometimes the only way to keep sinful people from doing great harm to the innocent is by going to war.

In the Old Testament, God ordered the Israelites to “take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites” (Numbers 31:2). Deuteronomy 20:16-17 declares, “However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them…as the LORD your God has commanded you.” Also, 1 Samuel 15:18 says, “Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.” Obviously God is not against all war. Jesus is always in perfect agreement with the Father (John 10:30), so we cannot argue that war was only God’s will in the Old Testament. God does not change (Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).

Jesus’ second coming will be exceedingly violent. Revelation 19:11-21 describes the ultimate war with Christ, the conquering commander who judges and makes war “with justice” (v. 11). It’s going to be bloody (v. 13) and gory. The birds will eat the flesh of all those who oppose Him (v. 17-18). He has no compassion upon His enemies, whom He will conquer completely and consign to a “fiery lake of burning sulfur” (v. 20).

It is an error to say that God never supports a war. Jesus is not a pacifist. In a world filled with evil people, sometimes war is necessary to prevent even greater evil. If Hitler had not been defeated by World War II, how many more millions would have been killed? If the American Civil War had not been fought, how much longer would African-Americans have had to suffer as slaves?

War is a terrible thing. Some wars are more “just” than others, but war is always the result of sin (Romans 3:10-18). At the same time, Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares, “There is…a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.” In a world filled with sin, hatred, and evil (Romans 3:10-18), war is inevitable. Christians should not desire war, but neither are Christians to oppose the government God has placed in authority over them (Romans 13:1-4; 1 Peter 2:17). The most important thing we can be doing in a time of war is to be praying for godly wisdom for our leaders, praying for the safety of our military, praying for quick resolution to conflicts, and praying for a minimum of casualties among civilians on both sides (Philippians 4:6-7).

(source: gotquestions.org)

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Why should America be willing to help defend Israel?

 For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 7:6

I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Genesis 12:3l 

These 2 passages alone answers the question on why should American defend Israel. Iran is their enemy and it is ours. Now with their leader taken out, we should pray for the new one coming in and also for the people that they would turn to the God of Israel, our God also, for salvation.

And in the meantime....

Psalm 68:1 states: "Let God arise, let His enemies be scatterd; let those also who hate Him flee before Him.

Thanks for coming by today Friends. Have a blessed day!

Amen and Amen!!

For Fu

What Does the Bible Say About...

Magic

 Magic: Magic and the Christian faith are not compatible. It's in the Bible, Acts 19:18-19, TLB. "Many of the believers who had been practicing black magic confessed their deeds and brought their incantation books and charms and burned them at a public bonfire."

Any participation in occult magic practices is clearly forbidden by God. It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 18:9-13. TLB. "When you arrive in the Promised Land you must be very careful lest you be corrupted by the horrible customs of the nations now living there. For example, an Israeli who presents his child to be burned to death as a sacrifice to heathen gods, must be killed. No one may practice black magic, or call on the evil spirits for aid, or be a fortune teller, or be a serpent charmer, medium, or wizard, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone doing these things is an object of horror and disgust to the Lord, and it is because the nations do these things that the Lord your God will displace them. You must walk blamelessly before the Lord your God."

(source: bibleinfo.co )

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Occult Practices

9 When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. 10 Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, 11 or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. 12 Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. 13 You must be blameless before the Lord your God.  Deuteronomy 18: 9-13

Thanks for coming by today, Friends. Have a blessed day.  

What Does the Bible Say About...

Witchcraft

First let's define Witchcraft:

Simply put:

witchcraft (noun)

1. the practice of magic, especially for evil purposes; the use of spells:
   "children and goods were believed to be vulnerable to the witchcraft of jealous neighbours"

   Similar:

   sorcery
   black magic
   occultism
   wizardry
   witching
   necromancy
   voodooism
   voodoo
   hoodoo
   wonder-working
   divination
   Wicca
   white magic
   natural magic
   makutu
   thaumaturgy
   theurgy
   witchery
   diablerie
   sortilege
   • (in a modern context) religious practice involving magic and affinity with nature, usually within a pagan tradition.
   • bewitching or fascinating attraction or charm.

And so let's now look at what the Bible says about 

The practice of witchcraft is forbidden by God. It's in the Bible, Deuteronomy 18:9-13, NIV. "When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord, and because of these detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God."

Those who practice witchcraft will not inherit the kingdom of God. It's in the Bible, Galatians 5:19-21, NIV. "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; …drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

The future is known only by God, not witches. It's in the Bible, Isaiah 8:19, TLB. "So why are you trying to find out the future by consulting witches and mediums. Don't listen to their whisperings and mutterings. Can the living find out the future from the dead? Why not ask your God?"

(source: bibleinfo.com)

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Do you know that witchcraft can enter our lives in seemingly innocent and suttle ways without us even knowing?

When I was a kid, it came through one of those magic balls that you ask it a question then shake it and the answer yes or no will come up.

A bit older and we practiced levitation at my next-door neighbor's house.

Later as a young adult I purchased a record that was all about my birth month. 

And then there were those days of readying my horoscope in the daily newspaper.

And what about the tv shows, movies, music etc

that we watched or listened to?

Games we played.

Even now.

All seemingly innocent.

And yet participating in the kinds of things that God hates.

Thankfully, He protected me from getting into anything that would lead me to a bad ending. 

And when I realized what all that was, I repented from all of that and anything else that I might have done that I shouldn't have. Even the things that I didn't remember or wasn't sure about.

But don't take my word for it as much as God's Word.

Because He is the ultimate authority.

And His Word will lead us to Him.

Witchcraft in any form...

...may lead us where we do not want to go.

Thanks for coming by today, Friends.

Before I do go, I know that you are aware of the war going on in the middle east. Please pray for those traveling over there will be able to come home. Pray for our leaders to do what is necessary and for the peace of Jerusalen as Psalm 122:6 instructs us to.

God bless all of Israel, and America,

the World

and You!