Photo Credit: Whitehouse.gov
Christians around the world began Holy Week yesterday by commemorating Palm Sunday – a day which marks the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. During his sojourn down from the Mount of Olives into the city, the scriptures record that he stopped and wept over Jerusalem saying in part, “If you, even you, had only known the things that make for peace.” [source]
It is a sorrowful prayer that applies to the United States of America as well. For this nation does not seem to know the things that make for peace. As Christians celebrated the unauthorized parade of the Prince of Peace on Palm Sunday; President Obama was in Afghanistan touting the feats of war. It was a stark picture which juxtaposed the priorities of the Kingdoms of this world with the Kingdom of God. Just as they did in scripture, the two kingdoms collided on Palm Sunday.
What a tragic irony and disheartening re-run of prophetic proportions. Indeed, there is no new thing under the sun.
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i'd like to see you do better as president. U liberal, supposed Christians can't be satisfied that Obama just spent another trillion dollars last week on a faulty health care mess> Give him a break, I sure as heck am trying to. War has always been a necessary evil that God Himself has many times directed since the beginning of history. He is on the side of righteousness, not on the sides of GODLESS muslims who want to kill our children.
God bless you, Bill, and thank you for your comment. Frankly, I don't think I could do better as president. I don't feel that God has called or equipped me for such a task. Furthermore, I attempt to do more than give President Obama a break, I give him my prayers and loving accountability.
As far as war goes, I summarily disagree with you. I do not believe that war is a necessary evil and as far as your claim of God directing war goes, I would say to you what my Old Testament professor in seminary, Dr. Jerome Ross, would often say to us: "Who said God said" – or more specifically to your claim: "Who said God directed war?"
I connect more securely with the divine directive for peace and an embrace of a holistic humanity. I hear the prophet Moses coming down from the Mountain of God saying, "thou shalt not kill." And I hear the Son of Man, Jesus the Christ, saying, "Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God." War is not necessary. It is an outgrowth of human brokenness.
Finally, as one who has been blessed to meet people from almost every sphere of society, I must speak up for my Muslim sisters and brothers and vehemently disagree with your stereotype of them. There are many Muslims who have much to teach me and you about what it means to walk daily with The Almighty.