Wars and Rumors of Wars

by John J. Scibilia, Executive Director

Wars have come in every type, shape and size. There were the real yet limited wars of Napoleon. There have been the absolute wars – World War I, World War II – the great wars to end all wars. Now, there are also random wars, or as one writer puts it, the low-budget war. The cheapness and availability of military technology make it easier than ever in history to wage a war. All you need is a handful of violent people, some small arms and some explosives. In the words of the new National Security Strategy, the new enemy consists of ‘shadowy networks of individuals who can bring great chaos and suffering to our shores for less than it costs to purchase a single tank. This is the age of the shoulder-mounted antiaircraft missile and the box cutter that killed 3,000 people. Do it Yourself War.

Then there are the wars that aren’t called wars. The Korean Police Action and the Vietnam conflict weren’t necessarily called wars because there was no real declaration of war. We have created a language maze disguising war. Collateral Damage is essentially the loss of life of non-military personnel in battles and wars. A play recently opened about the children of war around the world. It stars children who actually have lived in war torn villages, towns and cities. Even as they are alive today many can’t even imagine the horrors they saw, heard, smelled, touched or even tasted. They are among the walking injured – the collateral damage.

Of course we mix our war with words of pleasure and fun. Until not long ago, the simulated practice of war and battle strategies were called war games. Duck Hunt, a popular video game available at a toy store near you, was modified slightly by the US Marines to be used in training soldiers to kill. Trainers indicate that it is not difficult to teach trainees to accurately fire a weapon – what is difficult is creating the will to kill. Duck Hunt is one method – one game – used to create in the mind the will to kill.

Not to be forgotten in our attempt to justify all our actions, there have been the noble wars and wars for a higher purpose. The Crusades were probably among the most physically gruesome wars in history – but covered with the cloak of a good cause, even leading children across continents to a certain death. Right here in this country, of course, the civil war. I’m a graduate of Gettysburg College, a Lutheran College in Pennsylvania, which is where one of the most famous battles of the civil war was fought. One of the first things I learned there was never to use the term civil war, but rather the war between the states, because what possibly could be civil about a war. Did you know there is even a US War College – there is – right down the road a bit from Gettysburg actually.

When War is declared it’s serious. We use that in everyday language. A sports event where two teams seem equally matched are playing for something important in their league often have that game called a war in the media. We have declared war on drugs, on poverty and on terrorism. Our nation indicates its level of seriousness by whether or not a full scale attack even on a social problem will be a program or a war. We are long in our practice of declaring war. We are also pretty short in declaring peace. Peace seems so passive. Peace is often defined as an absence of war – not doing something about a problem. We don’t like just sitting there and doing nothing. Frankly, the culture in which we live insists that we always be doing a few things at once. Multi-tasking. It seems impossible to have multiple peaces – but we sure are pretty good at making multiple wars.

WAGING WAR, I’D SAY TO YOU, IS ONE OF THE WAYS WE DEFLECT REAL ISSUES AWAY FROM OURSELVES.

Take for example, the war on drugs. Get the drug dealers, support regime changes in South and Central America, get after the users and simply make them stop or go back to jail. We do all these things rather than getting at the root causes at all costs – which is often the hopelessness and pain experienced by someone who seeks out the drugs to self medicate away the pain and enter a new chemical reality where hope just isn’t even the point.

Our war on poverty often creates social systems that maintain dependence rather than dignity. Where providing cans of food without healthcare for the voiceless (the children, the seniors, those immigrants in the breach surrounding us) where that can of food is the path to feeling good we’ve done something about the problem while we merely delay, at best, real problems and real issues for another day. Without question, the food we must provide to those in need every day is vital. And, just as important is getting really serious about ensuring every child receives a quality education – A cure for poverty. But the costs and debates that get at the core of the education issue may seem too steep a hill for us to be willing to climb.

Our war on terrorism is the newest of our nation’s noble wars to protect Liberty and Freedom. Where some national leaders now believe pre-emptive war is justified. It is, what I call, the iron rule of “Do unto others before they do unto you.” And yet, in our very own communities, the interpretation of law and justice has evolved into detaining men, women and families because of their appearance, their name, because of where they were born. And, its not detaining, its imprisonment. This war continues to be fought by withholding food, water and medicine by embargo. Humanitarian interests take the backseat to our self-interest. Perhaps winning the war through children dying silently of hunger and curable disease is the strategy.

On a day that has etched itself on our hearts, almost 3,000 died in Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and right across the river. The world stopped, took notice, and reached out to us. A war on terrorism was declared. But, will we stop in our own neighborhoods at the end of the year, look back, and take notice of the almost 15,000 people murdered in this country this year. Will we look behind the curtains we have drawn to see the thousands of woman and children abused, battered and beaten in their homes every day? Will we confront our own heartwords of mistrust, anger, fear and hate?

The war, the real war, is never remote really – it’s right here in our heart. It is our sinful nature in continual siege of us as baptized children of God. It escapes our hearts with the arms and legs of all kinds of external war, but it doesn’t remove our personal struggle. In fact, it feeds the fires of our internal conflict.

Wars and Rumors of Wars. In Matthew 24 is Jesus teaching about the end of the world. And, all we can really say for sure at this point is that yesterday wasn’t it. In His teaching, Jesus doesn't give the disciples what they or we want -- a neat time table or check list by which they can calculate either the time of the destruction of the temple or the time of the end of the age. Instead Jesus gives them, and us through them, a baffling list of signs which tell us He is on the way but which do not allow us to fix the time He will return.

By this list of signs, Jesus calls us to a way of life -- a lifestyle.

This life style is expectant. We should be aware that our Master is returning and, in that awareness, seek to carry out His will. This obedience will involve us in the work of evangelism, the ministry of social justice and in the great fellowship of His body which is the Church. And in our obedience we will find ourselves becoming more and more, as Paul says, "conformed to the image of Jesus Christ."

In Matthew 24 Jesus speaks a lot about darkness -- false prophets, falling away, wars, famines, increasing wickedness and fading love. Then, at the climax of all of this He says: "And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world; and then the end will come." As the darkness gathers, Jesus promises that the Church will carry forth the great job of cutting holes in the darkness.

Do you see what Jesus calls us to? In the face of trouble — as we see things falling apart — we are not to withdraw into our foxholes and cover our heads. We are to move forward in His name. We are not called to just react to the future. We are called to take charge of the future in the name of Jesus Christ in the confidence that He is winning the victory.

There is a parable that compares us to people who ride our carriage at night into the country to see the glory of God. But, above us on either side of the carriage seat burns a gas lantern. As long as our head is surrounded by this artificial light the sky overhead is empty of glory. But if some gracious wind of the Spirit blows out our earthly lights, then in our darkness God’s heavens are filled with stars.

It is in the midst of those stars that we respond, as Isaiah did – Here I am Lord, send me.

Isaiah’s call to speak is primarily out of the glory of God. It is God who sends. The response is in God’s hands. For some of us, our preaching – our standing up – will be without evident response. We might even begin to question and ask why bother. But, we should know, God’s word never goes out without accomplishing its purpose. All of us have a role to play. Isaiah’s call is not to an office or a role or even a ministry, rather it is a call to speak, and to speak for God. All of us are called to speak for God and serve as we are called.

The holiness of God’s grace is revealed in God’s glory. It is our hope. We have these days of Epiphany to reflect on our own heart war and the declaration soon to be made in Bethlehem. Not a Declaration of War on evil, but – the Declaration of Peace to All and the triumph over evil, death and the grave.

Pray for Peace.