The Rabyd Theologian Looks at the Constitution -- Part 6 -- 'Provide for the Common Defense'

National Defense has always been a big issue for me because a lot of people think as a person of the cloth I should be pacifist or something. I will say this I do not like war. War as I have experienced it from the sidelines is not a good thing. I often hold mother's hands as they watch their sons go fight for their country. The stress is enough to drive the best of us mad and I can absolutely say I do not understand what soldiers go through but I respect them with the highest respect.


Bottom line, I am not a pacifist. War is a part of the Bible from almost the beginning. The people of God found themselves at war from The Law under Moses to the very end when Jerusalem was destroyed. Many times it was the direction of God that they were at war. I am not a pacifist because God and I might add Jesus were not a pacifists.

That said, I understand the need that drove the founding fathers to put this line in as well. A nation that does not have the means or desire to defend itself will not exist for long. We live in a world where everyone is not so nice.

Under that Articles of Confederation 'common defense' really did not exist. There were a lot of states who had their own militias but the Continental Army was a problem. In the end one of the founding fathers chief concerns was to address this problem.

The constitution not only allows for the maintenance of the military -- it requires it. Later when the Bill of Rights was created, there was a need to affirm the militias as well. Thus the Second Amendment that allows any citizen to bear arms and keep them without infringement. Every citizen is constitutional empowered defend this nation if necessary because it is --"We the People"

Jesus Was Not A Pacifist

Every time some conservative group protests something and talks about guns and Jesus with a sign or words or anything else there will always be some ignorant liberal who will espouse their ignorance of Jesus by saying Christians should be bringing guns to protests because it insights violence and Jesus was non-violent.

I wouldn't mind so much if these people didn't have some politically correct axe to grind with an edited politically correct Jesus but I think they are missing a few points from Jesus life itself.

1. John the Baptist when addressing soldiers tells them to be content with their wages but never tells them to give up soldiering -- Jesus never refutes this. (Luke 3:14)
2. Jesus, not once but twice, drives out the money changers and their garbage from the temple and on both occasions created a weapon to do so. (John 2:13-25; Mark 11:15-18; Matthew 21:12-17)
3. Jesus himself said that he had not come to ring peace but a sword. (Matthew 10:34-39)
4. The reason two swords were at the garden in the end was at his request (Luke 22:36-38) -- I don't think Jesus had trouble with carrying weapons.
5. One ultimate thing -- if Jesus is a pacifist and would never hurt a fly, who then is represented in Revelation 19 where the king of kings slaughters his enemies and leaves blood standing that is bridle deep?

One other point, Jesus is the same God (If you beleive the Trinity) that in the Old Testament ordered the Israelites to war and genocide. Odd thing for a pacifist.

There is nothing in Jesus teaching that indicates pacifism. Great restraint and self control maybe in the face of personal insult is taught, but in matters of life and death Jesus is actually quite silent. Maybe he expects the rest of the Word that he inspired to speak for him.

One message to the gun control people -- make your argument but would you please stop using Jesus. The Jesus you believe in has been edited and watered down to fit your beliefs -- He is not the Jesus of Scripture because you are leaving a few things out.