Hear

Hear properly

 

          Listen profoundly

 

                   Obey promptly   

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Trying to Excuse War

Moderns have tried to excuse the “sword,”

Saying with faces (apparently) straight,

That the great Book, the Book of the Lord

Allows killing as a “Christian” trait.

 

Such souls partly (willingly?) blinded,

Speak of David and others of fame;

Seem not to see the battles sited,

Do not a modern violence so claim.

 

True it is, without any trace of a doubt, 

Many men in the Israelite camp,

Fought with, conquered, “took Canaanites out,”    

Leaving many spots blood-red and damp.

 

Name a New Testament group or man –

With (after grace) one notch in his “gun.”

Show once where Jesus’ life-loving plan,

Wants pagans killed under moon or sun.

 

Some men divide “murder” from “killing,”

(They speak not of accident’s result)

For their “national interest,” they’re willing

To kill heathen in army assault.

 

Does the sinner on the other side, 

Lying in blood, slipping into hell,

Know you didn’t “murder” as he died,

Was gun or bomb “Christian” – could he tell?

 

“We…WAR not after the flesh” [1] Paul wrote.

Our weapons are not carnal he said.

Christ has no part in “national gloat,”

He sorrows – as both sides count their dead.

 

Nations “using” Scripture to back gore,

Must reach pre-cross to “prove” their bad point,

God winkled at brutality of yore,

Jesus does not carnal war anoint.

 

One sword was swung by disciple hand,

It missed – severed Malchus from his ear.

Did Christ thank Peter for “righteous” stand?

No.  He healed – His enemy could hear.

 

Jesus missed a opportunity,

If He had wanted followers to kill

He didn’t.  Followers need to see

Killing (war) is not the Master’s will.   – eab, 11/26/2006

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[1] 2Co 10.3

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James Russell Lowell – birth, Feb. 22, 1819

“Once to Every Man and Nation”

 

Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide,
In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side;
Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight,
And the choice goes by forever, ’twixt that darkness and that light.

 

Then to side with truth is noble, when we share her wretched crust,
Ere her cause bring fame and profit, and ’tis prosperous to be just;
Then it is the brave man chooses while the coward stands aside,
Till the multitude make virtue of the faith they had denied.

 

By the light of burning martyrs, Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track,
Toiling up new Calv’ries ever with the cross that turns not back;
New occasions teach new duties, time makes ancient good uncouth,
They must upward still and onward, who would keep abreast of truth.

 

Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong;
Though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong;
Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown,
Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.

James Russel Lowell was born this date (2/22/1819) in Cambridge, MA.  Lowell wrote this poem (one of this many poems) as protest to America’s war with Mexico.

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