IS THE IRAQ WAR JUST?

We were afterglowing following our Bible study tonight and the question was asked, "Is there scriptural evidence that supports Bush's preemptive war in Iraq? This is an important question for Christians to dig into the word of God for the truth.

We must start by asking another question. What is the biblical function of civil government? A cursive examination of scriptures reveals that civil government is established by God to punish evil and reward good. Civil societies are mandated to protect it's interests with force when necessary. Officials are neither commanded to turn the other cheek nor to go the extra mile. That is the biblical mandate to the church.

This is a very important fact that is often misunderstood by well-meaning Christians. The church is the Body of Christ and is limited in membership to born again believers. Biblical civil societies are institiutions designed by God to protect the legitimate interests of all members of that society, including all races, all religions, and all genders. Civil society is open and inclusive.

Therefore, it is appropriate and within the scope of the biblical mandate for civil governments to organize, maintain, and extend military force (the sword) against any threats to its citizenry, its property, or its national interests. The question we need to explore is whether Iraq under Saddam was a real and viable threat to America's ligitimate interests?

This is a bit more challenging to answer. There is abundant evidence that the Saddam regime and al-Qeada had frequent contacts priort to and following 9/11. The exploits of the Jordanian terrorist al-Zarchawi in Iraq are illustrative of those relationships. There is however no evidence linking Saddam to the planning or the execution of the 9/11 attacks.

Having said that, it is also clear that Saddam did not limit his WMD terroism to attacking the Kurds, the Shiites, the Kuwaitis, and the Iranians. He also regularly supplied weapons, funds, and material to Hizbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the West Bank and Gaza. Saddam also provided "reward" funds to the families of the homicide bombers in Israel. Saddam has a long history of exporting and supporting terrorism throughout the Middle East, and had exploited the UN's Food For Oil program through illegal oil deals and kickbacks to key European allies to undermine Western solidarity against terrorism.

One of Saddam's primary objectives in the Middle East has been the destruction of Israel. Saddam saw himself as the new King Nebucanezzar of Babylon to rid the Muslim world of the curse of the Jews. During the first Gulf War Saddam launched missles at Israeli cities. His vicious attacks on Iran and Kuwait were further evidence of his murderous intentions to dominate the region.

As the only democratic state in the Middle East (oops, forgot Afghanistan and, the Lord willing, Iraq), Israel is a strategic ally of the United States. As allies, both nations are committed through treaties and agreements to come to the defense the other against attack. In other words, an attack on Israel is an attack on the vital national interests of the United States. This alliance is critical because of the strategic geo-political issues of the Middle East. The last thing the United States wants is for Israel to unleash its formatible war machine against the oil-producing Muslim nations of the region.

Therefore, was Saddam an imminent threat to the US interests in the Middle East? Yes. Was the United States government within the biblical mandate to act with force against the Saddam regime in Iraq? Yes. Is the Iraqi war a part of the international war on terror? Yes. Should Christians support the Iraq war as a just war? Yes.