Very Cool

My children are homeschooled by their mother and sometimes myself. First and foremost, we earnestly desire them to be great citizens of Heaven. We teach from a biblical worldview and instruct them accordingly. Part of that worldview and instruction is a love for liberty and being a good citizen on earth. We resently required our oldest son (8, 7 at the time) and daughter (9) to write a letter to president elect Obama. My daughters letter was nice, encouraging and cordial. My son however would not write to him but rather chose to write a letter to Ron Paul. Here is what he wrote:
December 15, 2008
Congressman Ron Paul
601 25th Street, Suite 216
Galveston, TX 77550
Dear Ron Paul
I wish you could have become president. My parents voted for Chuck Baldwin just because you said to. I made a Christmas ornament for my dad. It was a Ron Paul blimp. He really liked it. I agree with you on how to keep us free by obeying the Constitution. I would have voted for you if I were old enough to vote but I am only seven.
Yours truly,
....

Now i was a little disappointed that he thinks I voted Chuck Baldwin because Ron Paul told me too. No, I was planning on voting for Mr. Baldwin as soon as the primaries were over. However, I like the rest of the letter.

So, yesterday, my son gets a letter back from Ron Paul. Here is what he said.

Dear ... :
Thank you for taking the time to contact me with your kind words. I want to not only thank you, but also your parents for supporting me. Please know ai will continue to do all I can as Congressman to restore liberty to the united States of America.
..., I have also enclosed a copy of the US Constitution for you to have and cherish all the days of your life. Best of wishes to you in your future.
Sincerely,
Ron Paul

Both the letter and the constitution were signed by Ron Paul. Very Cool!

Its a love/hate relationship

I love the suspense created by the TV series by FOX titled '24.' My wife and I rented the first season a couple of years back and I've continued to watch them oft and on. Each season consists of 24 episodes of consecutive one hours time periods about one day, each ending as a cliff hanger for the next of course. If you want to find out more about it, Wiki-pedia can tell you all you want to know and more.
I both love and hate the main character in the series, Jack Bauer. He is a hero of the grandest of sorts, willing to sacrifice his own life for the life of one and for the sake of country. He is courageous, tough, smart, and seemingly unstoppable. On the other hand, he is also a villain. All to often he shows no regard for due process, the law, the bill of rights, or the constitution. His motto seems to be, 'the end justifies the means.' In other words, if you can save a nation of 'innocent' civilians by murdering one innocent person, like Jack did with his boss in season two or three, then its okay because the result out weighs the cost, even if the cost is evil like murder.
I disagree with such thinking out right. It is this sort of thinking that ends up 'justifying' the most heinous of acts. Let me say that the end does not justify the means. I can not nor never should I, determine the rightness of an action based on the outcome of the circumstance. For one, that leaves one guessing about ethics and eventually leads to the idea of might makes right, who ever wins and accomplishes the results they desire must have been right. That kind of thinking would have declared Hitler right if he had won.
When our founding fathers wrote the constitution and the bill of rights, they had seen the abuses of large government with little concern for common man. They had seen the corruption of government and governing officials and the injustices that resulted. It was through those struggles and observations that the ideas of limited government and personal liberty found their way into our constitution and bill of rights.
If those rights are taken away from any one individual, then all of us are in jeopardy of loosing the same rights. Benjamin Franklin once said "Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." (here is a great article relevant to today's world)
And now, for some more important reading. :)
Bill of Rights
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Someone elses thoughts on the election

THE 2008 ELECTION…AS I SEE IT

by Ron Merryman

November 9, 2008



A number have asked me to comment on the recent election in the U.S. Here is how I see it.



Americans Voted for more Centralized Government



First & foremost: Americans, Christians and non-Christians, voted for larger, more centralized Federal Government, i.e., for more socialism. Why? Simply put: they have gullibly put their faith in the power brokers in WASHINGTON D.C.



The predominant concern in this election was the economy. Most people voted for the candidate(s) that promised to give them the most… more benefits, more federal moneys, more health care, more and better retirement programs. In other words, less personal responsibility for one’s security in life; less need for hard work; less need to save; less personal concern to plan – all these motivated Americans to vote as they did.



Secondly: Please understand that the results of this election indicate what the majority of Americans BELIEVE: they believe that the Federal Government will take care of them better than an economic system in which they take care of themselves, the best proven system ever for fair economic opportunity. Our Founding Fathers must have rolled over in their graves!



The Economic Crisis: A Faith Tester



I find it extremely telling that the current international economic crisis hit in full force about 8 weeks before our major election. [Sarah Palin was not the cause of McCain’s defeat; if anything, she revived true conservatism in the Republican Party. Americans’ knee-jerk reaction to the economic crisis insured Barack Obama’s election.]



Crisis is often God’s way of testing and teaching believers where and in what their faith really is. This is illustrated again and again in the Bible. The candidates in this election continually (perpetually!) reminded us that we are to trust them; that is, to believe that they will straighten out the greed and corruption that got us into this mess.



Get the picture: two Senators, both part of the Congress, a major, major, source of our economic woes, promised to straighten out the source of which they are a part. Do you, did you, REALLY BELIEVE THEIR MESSAGE? Have you put your faith in that which cannot and will not deliver, the power brokers in Washington, D.C.? GOD OFTEN USES CRISES TO TEACH BELIEVERS WHERE OR ON WHAT THEIR FAITH RELIES!



If you think the Federal Government is going to take care of you, visit an Indian Reservation sometime. America’s original inhabitants were sold the same bill of goods years ago.



Government & Economics



Are you deceived about the Federal Government’s capacity to create wealth or prosperity? The Federal Government neither produces nor markets any product. The only way it can get moneys is by taking it from us. If you voted for more economic distribution from the Government, where will they get the moneys? They have only two sources: taxation and inflation (inflation is simply printing more money thus making what you save worthless, another form of stealing).



By the way: State Governments CANNOT print money. I have read little about the disastrous effects of our fiscal crisis on State Governments. Think on this: there is less and less state- sales-tax revenues because Americans have quit spending; the States will receive less and less federal funds because the Federal Government is bankrupt; the States will receive less and less income tax from residents because unemployment is skyrocketing.



So expect State officials to get in line with those already there looking for Federal funds: AIG Insurance Co., General Motors, our major banks and lending institutions, ad infinitum, ad nauseaum.



Our Federal Government is a fiscal Titanic that has already hit the iceberg. It runs on foreign funds invested in fed-funds: China is a major investor as are the oil rich Arab states. What happens if (when) the American dollar deflates and these foreign powers call for their cash?!?



THE CONGRESS OF THE USA IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR TO THIS PRESENT FISCAL CRISIS: how in the world can an informed American have confidence in their handling of OUR money? Congress will not and cannot balance the national budget because they do not want to, yet they have convinced good Americans that they are economic messianic deliverers. Woe is me.



Listen closely: if your government gives you anything, it is only because they took it from someone else!



A Closing Exhortation



We in the United States enjoy more freedoms than in any other country in the world. This has prompted many of our citizens to encourage elected officials to steal from our own neighbors; that is, to redistribute wealth that belongs to someone else (as happened in Russia via the communist revolution after 1918: consider what has happened economically to Russia since!). There is such prosperity in America that a majority of our people are overweight and lazy. We have all the food we desire; ditto for energy (electricity and gasoline), yet our greed and consumption demand more and more. The United States of America is on a path of self destruction due to personal greed, envy, jealousy, and animosity- all mental attitude sins that manifest themselves in evil, pernicious, and destructive acts.



Barack Obama has led Americans to expect positive change via government. But we who are Christians know that outward institutions (governments, schools, philanthropic organizations, even churches) cannot affect quality and permanent change. True positive change can only occur through a person’s submission to God, our Creator, and by living dependently upon the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. The change needed for our day is a change of heart that can only happen through the transforming power of our Christ. There is no other way. Do understand that there is no other way. Do put your trust, your belief, in the Person of Christ for what is necessary to live successfully in this world and in the next. Faith in any other guarantees failure.



You have only a short time in this world. Use it wisely. Use your resources wisely. See that your sphere of influence directs men and women to Christ, our only Messiah and Savior. Give men the Gospel. When all is over and this stage of our life is past, all that will remain is our personal relationship with the Lord. Nourish it; grow in grace and knowledge of our wonderful Lord. And let your light shine in this dark period of American history.

BILD

Our church has recently started getting involved in a discipleship series published by BILD (Biblical Institute of Leadership Development). One of the neatest things about BILD is that is local churched based. The stuff is produced by a local church for use by local churches. Often times while attending Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, I asked myself why I had to go to college to learn this stuff. Why wasn't it taught in a local church? Of course, along with most problem that I observe, I'm fairly content and don't offer much in the way of solutions. Now, I have seen the that my questions, all though probably never voiced were great questions and deserved an answer. So here is what I believe to be the answer. It wasn't taught in the local church because most of us in the local church thought it couldn't be or shouldn't be taught in the local church and that true training for ministry must happen at a Bible college or other school of higher learning. The reason it wasn't is that it long hadn't.
God left his church here to accomplish great things and most of those great things should be accomplished through the local church. I'm hoping to start leading some BILD material with our next generation leaders at the Kerkhoven Evangelical Free Church. And I'm excited about it.

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

AND God approves this message!

ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CHARGE?

Limited Government

This was a letter I sent into our local newspaper in response to an article written about the "illogilcal" idea of limited government. It seems to have been well received.

To the editor: In reference to last weeks "Ted Here"
The Democratic Party's belief in limited government.
Democrats believe that the government should be limited. They believe that the government should be limited how it can spy and upon whom it can spy. They believe that the government should be limited in various techniques of 'interrogation'. Democrats believe the government should not have the authority (should be limited, in other words) to say who can and who can't get married. Democrats believe we should limit our government's say in choices involving women and pre-born children. I believe Democrats want nogovernment when it comes to the funding private religious schools. Democrats speak of limiting the government's involvement in the country of Iraq. I even believe that Mr. Almen wants limited government when it comes to the press and the media. "A free press is the light that shines on the free people!"

The Republican Party's belief in limited government.
Republicans believe that government should be limited in... at least they used to think that it should be limited in controlling speech, religious activity, taxing, education, the economy and others (However, it is my opinion that it has been awhile since they've actually practiced such beliefs).

Really the question is not about limited government. We all want government and none of us want an all powerful government. The question then is this, "how much should we limit the government and in what areas?" What is the role of government? Is it the governments job to take care of us? If so, how and to what extent? Should we have a nanny state or should we have a responsible citizenry?

In what areas should it govern? And in contrast, in what areas should there be freedom? Said another way, "In what areas should we limit freedom (by having government)?"

"He who governs least, governs best." Thomas Paine

"A government that is big enough to do everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything that you have." Gerald Ford (Ronald Reagan repeated this often)

"Were we to be directed from Washington when to sow and when to reap, we should soon want bread." Thomas Jefferson

"Man will ultimately be governed by God or tyrants." Benjamin Franklin

"Power over a man's substance is power over his will." Alexander Hamilton

"State or government is the social apparatus of compulsion and coercion." Ludwig Von Mises

Thanks for pondering these things with me,
Micah Driscoll

Focus

So tomorrow I'm heading up to Camp of the Master for our churches youth group yearly camp weekend. This will be my 10th year there, speaking all but twice. Our theme this year is 'The 2008 Olympiad' to go along with this years summer Olympics in Beijing, China. I will be speaking about various 'spiritual disciplines' that we as believers must have in order to more effectively 'run the race' that Our Father has laid out for us.

The first, and most important, 'spiritual discipline' we will look at will be 'focus.' I do not doubt that many Buddhist's monks, Islamic clerics, Tribal Witchdoctors, Jewish Rabbis and Hindu Brahmins are very disciplined in their spiritual fields. Many of them meditate, pray, read and/or study their sacred writings, fast, teach, care, and discipline themselves for the sake of their god, their religion, or their ideas. The weakness or strength of these practices lies not in the practice itself. Rather, the strength or weakness lies in the focus of the mind, the heart, and the soul during each discipline. It would be extremely difficult to walk in the light if one's meditations were on darkness. If you focus on evil, where will you drift. A person paddling a kayak learns very quickly the importance of focus. If you look on way or the other, pretty soon you are way off course. Focus is also the reason you'll often hear on our church bus, "Micah, watch the road!"

In I Cor. 9:24-27 Paul talks about running, but not as with out aim and boxing, but not as with not as beating the air. If one wants to train correctly, focus is important. If you want to run a sub 3 hour marathon, you have to train with that in mind. You can't just run when you feel like it, whenever you feel like it. If you want to win the gold at the Olympics in the marathon you have to focus even more. It must almost become your singular focus. If you want to be the heavy weight champion of the world, you must watch what you eat. You must run, lift, jump and hit. You must learn to lay blows on the body bag with power not just a lazy jab into the air. A few years ago, Carrie Tollefson from Dawson MN was training for the Olympics in Athens Greece. In her runner's log, published in the paper, she spoke often of her training schedule. She trained twice a day! None of this go out for a run in the morning or evening and call it good enough stuff. She had grueling workouts twice a day. That's focus and it's the same kind of focus we need in our 'spiritual disciplines.' If we want the prize, we must focus correctly.

So, I'm ready to compete. I'm ready to focus my heart, my mind, my soul. I'm ready for the training. I'm ready to discipline myself. What should be my focus? Should I focus on world peace? What about the security of my homeland? Should my mind rest upon the teachings of Joseph Smith or Buddha? Should I empty my mind and seek a mystical enlightenment? The answer to each of these is of course no. We are told by the author of Hebrews, in 5 simple words, what the object of our focus should be. In Hebrews 12:2 he states, "fix our eyes on Jesus." Jesus is our focus. He is the author of our faith as well as its protector. Can we, without the vine, accomplish anything, let alone press on for the prize? He, because of the joy set before Him (His goal?) endured the cross, looking down upon the shame and sat down at the right hand of God because He accomplished the goal. The author of Hebrews has already told us in Chapter 3 verse 1 to consider Jesus and now he tells us again in 12:3. Jesus, endured this hostility, and the mere focusing upon Jesus and what He has done for us, on our behalf, should quicken us and strengthen us for the race. Is this fixing our eyes on Jesus, this focus not the same as waiting upon the Lord?

Scripture is replete with the motivation for Godly living, i.e. the Gospel. Titus 3:8 tells us the motivation to do good works comes from a confident (and I would say constant) proclamation of the Good News of the Gospel. If we forget the Gospel, if we forget what our Savior has done for us, if we fail to remember from what we were saved and the cost it took to get us home, then we will often forget to train with purpose if we even train at all.

Don't run with out aim. Don't box by beating the air. Fix your eyes on Jesus and run the race with endurance. Get rid of the sin that trips you up. Cast of the baggage that's slowing you down and run. Run with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. FOCUS! Spiritual Discipline #1

Let your vote send a message!

A GRAND IDEA (in my opinion)
I hope everyone reading this understands the electoral college, at least a little bit, you know the people (electors) that we elect to represent us and select the president. Its not exactly democratic, in that he/she with the most general public votes wins. Anyway, let me explain what happened in MN last presidential election cycle. George Bush one the Presidency 286 to 252 according to the electoral college. 10 of those votes for John Kerry came from MN. MN only has 10 electoral votes to give and John Kerry got all 100% of them even though he only had 51.1% of the vote. George Bush received 0% of MN's 10 electoral votes even though he received 47.6 percent of the public vote. (There were about 100,000 votes between the two).

One could say that all of those who voted for George Bush 'wasted' their vote because none of their votes counted in the end. George Bush didn't stand a chance of winning MN. As a matter of fact, one could say that every presidential, general election vote for a republican in the last 50 years (except for the roughly 900,000 cast in 1972 for Richard Nixon because he carried the the state that year) was a 'wasted' vote.

(Side note -- Let me clear that I don't believe there is such a thing as a wasted vote. Every vote counts for something, its just not always counted for in the electoral college. I also strongly support the electoral college because it is just one more way in which the constitution limits power and authority by providing for checks and balances between the populace and the states.)

So, now on to 2008. Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain have clear differences on some issues yet similarities on others. I'm not writing to address those issues, their strengths, weaknesses, differences, nor similarities. The purpose of this writing is to address the ever leftward march of the Republican Party and the opportunity to send a clear message in your presidential vote with out it effecting the overall results. Please hear me out.

Current MN polls show Mr. Obama leading in MN anywhere from 8 to 15 percent. The 'chances' of John McCain winning MN are slim to none. Therefore, it seems apparent that 100% of the 10 electoral votes granted to MN will be alloted to Obama. That means that those who would vote Republican in the Presidential election this fall (in MN) could use their vote strategically to send the message to the National Republican Committee and Party and say,

"HEY, our vote matters! We're tired of you assuming that we have to vote Republican because your our best shot. You adhere to the constitution and our platform and stop this pandering to the left for votes or risk loosing us as a voting block."

There are two other viable parties (on the right) that have a nationwide presence. The first and most well known is the Libertarian Party and the second is the Constitutional Party. Each of these one could say are more Republican than the Republicans and actually made up primarily of former Republicans. Watch the polls this fall. If it's clear that McCain doesn't stand a chance in your state, vote your conscience, for the candidate that is most in line with your thinking about government, liberty, justice, and the constitution, no matter what party they belong to. Or you could write in someones name even. The point being, that Republicans could no longer take your vote for granted.

"Always vote for principle,
though you may vote alone,
and you may cherish the sweetest reflection
that your vote is never lost."
John Quincy Adams

Thanks for considering my 'GRAND' idea. Hope you see the logic in it. It makes a lot of sense to me.

Some important reading

We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their CREATOR, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate, that Governments long established, should not be changed for light and transient Causes; and accordingly all Experience hath shewn, that Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long Train of Abuses and Usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a Design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their Right, it is their Duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future Security.

and now for some less important reading. (micah's meanderings)
Ecc. says there is a time for war and a time for peace. Jesus said to give to God what is God's and to Caesar what is Caesar's. Paul spoke of Governments baring the sword for a reason. In II Kings (I believe) we learn of the crimes committed by the head of a state - taking what was not rightfully their own (actually we can see that in David as well). I was talking the other day with an acquaintance of mine about the need for Christians to me more involved in political discussion and debate, not merely voting republican. And although he agreed with the later statement, he disagreed quite strongly with the first. He believed our political problems were the result of unsaved and corrupt politicians and our responsibility was to proclaim the Gospel, not debate politics. Now I would agree that we have a very many corrupt individual 'working for us' in DC and many state capitols AND that our primary responsibility is to teach that which is of first importance, the gospel as the power of God for those who believe, through the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. However, i would say that to neglect to teach our churches and children the whole of scripture would be a disservice to our proclamation of the Gospel. How is an individual, saved and growing in God's grace, and called into public political service to act or govern? How am a I as a private citizen to give Caesar his due if i don't know what is his and what is God's? When is it the time for peace talks and when is it a time to shun peace talks and wage war? These are all important questions that the Bible answers. Let us be students of the whole counsel of God because He is involved in all the affairs of men.

Jus Ad Bellum (Part 4)

As you can probably tell by the title, this is my fourth entry about the Justice of War. The last post primarily dealt with the spheres of authority and how some nations view it as within their realm of authority to exercise control or dominion over other countries. The objection I often get to this is that Saddam was a terrible man, did great evil to his people and meant for great evil in the area and the world. In this post, I would like to offer further clarification of MY OPINION (which I happen to believe is based on scripture)

I liken the above scenario with Saddam to a more domestic situation (and objectors tend to agree with this likening). Lets us suppose my neighbor and his wife have not been getting along. Then let us further suppose that I see bruises on her face someday and she confides to me that she has been beaten by her husband. What moral authority do I have in this situation? Do I have the moral authority to stop it and keep it from happening again? If so, what measures are appropriate? Do I have the moral authority to punish the man?

Scripture clearly teaches that we are to care for the oppressed and to help them and love them. As a neighbor, I have a moral (and probably legal) obligation to see that this situation is rectified, that the woman is protected, the man is punished, and that it the situation does not repeat itself. Justice demands it and justice must be served. BUT, Justice will only be served justly. If I attempt to serve justice in an unjust manner, then justice will be demanded for me.

If I went into the man's house and gave him bruises in the same way and manner he gave them to his wife, that would be clearly wrong. Why? Paul tells us in Romans, that God has given the sword (and perhaps we can also add the whip) not to men as individuals, but to those who govern. The governing authorities must intervene in the lives of their 'subjects' to protect and punish as is their responsibility. God has granted that authority to the state/nation/governor. It is my responsibility to assist them and notify them and even to hold them accountable.

Now, how does this relate to sovereign nation/states? When a dictator or regime or political system of a nation/state commits wrong or evil upon its own citizenry, what is the responsibility of the neighboring states/nations (in our small world, its an easy case to say all nations neighbor each other)? In the domestic situation described in the previous paragraphs, the neighbor had the responsibility to care for the oppressed and assist her in her plight. The neighbor also had the responsibility of entrusting the matter to the governing authorities. So also in this case. The difference, however, is that the governing authority here is the One who is sovereign over all creation, the One who establishes nations and their boundaries and their governing authorities. The neighboring countries must offer shelter to the oppressed and then entrust the matter to the vengeance of God.

Let me conclude with this small note. When the authorities of a sovereign nation commit a crime against another nation or its citizenry, then it is the responsibility of the victimized nation to retaliate and punish and perhaps even conquer the guilty country. The extent of the punishment must be fair and proportional, worth the money and lives/blood spent, and must be carried out by the proper channels of authority. This however is another subject for another time (known as Jus In Bello as opposed to Jus Ad Bellum).

The point of this post, and the previous, was to show from a biblical perspective the unjustness of the current doctrine of foreign policy of the United States, i.e. that of intervening in the internal affairs of other nations. It is not about the justness of the current conflicts in Afghanistan or Iraq. We did not go to those countries, as some claim, to settle their own injustices, nor would it be right for us to have done so. Our reason for going to Iraq was altogether different, but I disagree with that reason also and will blog about it another time.