Is this all there is?
As I reflect upon current events and begin to link them to past world events, it strikes me at how utterly helpless we are as human beings to change the course of the future of this world.There are ongoing conflicts, starvation and strife, and on every side there are zealots and us so-called "normal" people who are very quick to point out just what the problems are and who is responsible. It brings to mind a portion of this old 1969 anti-Vietnam War hit single, War by Edwin Starr.
WAR
War, huh, yeah
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again y'all
War, huh, good God
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, it's got one friend
That's the undertaker
Ooooh, war, has shattered
Many a young man's dreams
Made him disabled, bitter and mean
Life is much to short and precious
To spend fighting wars these days
War can't give life
It can only take it away
Ooooh, war, huh
Good God y'all
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Say it again
War, whoa, Lord
What is it good for
Absolutely nothing
Listen to me
War, it ain't nothing but a heartbreaker
War, friend only to the undertaker
Peace, love and understanding
Tell me, is there no place for them today
They say we must fight to keep our freedom
But Lord knows there's got to be a better way
Now, Starr was operating in a very emotionally-charged arena in 1969, where protestors were lashing out at the very people they shouldn't have been aggressive toward - the soldiers, most of whom were drafted into the military and probably never wanted to be overseas to begin with.
There has always been and always will be human conflict on this Earth as it currently exists, that's just human nature. War is ugly, and war is futile. The is usually a declared "winner" but ultimately, both sides pay a horrible price for the power struggles of men and nations. War may not be the answer, but if nations stand passively by as crises evolve around the globe would it surely be better? I would guess the people of Europe, especially the Jewish population, would beg to differ in the face of Hitler's domination. So what's the solution?
I recently watched a special on President John F. Kennedy which speculated what would have taken place in Vietnam had he not been assassinated before its escalation. The program gave six instances where JFK showed great resistance to war while at the same time flexing some military muscle in order to force a peaceful agreement.
Kennedy had a very tumultuous presidency in the short time he was in office.
In the 1961 Bay of Pigs debacle, the United States government trained Cuban exiles to overthrow the Fidel Castro government, only to see their assault fail miserably on the Cuban beaches. But few people realize that less than two miles off shore there were American ships with thousands of Marines primed to storm the beaches in aid of the exiles. Rather than involve the United States in an ugly "jungle war" just 90 miles from its shores, JFK recalled the ships, leaving the Castro regime in power, and the exiles blowing in the wind.
Did that decision change the world? Did it change us? Was it fair?
There were similar situations where the world was at the cusp of obliteration during the Cold War, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis and during the construction of The Berlin Wall where Kennedy made some tough choices in the face of intense criticism - all while risking war to gain peace.
The missiles were returned to the Soviet Union, and the Wall eventually crumbled, but did this change the world?
One thing the President stated, was that there are many hard decisions that needed to be made, tough situations that demanded attention, and that he was doing the best he could. In the face of critics he said the balance of Democrats and Republicans was a healthy one, and that criticism was expected and welcomed, as long as those critics had sensible alternative solutions.
There is always another way, but it may or may not be the right or wrong way.
Going back to the War song, Starr was right about one thing in particular. If you look at that last line it rings loud and true. The Lord does know there is a better way, whether Starr meant it that way or not. Mankind has been rebellious and sinful since the days of Adam, who's son Cain warred against Abel by killing him in a fit of contempt. Why would we be any different today? But God had a response to His creation's rebellion. Knowing we are flawed and fallen, He sent a better way in the form of His own Son, Jesus, who said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6).
We can never avoid our own fallen nature, or the conflicts, whether personal or global, that come with them. But by grace they can be overcome. So as we again face the proposition of global disaster in the form of potential conflict rising in the Middle East, remember that there have always been wars and evil in this world. So, this Christmas, let us celebrate the better way, God's better way, the Christ, who was brought into the world as a helpless baby and a servant to all who will accept Him. And it would serve us well if we would also adhere to the words of JFK and bring solutions rather than condemnation. As it says so well in Luke 6:37-38:
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven...For with the measure you use, it will be measured unto you."