As A Nation, People and Church, How Do We Need To React To Our Enemies

As A Nation, People and Church, How Do We Need To React To Our Enemies? Or
How Do We Need To Be Praying?
Exodus 21:24-36

Exodus 21:24-36 ²⁴Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, ²⁵Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. ²⁶And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish; he shall let him go free for his eye’s sake. ²⁷And if he smite out his manservant’s tooth, or his maidservant’s tooth; he shall let him go free for his tooth’s sake. ²⁸If an ox gore a man or a woman, that they die: then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten; but the owner of the ox shall be quit. ²⁹But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death. ³⁰If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him. ³¹Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him. ³²If the ox shall push a manservant or a maidservant; he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned. ³³And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein; ³⁴The owner of the pit shall make it good, and give money unto the owner of them; and the dead beast shall be his. ³⁵And if one man’s ox hurt another’s, that he die; then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it; and the dead ox also they shall divide. ³⁶Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push in time past, and his owner hath not kept him in; he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own.

One way is the Old Testament way.

This seems to be a natural approach

Simple (although maybe costly) "eye for an eye"

Straightforward (kind of like law of gravity - for every action there is an equal reaction)

Strong approach (versus a weak one in our enemies eyes)

This seems to be an easy approach

Satisfying? - Brings some sense of a feeling of justice

Sense of action

Strength is shown forth to the other nations

This seldom is the quick end of it (look at Israel and Palestine)

Our "eyes" of justice become their "eyes" of vengeance

It often becomes our young people versus their young people

It has a way of carrying on for centuries

Do not misunderstand what I am saying here. I want to look at two approaches and ask ourselves how we as Christians need to pray.

So how do we pray, when we take this approach?

Swift retribution

Success on the battle field

Smashing of the enemy

Safety for our military

But there is another way…
The New Testament Way:

Matt. 5:38-48 ³⁸Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: ³⁹But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. ⁴⁰And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. ⁴¹And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. ⁴²Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

^{43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. ⁴⁴But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ⁴⁵That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? ⁴⁷And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? ⁴⁸Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

This really seems it is an unnatural approach

Unnatural to not want to strike back
Unnatural to not strike back

We have to be honest, we almost feel it is…

Un-American to not strike back

This seems to be a hard approach

Unsatisfying - Brings zero sense of a feeling of justice
We feel helpless because we see no action
We fear weakness is shown forth to the other nations

This seems to not bring an end of it

Our desire for justice seems to die in obscurity
Our young people cannot look forward to safety
How can we know when it will end

Do not misunderstand what I am saying here. I know we are at war. I am not calling for us to not support our nation, its President, its leaders, its military. I just want you to understand, there is more here than meets the eye. We do have a responsibility to pray. I do mean pray, pray, pray!
So how do we pray, when we look at what Christ taught?
I believe we can pray for…

Firm justice
Victory on the battle field
Safety for our military

But I also think we need to spend a great deal of time praying…

Souls of the enemy
Souls of our military
Plight of the civilians
Decisions of our leaders
Decisions of their leaders
Souls of our nation

We need to pray!

Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist - 101401am}