Leo Tolstoy

I was over my parents house and my father brought the whole Palin "it's God's plan" when it comes to Iraq (I hope I quoted that right). She stated she was just referring to a quote by Lincoln during the Civil War. Anyway, my dad and I got into this debate about "God's plan" or "God's will". Being a Christian myself, I have always hated when someone invoked God into the discussion of war. I found it to be contradictory.

There are a few verses, specifically in the New Testament, that point to a non-resistance position, Matthew 5:39, or self defense, Luke 22:36-38. I recall a co-worker of mine even stated the Bible supports "preemptive war" though I can't recall the verse he used to support it. Self-defense is as far as I would go and even that is a bite much from the teachings of Christ.

Back to the issue at hand. Here is the quote Palin referred to with Lincoln:

"No nobler reply ever fell from the lips of a ruler, than that uttered by President Lincoln in response to the clergyman who ventured to say, in his presence, that he hoped 'the Lord was on our side.'

"I am not at all concerned about that,' replied Mr. Lincoln, 'for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side.'"

I find his words to be not as sure of the path he, and the country during the Civil War, had taken on being on the side of God. Sounds like he was hoping, where people today are so sure that God is on our side with this war in Iraq.

Enter Leo Tolstoy. To my shock, I did not realize that he believed in Jesus and Christianity. I'm still not sure how much he believed in what the Bible teaches, but he did follow Jesus teachings, specifically the Sermon on the Mount. Tolstoy thought that the main theme in his teachings was Matthew 5:39, which he considered a call to " nonviolent resistance to evil". I picked up his book titled "The Kingdom of God is Within You". Here is a passage from that book from a man which he quotes named William Lloyd Garrison

"The dogma that all the governments of the world are approvingly ordained of God, and that the powers that be in the United States, in Russia, in Turkey, are in accordance with his will, is no less absurd than impious. It makes the impartial Author of our existence unequal and tyrannical. It cannot be affirmed that the powers that be in any nation are actuated by the spirit or guided by the example of Christ in the treatment of enemies;there they cannot be agreeable to the will of God, and therefore their overthrow by a spiritual regeneration of their subjects is inevitable."

Those words especially eased my troubled Soul. It was comforting to know that there are people out there that look at the world and not want to make it a "us or them" scenario. Is that really what Jesus wanted? Is that really what he taught? What about, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"? Why is our only solution as a nation more war?

As a nation or as individuals we would be much better served, and a beckon to the rest of the world, if we just listened to Jesus...

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."