By Jon Kauffman
What will Jesus Ask Us When We Die?
I must admit, as I write this post, I condemn myself. Do I have the courage and the will to follow Jesus? We don’t know what Jesus will ask us when we die, but we have a clue.
The Sheep and the Goats
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)
Sniper
I spoke with Jason who was a sniper in Iraq. He told me he was commanded to kill innocent children. If I join a military who kills innocent children, will I be a sheep or a goat?
US War
I read “America’s War for The Greater Middle East” by Retired Army Colonel Andrew J. Bacevich. I also read “War is a Racket.” By General Smedley D. Butler. Both of these gentlemen, soldiers, tell us that US war making is for profit. The War for the Middle East is about cheap oil for Americans. Both writers back up their statements with facts.
Saddam Hussein
When Saddam Hussein was in power he controlled the violence of terrorist groups and protected Christians in Iraq. When the US wrested power from Hussein, Christians were no longer protected. Thousands fled their homes. Many more were killed by terrorists.
Without the control of Hussein, terrorists became free to expand their operations. As a result, terrorist cells popped up all over the Middle East. Boko Haram now controls much of Northern Africa and Isis became free to terrorize Syria.
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. Romans 13: 1,2.
If God put Saddam Hussein in power and if God was using him, did we bring judgement on ourselves when we destroyed his power?
If I join a military controlled by a foreign policy that brings about such tragedies, am I a sheep or a goat?
The Korean War
During the Korean War, the US bombed every village in North Korea. 2,730,00 civilians died in the war. If I join a military that has so little regard for innocent life, am I a sheep or a goat?
World War II
At the end of World War II, 1.2 million Japanese civilians were killed by US bombing in Japan. Many of these people died after Japan was willing to surrender. If I join a military that kills civilians am I a sheep or a goat?
I could name injustice after injustice committed by the US military.
If I join such a military am I a sheep or a goat?
I am not innocent
In 1987 I had a job painting water towers on a military base. I made great money and I had all kinds of excuses as to why it was OK for me to paint water towers for the military.
When I was painting water towers, I was supporting the status quo and supporting a military that I knew was killing innocent people. A military that was causing brothers and sisters of Jesus, young children to be fatherless and naked. A military that was creating widows and destroying homes. Will Jesus tell me that I am a sheep or a goat when that day comes?
I enjoy the cheap oil and cheap products provided in part by our military.
I have paid income tax. Part of my tax goes to support the military. I know of many atrocities committed by the US military. A military that causes strangers to be hungry and thirsty. That kills the innocent for profit. That fails to protect the widow and the homeless. Will Jesus tell me that I am a sheep or a goat when that day comes?
My conversation with Jason, the Sniper: What Do We Owe Veterans? Or The Last Native American
Book Review: “America’s War for the Greater Middle East.”
Who do we really worship? The Flag and Daniel.
Where did the current Christian attitude about war originate? St Augustine’s Mistake.
Copyright © 2020 by Jon Kauffman. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted when used to further the Kingdom of God. Permission is gladly given to re-blog this post.
NONVIOLENT CHRISTIANS 