The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-X, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 26." A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. ©1983. All Rights Reserved.
Questioner
In terms of how you’re following the ruler or the king or the president of
a particular country, in terms of military stint or a war. I heard you were
answering a question, once, and you were saying that being a Christian and a
citizen of the United States, you have to follow its leader if it’s a war
against whatever. But, if you would be a Cuban, also a Christian and a citizen,
and you would see that it’s not a right cause, you would not go into this war.
Now, how do you know whether it’s a right cause or wrong cause?
John MacArthur's Answer
As simple as this, if you’re a defender or an aggressor.
Questioner
Well, not always being a Soviet citizen, I never knew whether we were defendants
or aggressors.
John MacArthur's Answer
You were aggressors. Just to make the point.
Questioner
I agree with you. We were, I mean, they still are.
John MacArthur's Answer
You don’t go into Afghanistan and massacre millions of people, and say that’s a
just war. What are the Afghan people doing against the Soviet Union?
Questioner
That’s not how that thing was presented. When I came to the United States, even
though I came here because of jeans and chewing gum, when I came to this
country, I still thought that America was the aggressor. And, I just didn’t mind
the aggressor for the jeans and chewing gum.
John MacArthur's Answer
You thought we were the bad guys. Of course.
Questioner
I couldn’t believe it. Now, a question. Being a Christian and living in the
Soviet Union and being a citizen of that country, not aware of what is
happening, and you are called to go to war. By the way, the German War, nobody
knew what happened, really, and they’re a smaller country than Russia. So, you
could figure it out. It was probably not a fair war. In fact, a lot of Christian
people probably opened the door for them to walk in, but when they saw the
disaster, they followed. In other words, how do you follow the ruler?
John MacArthur's Answer
Well, a lot of good Lutheran boys went out and murdered Jews, too, in
Germany, when they were called to fight. You know, Germany, Nazi Germany was a
Lutheran country in many, many ways. You have to deal with what you know. And,
if you’re under a system, and you don’t understand that, then you can only deal
with the data that you understand. And, I think the Lord knows that. Look at the
Chinese people. You know, they have to filter through that and seek the mind of
the Lord. I think if you were a Christian in Russia...you can’t think like a
Christian, if you’re not one, right? So, you’re looking back to the time before
you were saved. Okay. If you are like Georgi Vins or these other people who are
Christians in Russia. There’s a fellowship of believers that exists where you
get counter information, so that would help you make that decision.
See, I look at our own country, and people have asked me the question, well,
should the United States be in Lebanon? Well, I don’t have any problem with us
being in Lebanon. I think Israel entering into Lebanon in spite of all the
antagonism toward them was freeing an oppressed people when they went in there.
Of course, they couldn’t ultimately keep the PLO out because they just come in
like, you know, like grains of sand through a sieve. And, of course, it’s going
to just keep going, and going, and going until Jesus comes. But, people say,
should we be in Lebanon? What is America doing there? America’s doing there what
they’ve always done. America sees an oppressed people, and endeavors to keep
peace. They blow us up. We don’t blow them up.
People say, what about Grenada? Well, I see it as the same thing. You can
either let the whole Caribbean fall to an oppressive totalitarianism, or you can
try to stand for what is right and just and fair. The little island of Grenada,
which has, I don’t know if you know, a wonderful Christian contingent on that
island. My dear friend, John Perkins, from Mississippi, whom I ministered with
for over six years, went down there constantly and evangelized that little
island of Grenada. Well, those people on that little island didn’t arm
themselves to the teeth to fight the whole Caribbean. When they went in there
and found all those weapons, you knew that it was a base for something much
bigger than that. And, it’s the old story, where do you stop the enemy? What do
you do to protect the innocent people? And, so again, I think as a Christian, as
a person in this country, I could have stood in those kinds of situations and
done the best for my country because I knew I was standing against an evil
aggressor with murderous intent. But, in a situation where I didn’t have that
information, I have to trust the Lord, and pray, and seek His face, but there
would surely be a network of believers who would have a perspective that would
help me understand that.
Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur's Questions and
Answers" by:
Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 119
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Our websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986