My Babylon
I haven’t been able to shake this thought. Let me start by saying this is not a rant against the current war in Iraq, so I hope you can see my point regardless of where you stand on the morality of that issue. This is first and foremost a personal issue of how I view the world.
You typically hear two separate death tolls regarding the Iraq war. The first is the Coalition casualty list, and it is fairly easy to quantify due to the organized nature of the military machine. The second, and highly disputed, number is the Iraqi civilian death toll, which ranges anywhere from forty thousand to six hundred thousand (a ridiculous gap, to be sure), depending on the standards of the various sources you refer to.
But there’s another death toll involved in the war, isn’t there?…in fact, isn’t this forgotten toll is easily the largest? Well, but it’s the ‘just’ toll, even the desirable toll, right?
I haven’t heard one report in the past four years on how many terrorists/insurgents have been killed in this war. General Tommy Franks has been quoted as saying, “We don’t do body counts.” Still, I suspect somebody somewhere has a very rough guess on enemy casualties, but an estimate nonetheless. But since these are the guys we are supposed to be killing, ‘who cares?’
So far as I understand Scripture (and for this incite, I must credit Tony Campolo’s musings on this matter), Babylon was both literally and metaphorically understood to be an over-lording system that, however unjust, asked for your unwavering loyalty. I mean, it’s your government, after all. The gods have seen fit to bestow this power- now you will bow to us, if you please.
Now Paul, in his letter to Ephesus, seems to insist that our struggle, as followers of God, is not against people. Or, as a key influence of mine, Greg Boyd, put it, “If it’s got flesh and blood, then it isn’t your enemy.” We are to see ourselves first and foremost as citizens of the Kingdom, and everything else (even patriotism to our nation) is peripheral at best, idolatry at worst. So focusing it in on my personal perspective for the moment, in light of current media…
-Do I believe that each and every member of a terrorist group has insurmountable worth to God?
-Do I really believe that God doesn’t play favorites, that America isn’t His favorite country?
-Could I really believe that God is just as saddened by an insurgent’s death as He is by the death of an American soldier?
-Does my complacent ignorance of a certain death toll say something about how I value those people?
I am finding that scripture is easy when you assume God is on your side, in your club, your tribe. But there is tension when you ask yourself if you are on God’s side… and there is even more tension when you wonder if you’ve been accidentally assuming some things which may be fundamentally untrue about how God and the world interact. Is this so hard to see?
I think I’ve let America be my Babylon. I think I’ve let the Republican Party be my Babylon. I think I’ve let my personal fears or safety be my Babylon. If my ultimate allegiance should be to my Jesus, then I think I’ve prostituted my allegiance.
Paul was a religious terrorist, who tormented and killed without mercy. We would have decided that he leaves us no choice but to kill him to stop the barbarism.
-Do I really believe someone can be beyond redemption?
(This article first appeared in theooze.com)
Posted on October 29, 2007 12:00 AM
Comments
Well said. I had a similar realization about a year and a half ago. It was as if God tore open this terrible place in my heart that I didn't even know existed. It was rather jolting, and I was filled with sadness over my callous heart.
We must get to the place where we can answer "yes" to the first four questions you asked, and "no" to the last. This may be very hard for some, it was for me until God showed me my brokeness. I hope it is easier for others as this was not a pleasant experience.
However, I now feel as if I am free of some very heavy chains. God has shown me my lack of compassion and His healing has spread into my entire life. I have a new perspective and I thank Him for it.
Posted by: DangerKid | November 1, 2007 6:42 AM
This article brought tears to my eyes. Truly, God is saddened by the death of any of His creations, whether they are on the "right side" or not. As such, we should mourn their deaths as well.
Posted by: Wendy | November 1, 2007 12:48 PM
I think this is the best article about the war on terror that I've ever read.
Posted by: Kim Gottschild | November 1, 2007 1:51 PM
I found this site from the Donald Miller site. I have read his books recently and I really like what he has to say, for the most part. The thing that seems to be confusing me is, what is it about the Republican party that has made it such a target? Here you compare it to Babylon, Miller disparages the party every chance he gets for hypocrisy or hijacking the "morality" point of view. So, let me ask the question, if Jesus is apolitcal wouldn't that mean that he loves Republicans as much as he loves terrorists? I am not a member of that or any other political party but even I can see when one group is becoming the whipping boy. It is always easy to blame those who are in power. It is like shooting fish in a barrel! If you want to take an entirely Christian stance take the blame for your own blindness on the issue and leave the Republicans out of it.
JSC
Posted by: JSC | November 2, 2007 7:51 PM
JSC,
I can't speak for Donald Miller or the author of this piece, but we addressed this question a few months ago. You can read about our political stances here.
http://www.burnsidewriterscollective.com/letters/from_the_editor/what_are_we_for.php
And yes, Jesus certainly loves Republicans as much as terrorists, something the majority of Republicans may not quickly agree with.
Sincerely,
Jordan Green
BWC
Posted by: Jordan | November 2, 2007 8:36 PM
Jordan has it right. I don't at all mean to put more blame on the Republican party. You see, i was always taught that the Right was the "more christian" of the two parties, and spent the majority of my life believing that. It has nothing to do with who's currently in the white house. I mention the Republican party because that is what i was raised and taught i should be, as if they should get my loyalty as being on God's side.
- and Jordan...
"Jesus certainly loves Republicans as much as terrorists, something the majority of Republicans may not quickly agree with."
i love this
-Tad DeLay
Posted by: Tad DeLay | November 2, 2007 10:17 PM
Brilliant and sobering. Thanks for that.
Posted by: Josh W | November 4, 2007 10:32 AM
Thanks for hitting me back. I am sorry it took me so long to get back here but I am student and you know how that is. I agree with your posting as well Jordan, as a matter of fact, the terrorist question came up in my church and one of the members made the comment, "there is a time when we have to stop being so forgiven, there is a time you must hit people with the cross..." He was saying this in regard to terrorists. I immediately spoke up and said I hadn't read that particular point of view anywhere in the bible. :)
Tad,
I was raised a democrat, so I got the other side of the coin all of the time. What it made me become is a staunch independent. :) After all this world is not ever going to be paradise, no matter who is in the white house.
Thanks
JSC
Posted by: JSC | November 15, 2007 10:17 AM
I definetly agree with the thoughts you wrote of. A sad day for me was when they executed Sadam Hussein and there were people dancing about it. Sure he (and many others) was a bad person (as if we ourselves are not) but need we rejoice at his death? Need we rejoice at the death of terrorists? I enjoyed reading this and the questions you raised. Good questions for people to ask themselves.
Posted by: Wyatt Petzoldt | December 7, 2007 5:34 AM