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"We're making enemies faster than we can kill them" read the bumper sticker on the car in front of me. What a sad but true message! If Jesus were here today, I doubt he would be pleased about this given his "love your enemies" view of things. Since I am a former member of the U.S. Armed Forces and now looking for a job, figuring out how we might best deal with our enemies seems an especially noble calling these days.Like our nation's leaders and the majority of members of Congress, I am a patriotic American Christian. Before making any major decisions, I ask myself "What would Jesus do?" With terrorism on the rise, I have been asking myself "In America's defense, where would Jesus work?"
I have a number of talents and qualifications that could support the fields of education, health care, and social services and Christians are supposed to care about serving "the least of these." Many jobs in these fields uphold this fine ideal but they tend to be low paying and don't seem to be very highly regarded, even by many Christians.
In comparison, the Defense Department's budget is enormous and there are plenty of good paying jobs. Just because Jesus said those who live by the sword would die by it doesn't mean we shouldn't support a strong military, does it? After all, Jesus blessed that Roman soldier, the centurion, and held him up as an example of someone with great faith.
There must be something I can do for America's defense that would honor the teachings of Jesus. What about that contractor paid millions to help win hearts and minds around the globe? Wouldn't Jesus like to see that kind of work being done? So what if they pay Iraqis and other foreign nationals to print good news stories? Perhaps it could be seen as hypocritical if the American laws against this practice applied outside of the USA but they don't. At least those stories were true and didn't Jesus say the truth would set us free?
Jesus also called the peacemakers blessed. Would that have included the large cold war era U.S. plane called "Peacemaker?" It was built to carry and drop nuclear bombs on our adversaries because peace is best achieved through strength, isn't it?
Although Jesus warned his followers not to think their place in heaven was assured by doing things in his name. When my time comes, I certainly do not want to be one of those he says he never knew because their so-called good works were really evil. At least if I am wrong but very sorry, I'm forgiven, thank God.
Granted, there are those who claim the use of "soft power" approaches to inspire the international community to join in support of our ideals would work better. They argue our emphasis on military might and coercion of foreign nationals to do our bidding is working against us. Yet how can being soft with adversaries and caring about their interests possibly teach them the lessons our current strong show of force instills?
Alas, what a quandary! Jesus didn't have to worry about protecting democracy. He wasn't even an American, or for that matter, a Christian! We're at war and we've got lots of enemies to take out to make us safer, right? And for Christ's sake, how can you possibly love and bless enemies who want to kill you? If we all did that, we might have a lot fewer enemies, defense jobs could plummet, and then who would hire me to do the Lord's work?
