why do non christians, page-71

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I understand what you are saying.Have read a lot about the Kokoda conflict and have been to that part of the world.The Japanese were the aggressors,greedily and inhumanely wanting to extend their borders for their own nationalistic/political interests.It was wrong and they were rightly condemned and punished.During the Second World War here in Australia,young men who were true christians were incarcerated for years because their christian consciences told them war and killing was wrong.They in effect said We must obey God as ruler rather than men.Acts 5:29.

It was much worse however in Hitlers Germany.True christians there who refused to make the heil hitler salute,refused to join the army and who took a nuetral stand were brutally persecuted.They were hung, shot and sent to the concentration camps,all because they wanted to keep the greatest commandment.To love God and their neighbour.Mathew 22:37.Right now in countries like South Korea,Eritrea,some of the former Soviet Republics and in Greece young christian men are in military prisons because they refuse to learn war.In Eritrea and some of those former republics these men are brutally treated even now.Beaten up,injected with mind altering drugs and suffering long term health consequences.I have personally been to a military prison in Thessalonika Greece and sat down with these men.Fortunately they are treated very well,but it has not always been so.But that is what being a true christian is about.

You talk about the wars of the Old Testament.These were truly Holy Wars of God,because he laid down the rules for warfare and the manner in which this warfare was to be carried out.For example Israel's armies waged war upon the people of Caanan.The land had been promised to the Israelites,it was to be their promised land.The inhabitants of the land were depraved and defied God.One of the depraved practices they did was offering up live children as a human sacrifice to their false god Molech.God rightfully punished these people and yet his mercy was extended to Rahab a prostitute and others who put faith in him.

In his book entitled The Rise of Christianity E. W. Barnes said "A careful review of all the information available goes to show that,until the time of Marcus Aurelius[ Roman emperor from 161-180 CE] no Christian became a soldier,and no soldier,after becoming a christian remained in military service"

The fact is if we all practiced true christian principles there would be no war.But because God has allowed the Devil to rule our world for the time being,violence and bloodshed remain.However God has a time-table and rest assured he will soon act on behalf of people who love peace.