Friday, January 31, 2003

By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

"Do you believe that we should go to war with Iraq?" said the worried lady who is a member of my congregation. "Do you think the president is doing the right thing?" she added.

It was a question that several others have asked in the last few weeks and months. Like most Americans, I am worried about the possibility of war and concerned about the possibility of suffering and death.

I have a 21 year-old son serving in the United States Air Force. I don't think he will go to Iraq, but that is by no means certain. I have a friend, a captain in the United States Army, who is in Kuwait now. I helped several people pray for his wife and two small children last Sunday evening as they shared their sadness and anxiety. In my congregation, there is an Army Special Forces officer, two United States Navy Corpsmen (medics), and two United States Marines. Some will and others could see action in a war with Iraq. There is also an Army reservist who is on standby, waiting to hear if he will be activated.

War, for me, has a face. Those faces, which I pray for daily, also have moms and dads, brothers, and sisters, wives, and children.

I understand responsibility and duty. I voluntarily served with the U. S. Marines during the Vietnam era. But I also remember well the youthful face of Joe Meade, a tough high school defensive back with a mop of blond hair and a silver front tooth who joined the Marines and died on a patrol not long after being "in country."

I can still see the face of Jimmy Jones, who always sported a goofy smile and was friendly with everyone he met. Jimmy joined the Army, was sent to the 'Nam and was killed, his smile erased forever. There were others whose voices were silenced. I hate war and the sadness and mourning it brings.

Yet, I believe in defending that which is good and pure and priceless. I am not a pacifist and I have the means and, I believe, the will to defend my family from intruders who might break into our home and seek to do violence. I believe that the person who does not provide for his family (including their safety and protection) is, as the New Testament says, "worse than an infidel." It is not, however, my responsibility or my duty to agree or disagree with the president. It may be my constitutional right, but it is not my responsibility. As a Christian, I must be ruled by the scriptures which includes the words of St. Paul to young Timothy:

"I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior" (1 Timothy 2:1-3a, KJV)

Part of my responsibility, and my duty, is to pray for the president, his advisors, and his Cabinet and the governor, members of the Congress, the mayor, members of city council, and the members of the county commission, among others. As an American, I am tempted to assume that part of my responsibility (even my duty) is to criticize, demean, and tear down elected officials. If I do, I assume wrongly, and I am in error. I freely confess that I have not always prayed instead of griping. Hopefully, I am maturing. I must pray that my leaders have godly wisdom, that they act with integrity, and that they respond in ways that are ethical, and selfless, and beneficial to those whom they lead. And then, as a Christian believer, I am compelled to support them in their decision unless that action is clearly evil and unbiblical. In fact, St. Paul wrote:

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor." (Romans 13:1-7, KJV)

So, what do I think? I think that it doesn't really matter what I think and I think that I need to be in prayer for our leaders during these perilous times. I want peace. I want for all of my young military people to come home unscathed. I want the President to "hear from God" and do what is right. So I pray. It's my responsibility and it's my duty.

[Father David Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church, which meets at 10 a.m. Sundays at 4881 E. Hwy 34. He may be contacted at 770-252-2428, at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com or at www.ctkcec.org.]

Back to thø Opinion Home Page| Back to the top of the page