“ for Jesus himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one, and had destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. “ Ephesians 2:14
Robert Jeffress is a spiritual advisor to President Donald Trump. He is a pastor at the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas in the USA. Most Presidents have advisors. Bill Clinton had a few since he had an affair with one of his staffers. Both Bushes had people looking out for their soul, and Billy Graham was the advisors for five or six Presidents. Often these pastors are invited to pray for the US, after the politicians and generals have decided to go to war. I disagree with that role that these pastors have played in American history. The nation is not God’s people ; the church is God’s people.
Recently, Pastor Jeffress said publically that God had given Trump the authority to take out the leader of North Korea, and to initiate a first strike against the North Koreans. Does this mean that Pastor Jeffress can justify using nuclear weapons against the world. For as we all know, dropping a weapon on North Korea, the blast would not stay within its borders. It would kill thousands of civilians, and not only Kim Jong Un. It would lead to other conflicts as well.
As a pastor for 30 years, I believe our work is to always work on reconciliation, and to work for peace, and not to stand behind governments who wage wage in battle or in words. The Gospel that I try to preach and live, is about compassion and love. For Pastor Jeffress to say that it is fine for Mr. Trump to take out the leader of North Korea, just seems to be wrong to me.
In Matthew 4, there is a story about Jesus being tempted by the Devil. The Devil, or the Evil One, offers three things to Jesus, who is living in the desert with nothing to eat or drink for 40 days. He offers him food in exchange for worshipping him. The second temptation is that he can have all the the religious power in the world . Jesus declines this temptation as well. A third test requires Jesus to say yes to the kingdoms of this world. Jesus is offered all the political power of this world. Jesus says no to this temptation as well.
Jesus said no to Herod. Jesus said no to Pilate. Both Herod and Pilate were the political leaders during the time of Jesus. Jesus said no to the high priests who were leading the religious groups. He said no the Dark side as well, those people who were said to have demons inside of them. He healed these people.
I would ask Pastor Jeffress to counsel Mr. Trump to work on diplomacy with the world including the North Koreans. Maybe he could talk to the Canadian diplomats who helped to get the Canadian Korean pastor freed last week. Violence is never the answer to life’s hardest questions or problems. I will always continue to pray for peace and peacemakers in our world.
Fred Redekop
Ponder Anew 