Christians can oppose the war, and still love America

but the sad truth is that there are real enemies and sometimes nothing short of war is necessary.

I do not mean to imply that the current adventure in Iraq is justified or necessary; it is neither and our involvement there demeans us as a nation and as a world power. Yet it must be noted that too often we as liberals are seen as opposed to all war at all times. I don't mean you necessarily, but such is the stereotype that some people may identify themselves as liberal simply because they are pacifist; as if the desire to avoid war is the sole definition of liberalism. It isn't.

Our liberty in this country was won through war, and - it is necessary to point out - not a popular war. At various times it has been necessary to wage war to preserve our freedom; it is not always that wars are thrust upon us by the ambitions of politicians or the greed of war profiteers.

I do not oppose war, per se. But the respect I have for the lives of all other people, especially non-combatants who may be caught up in the wrath of a our military force, requires that I be convinced that any conflict involving those forces be justified by a direct, identifiable threat to our nation. Osama Bin Laden was and is such a threat; Saddam wasn't and never was. Too bad America never got to wipe Osama off the map; too bad America convinced itself the sideshow was the real show.

Christians MUST oppose the war to love America. Nobody who supported this war is a Christian. They are murderous lackeys.

Because I am a Christian, I am a pacifist.

However, there are many other Christians who supported this war. Some, out of ignorance, some because they truly believe that America is the "New Jerusalem," and some because they were told to support it.
I would also add that there are many good Christians who supported the war, initially, because THEY WERE MISLED as to the reason why we needed to do a preemptive strike.

I don't like blanket statements about what Christians should or should not support. I do think Christians should support the Gospel of Jesus - and I have a hard time believing that Christ would support this war.