The Pax Romana (~27 BC-AD 180). Did you know that the Roman Peace was established by bloodshed? What Rome called peace meant slavery, rape, devastation, and even death for virtually everyone else.
In chapter 3 of The Business of War, Myles Werntz argues that one of the reasons why Achan (see Joshua 7) was punished by God was because he took the spoils of war in order to profit personally. Werntz contends, “The wealth gained cannot be for one’s private benefit but must be put to use in dispossessed service to God” (32). Werntz adds, “It is not the wars of Israel that are condemned by Scripture but the economic mechanisms that fund those wars” (34).
This is intriguing and it is something that I hope to address further in coming posts and perhaps even in a live stream event (stay tuned to Determinetruth.com for more details; and “subscribe” to the Determinetruth YouTube page for automatic updates on coming events or for an archive of past events).
What I want to address in this post is the fact that America’s wars have not always been as noble as I was led to believe. Now some of you might be thinking: “Well, what did you expect?” But others of you are, with me, thinking, “They haven’t?”
As I have been researching this topic, I have been more and more confronted with the question, “Have I (we) been lied to?” I know what some of you are thinking, “Are you that naïve?” But I am comforted by the fact that I am not alone. I am approaching this conversation cautiously because I suspect that some of you are actually resistant to the notion that America is not as good as we have been led to believe.
Why does this matter?
You might be wondering why I am even venturing down this path. After all, Determinetruth’s stated purpose is to “Challenge the Church to be the Church.”
I would respond by saying that that is precisely the point. I see the need to Challenge the Church to be the Church with regard to their position on war (and the war on Gaza is a prime example: see the series of live streams we have done on this issue.)
For one, I believe that Christian support for war runs contrary to the call to be disciples of Christ who are called to manifest God’s love to the nations. But it is far more than this.
NB Now, let’s suppose you disagree with me, at least to some extent. Perhaps, you might suggest that at times wars may be necessary. What, after all, are we to do when a Hitler comes along? Now, I do not deny this. But I would add that perhaps this is far less the case than we might think.
In addition, I would note that there are greater issues at play—issues that directly correlate to our discipleship (at least John, the author of the book of Revelation, thought so: see below).
Namely, many American Christians are unaware of the US and its military involvement in affairs around the world and how that involvement is largely tied to the interests of major corporations.
What I mean is this. We have been led to believe that the US is simply acting as a force for good. And perhaps, at times, it is. But it appears more and more to me that the US is quite often the aggressor and that its aggression is directly correlated with the interests of major corporations. Hence, the US acts like the Beast of Revelation 13.
US involvement in Latin America
Did you know that between 1950-2000 the US sent battleships into Latin American ports over 6,000 times? (The Business of War, 113). Did you know that during these years we invaded Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras and that we participated in guerilla wars in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Haiti?
Now I may have known about such efforts—though by no means did I understand the scope of the US’s involvement in the region (of course, I knew of Nicaragua because the Iran-Contra affair was broadcast all over the national news around the time I was finishing high school and beginning college. It is the US involvement in Nicaragua that has led to the title of this post “Have we been lied to?” I’ll address this in an upcoming post(s)).
I was under the impression, however, that our efforts were noble. After all, we had to stop the communists.
The problem is that the “communist” justification for our war efforts appears to have been overstated. This is not to deny that there was indeed a Soviet threat; which is evident from the Cuban missile crisis. It appears. However, the US may have used the communist threat to justify its’ incursions in Central America even when there was no communist threat.
NB: this also correlates to the Church because it was Billy Graham who was an important spokesperson for the “fear the communists” lingo. His influence in the American Christian landscape cannot be overstated. Graham’s influence made it much easier for American Christians to believe that America was doing the right thing.
Matthew Phillip Whelan contends, “It is also important to note that even those reformers who were truly Marxists were not organized or financially supported by the USSR” He then cites John Charles Chasteen who adds, “There simply were no Soviet proxy guerilla forces in Latin America” (Business of War, 113).
Why did we hear so much rhetoric about the Communists? Whelan suggests, “During the Cold War, Latin America was among the most unequal regions in the world (and still is), and elites often fought to retain privilege and property by branding opponents communist and courting US support against them in the form of armaments and military training” (114).
Well, if it wasn’t the fear of the Communists that motivated the US’s actions in the region then what was it? Well, I am sure that the answer to this question is well above my pay grade. But I believe that I might at least be able to suggest that corporate greed certainly played a role.
Now, I will address this point and highlight some of the US travesties in Central America in upcoming posts.
Allow me to close with a brief additional word on why I believe this matters.
Why do you worry about food and clothes (Matt 6:25-34)
In a podcast on the Beasts in the book of Revelation, which will go live on Jan 29, 2024, we discussed Jesus’ words in Matt 6:25-34 in which He exhorts His followers not to worry about food and clothing. I noted that for most American Christians these words are adored. We memorize them (I hope we do). And we sing about them.
Do we really worry about food and clothing?
To be honest, I don’t think these verses have much force in most American churches. Sure they remind us that we must trust Christ and seek Him for our provisions. I dare say, however, that most evangelicals don’t worry about food and clothing.
Now, in saying this, I do not mean to underestimate the tremendous stress that many, even in America, face with regard to food insecurity. Poverty is a real issue even in America.
My guess is that most American Bible study groups that meet to discuss Matt 6 have plenty of food sitting on the table next to them—after all, what is a Bible study without food?
Why do I bring this up? I want to suggest that we may have also bought into the American propaganda that our wars are necessary and are a vital part of America’s national security when, in fact, they are largely motivated by American corporate greed.
Could it be that we have bought into this propaganda because we benefit from it?
Could it be that America’s wars benefit American companies and since those benefits trickle down to us we are just fine not knowing how much the people of other countries are suffering because of our war efforts?
If so, then we have been seduced by the Beast.
. . . to be continued
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