This weekend, the big news is about Kristi Noem being fired as the head of the Department of Homeland Security. Her firing follows a week of being questioned by Congress about how she was running the department.
Neither Republican nor Democratic Senators were pleased with the secretary’s performance. The displeasure within the conservative movement only widened the split within the MAGA movement.
Many within the Trump base, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, have come to their senses and left the movement. It is refreshing to see that more people are accepting biblical truths about the battle we all face as humans; no, it isn’t a political problem:
- Pride
- Deception
- Greed
- Hate
To be honest, I was getting worried as I watched many conservatives condone the un-Christian and un-American practices of Noem’s leadership. She constantly justified the murder of both immigrants and US citizens.
She refused to admit her and her department’s wrongs. There were times she had lied about innocent people, when the agency harmed or killed others. The truth is, we are all in a spiritual war between good and evil ourselves (Ephesians 6:12, James 4:7).
What Is War
Most of us think of war as a physical fight between nations or superpowers. But war has many faces: spiritual, mental, and environmental. War is defined as “A state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism: a struggle or competition between two opposing forces.”
This fallen kingdom has been at war with God since the fall in the garden (Genesis 3:14-15). Because of the fall, the world and spiritual forces fight against mankind.
That is why the Bible has a lot to say about war (Ecclesiastes 3:8, James 4:1-2). Before we come to God, we naturally follow the sinful ways of our corrupt flesh (Romans 8:5-8, James 1:14-15). Because of our sinful ways, we were enemies of God, yes, even Republicans have a sinful nature (Isaiah 59:2, Romans 5:10).
That is why God set His people apart from this world (Deuteronomy 7:6, 1 Peter 2:9). As God’s people, we must first make war against all evil, even our corrupt hearts and flesh ( 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Colossians 3:5, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 John 2:16).
The apostles remembered their Jewish education about who our real enemy is and why we must make war with it.
Milḥāmâ
The Torah tells us about the age-old battle between light and darkness/good and evil (Genesis 1:3-4; 2:17; 3:22). Because of man’s sin, this battle between good and evil rages within our evil hearts (Genesis 6:5-7).
After the fall, mankind entered the war between good and evil (Genesis 3:22). The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for war is milḥāmâ, and it can also mean “Battle, fight, or warriors,” depending upon the context it is used in.
Life became difficult for mankind and creation because of this war between good and evil (Genesis 3:17-19). This war is embodied by God’s people standing up to the evil within themselves and externally (Numbers 15:39, Deuteronomy 6:5; 11:16).
That is why Judaism emphasizes the need to fight the war against evil, even that within ourselves:
- Obeying God’s law
- Moral restraint
- Pursuing justice
- Being humble
- Pursuing peace
The New Testament begins with Jesus telling His followers that He didn’t come to bring peace, but to separate His people from this fallen kingdom (Matthew 10:34; 10:35-36, Luke 12:51).
He warned His followers about the cost of following Him being a personal war (Luke 9:57-62, John 7:7).
Jesus knew God’s people needed to be more faithful to God than to their own families. Our Rabbi called His followers to be the light and not walk in the darkness (Matthew 5:14-16).
One day, our Lord will return to earth and conquer the world powers to bring an everlasting peace (Matthew 24:30-31, Revelation 19:11-16).
Iran War
In other big news this weekend, the deadly war in Iran continues to take the lives and wreak havoc on the world economy. As I write this, a seventh soldier has died from the March 1 attack on a sovereign nation.
Pres. Trump has expressed his desire to be the one to pick a new leader in Iran because he wants control over the region. The senseless war is becoming another black eye for God’s people.
Both the United States and Israel are currently attacking oil refineries and fields in Iran, which is causing more death and financial hardships for the world, and we can literally see the dark cloud over the region.
It is unproductive to win a war physically when you’re losing it spiritually. Israel is also attacking Hezbolla in Lebanon is killing innocent civilians in the process. It is obvious that God’s people are acting more like the world than obeying God:
- Power-hungry
- Violent
- Prideful
- Unloving
The most surprising thing about the Iran war is that it has widened the Civil War within Maga movement. Leaders like Steve Bannon, Tucker Carlson, and Megyn Kelly have each criticized the Trump administration for breaking his campaign promise and starting another forever war.
Many conservatives are finally realizing they cannot have it both ways if they truly follow Jesus (Proverbs 23:4-5, Matthew 6:24). Church, make up your mind and make milḥāmâ!
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