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The Christian position on foreign policy and international issues can be difficult to determine. National issues are far simpler–a careful study of Scripture can often sort things out. For example, there can be little question about the Christian position on abortion and same-sex marriage.
But when it comes to international issues, quite often different groups will try to pass off their position as the “Christian” one even though their positions diametrically oppose each other. Of course, biblical principles can be applied to international policy but these principles are often harder to discern and harder to apply in this arena. Relations between nations can be highly complex–there is rarely an obvious Christian answer to foreign policy questions.
Titlu original
2009 Issue 5 - America's War on Terror - Counsel of Chalcedon
The Christian position on foreign policy and international issues can be difficult to determine. National issues are far simpler–a careful study of Scripture can often sort things out. For example, there can be little question about the Christian position on abortion and same-sex marriage.
But when it comes to international issues, quite often different groups will try to pass off their position as the “Christian” one even though their positions diametrically oppose each other. Of course, biblical principles can be applied to international policy but these principles are often harder to discern and harder to apply in this arena. Relations between nations can be highly complex–there is rarely an obvious Christian answer to foreign policy questions.
The Christian position on foreign policy and international issues can be difficult to determine. National issues are far simpler–a careful study of Scripture can often sort things out. For example, there can be little question about the Christian position on abortion and same-sex marriage.
But when it comes to international issues, quite often different groups will try to pass off their position as the “Christian” one even though their positions diametrically oppose each other. Of course, biblical principles can be applied to international policy but these principles are often harder to discern and harder to apply in this arena. Relations between nations can be highly complex–there is rarely an obvious Christian answer to foreign policy questions.
Biting O More Tan Tey Can Chew Tis article was originally published in the November 2007 issue of Reformed Perspective magazine (www.reformed- perspective.ca). T he Christian position on foreign policy and international issues can be dicult to determine. National is- sues are far simplera careful study of Scripture can often sort things out. For example, there can be little question about the Christian position on abor- tion and same-sex marriage. But when it comes to international issues, quite often dierent groups will try to pass o their position as the Christian one even though their positions diametrically oppose each other. Of course, biblical principles can be applied to international policy but these principles are often harder to discern and harder to apply in this arena. Relations between nations can be highly complexthere is rarely an obvious Christian answer to foreign policy questions. The War on Terror Te War on Terror is one of these highly complex foreign policy issues. But this debate is often simplistically divided into pro-war right-wing vs. anti-war Issue 5_2009_2.indd 14 11/23/09 11:15 AM 15 Counsel of Chalcedon Issue 5 2009 Americas War On Terror left-wing camps. Tis categorization obscures some of the realityin the United States (the main combatant) there is a large body of conservative right-wing opinion opposed to the War on Terrorism and opposed to the world- wide use of American military power to seek out perceived terrorist threats. One of the most articulate expo- nents of this view is the conservative political scientist Claes Ryn. His re- cent book America the Virtuous: Te Crisis of Democracy and the Quest for Empire warns about the danger of current American military action around the world. A couple of his main points could be helpful for Christians in thinking through the use of military force overseas, especially with respect to the United States. More than self-defense Every country, like every person, has a right to self-defense. Tus when the US was attacked on September 11, 2001, it had a moral right to strike back to prevent further attacks. However, Ryn argues that American foreign and mili- tary policy following the attacks went much further than simply self-defense. Instead, American policy became one of worldwide military dominance, to make the world a better place. Te attack on America could have elicited a strong but surgical and limited re- sponse; it became instead the occasion and justication for launching a drive for something grandiose. Making the world a better place is, of course, a laudable goal. But its not a goal that can be achieved by the mili- tary might of a superpower. Ryn sug- gests that many Americans see their country as morally good in a special sense and therefore tasked with spread- ing the benets of the American way of life to countries throughout the world. But because this ideology of virtuous empire envisions not only American world dominance but the remaking of the world in its image, it is a recipe for conict and perpetual war. Tere will always be nasty regimes and groups capable of terrorism, so trying to elimi- nate these kinds of potential threats will be a never-ending task. In short, trying to make a better world through the use of American pow- er is a utopian dream and cannot realis- tically be achieved. Utopian thinking is fairly innocuous perhaps if restricted to isolated dreamers and theoreticians but dangerous to the extent that it inspires action in the real world. No doubt the desire to create a better world on the part of American policy makers is motivated by the best of intentions. But as the say- ing goes, the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. America has a log in its own eye Te other relevant point made by Ryn is the foreign policy equivalent of Mat- thew 7:5 which reads: You hypocrite, rst take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brothers eye (ESV). Like individuals, governments should focus on the problems in their own backyards before trying to solve the problems of others. Te assumption that much needs improving here be- fore turning attention elsewhere has shaped a corresponding attitude to- ward international relations: a coun- Issue 5_2009_2.indd 15 11/23/09 11:15 AM Counsel of Chalcedon Issue 5 2009 16 Americas War On Terror trys primary duty is to conduct its own aairs and repair its own aws. Has the United States cleaned itself up such that it has the moral authority to impose the American way of life on oth- er countries? Far from it. Te American way of life is not very pretty these days. Falling standards and fading self- discipline are prominent in all aspects of social life. Drug abuse is rampant. Sexual promiscuity is so common as to be widely considered no longer ab- errant behavior. It causes epidemics of venereal disease, including AIDS, whose spread is limited only by a fear of illness. Abortions are performed in staggering numbers as a form of birth control. Te family has lost much of its stability and cohesion and plays a much-reduced role as transmitter of civilized tastes. Standards of personal behavior and deportment continue to fall. Old-fashioned honesty and integ- rity yield to greed and opportunism. This list actually goes on Te point is that countries, like indi- viduals, should exercise humility. Te United States has many domestic prob- lems that urgently need to be addressed. To set out instead to try to remake the world according to an ideological blue- print represents not only moral arro- gance but a ight from responsibilities at home that are large and pressing. Conclusion Te United States is currently the worlds only superpower, and according to Ryn it has fallen for the temptation to use its power to make the world a better place. But since that task is unachiev- able, it is really a recipe for never ending war. America may have bitten o more than it can chew. As well, it has not yet set its own house in order, such that it can be a good example to other nations. Humility is a potential solution to both of these problems. Tis may be one way to analyze current foreign policy issues from a Christian perspective. Issue 5_2009_2.indd 16 11/23/09 11:15 AM