The Fog of War

In the last few days the news has been filled with reports of the death of Osama Ben Laden, the man behind the attacks on September 11^th.  As a place to start our online Bible Studies I thought I would start here.

If you are in middle or high school now - you were somewhere between 8 and 2 when September 11^th happened.  Some of you probably don’t remember that day at all, while others will have more or less recollection of the actual event.  But whether you were still a toddler or already off to school, the biggest part of your lives have been lived in the aftermath of that terrible day.

Discussion Starters

• If you are old enough to remember it, do you remember how you felt that day?
• Do you remember how people reacted? Did they cry? Did they look sad? Were they angry?
• How do you think the war has affected your outlook on the world?

One of the promises of God’s kingdom is that it will be a place and a time without war, or violence or tears. 

What the Bible Says

Micah 4:1- 5

¹   In days to come

    the mountain of the LORD’S house

    shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

    and shall be raised up above the hills.

    Peoples shall stream to it,

²    and many nations shall come and say:

    “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

    to the house of the God of Jacob;

    that he may teach us his ways

    and that we may walk in his paths.”

    For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,

    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

³   He shall judge between many peoples,

    and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away;

    they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

    and their spears into pruning hooks;

    nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

    neither shall they learn war any more;

⁴   but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees,

    and no one shall make them afraid;

    for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

⁵   For all the peoples walk,

    each in the name of its god,

    but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God

    forever and ever.

There is a day coming, God says, when there will be no need for the tools of war, swords and spears, or guns and tanks and bombs. We can beat them into plow-blades and we can melt them and use them for children’s toys.  There is a day coming when no one will be afraid.  This is God’s promise to us, and a part of the hope we share as God’s people.

Discussion Starters

• Do you hope for a day when people will not make war anymore?
• What can we do in our everyday lives to make peace?
• Micah suggests that peace will come when all people come to worship the God of Israel.
• Is this an intolerant point of view?  If not, why?
• Is this one of the causes of war?
• How should Christian’s share their faith with non Christians?
• Do you think the war is close to being over now that Ben Laden is dead, or do you think it will cause more people to be terrorists?

Prayer

Lord Jesus you taught us that peacemakers will be blessed. Help us to be agents of grace and love and peace in our world.  Teach us and our world how to get along with one another.  Bring your Holy Day of peace!  In your name we pray. Amen