Readers' Input

Response of Lon Diffenderfer to Charlie Colson from breakpoint.org

March 28, 03

Mr. Colson,

My name is Lon Diffenderfer. I am a Christian husband and father. I am writing to state my disappointment at your rather scathing and disparaging remarks toward Christians who have taken an "anti-war" stance. I am one of them. Your address was quite insulting to me. Although I certainly am not in agreement with Mr. Moore's statement before the Oscar audience, I do think that this war is not wise. I am not a Democrat, nor a Republican, nor a Socialist. I am probably closest in political philosophy to that of a libertarian. However, my views on this war are not driven by my political leanings, but by my relationship with God.

You used examples of people who were previously anti-war protesters, then changed their views after going to Iraq. Mr. Colson, there are just as many examples of people who have gone to Iraq and come back with just as strong a realization that war is not the answer. Since sanctions were put in place by the previous Bush administration, Iraq has suffered immensely. Yes, Saddam Hussein has enacted evil upon his people. Yes, he is tyrant. However, there are consequences to this war that no one in the pro-war camp, including yourself, want to talk about, not the least of which is the takeover of rule or continuation of violence that could come at the hands of the Shiite Muslims. The people of Iraq may be subjected to many more years of subjugation and oppression through an Iranian type of regime, once this war ends. What about the increased threat of violence from other radical groups like Al Quaeda? Or the effects of this war on our economy?

You have also stated, "There's a difference between the commandments to us, as individuals, and to the state and the role of the state in society." This argument is being used by many pro-war Christians today. Personally, I don't get it. Is the "state" not made up of individuals? Is the individual leader somehow exempt from the directions of Jesus?

I am most disturbed by how you have taken Jesus' words completely out of context and used your pro-war spin on them. This quote is from your - 'Love Your Enemies' or 'An Eye for an Eye' - commentary.

"Bennett goes on to note that in one of his few unmixed utterances of praise, 'Jesus lauded the faith of a Roman centurion, a soldier and a man of violence,' who asked Jesus to heal a dying servant."

Jesus lauded the centurion's faith, not his violence. Again from 'Love Your Enemies...'

"Jesus Himself engaged in at least one act of violence. In the gospel of John, we read that Jesus became enraged when He saw people turning the Temple into a place of trade. He made a whip and drove the moneychangers out, overturning their tables and pouring their money onto the ground. And in the gospel of Luke, Jesus tells His disciples to sell their cloaks, if necessary, in order to buy swords."

It is quite obvious that the reason Jesus asked the disciples to buy swords was to prepare for the miracle that He would later perform on a soldier's ear. Also, Jesus was immediately told by his disciples that they had 2 swords. He told them that was enough. He wasn't mounting a defense with 2 swords. Only one of the swords was used, and then only one time to show the mercy of Jesus, who said, "He who lives by the sword, shall die by the sword." The Jews and many others were severely oppressed by the Romans, yet Jesus NEVER told the Jews or anyone else to rise up in defense of themselves. As to the actions in the temple, who was he chastising and showing his violence? The leaders of the community and temple received his wrath, not the enemy of the Israelites.

I realize that I will not change your mind on the war with Iraq. However, I felt it necessary to at least address you with these issues, since you have a national audience and the ability to sway public opinion.

I am praying for President Bush, Saddam Hussein, Congress, our soldiers and their families, the enemy soldiers, Iraqi families, our nation, and everyone else effected by this war. May God grant us peace.

In His Love,

Lon Diffenderfer