In April, while the Iraqi War was at its zenith, seven bishops and 100 rank-and-file members of the United Methodist Church joined in an advertisement in which they " ... (called on) our brother George W. Bush to repent." The President is their group’s most famous associate and its first Chief Executive in 100 years.
Part of the ad stated the Bush administration’s "notion of redemptive violence is incongruent with Christ and his teaching" and that U. S. policies display "the spiritual forces of wickedness." Furthermore, they told the President that "you threaten the very Earth and all its inhabitants" by bringing up the possible use of nuclear weapons. Also, they advised he turn America away from its "idolatry of oil and wealth."
Other religious leaders and factions have previously expressed similar criticisms: Among them were Pope John Paul, the American Roman Catholic hierarchy, and the Anglican Communion.
Author Jean Bethke Elshtain in her most recent book, "Just War Against Terror: The Burdens of American Power in a Violent World," repudiated such judgments. Elshtain is professor of social ethics at the University of Chicago’s Divinity School.
She argues that Jesus’ "render unto Caesar" teaching (Matthew 22:21) and Paul’s command to "be subject to the governing authorities" (Romans 13:1) means " ... Christians are obliged morally to assess government’s necessary duties rather than condemn them outright."
An option is the "mainstream church tradition of the ‘just war’ ... which accepts use of force as moral to establish justice and peace and protect the innocent." Elshtain states that " ... when Christians bear responsibility for government they realize that without legitimate force, society will suffer anarchy, vengeance, and private warfare ..."
She believes our country must become "the leading guarantor of a structure of stability and order in a violent world. We cannot do this alone, but it will not happen at all without U. S. commitment ..."