JOSHUA 1:1-9

INTRODUCTION:

The Christian's role during societal circumstances 

Scope:: A study looking into national circumstances that impact Christians.

Focus: Understanding what God will allow us to do as citizens.

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When you come into the land …. says God to Joshua.

Thus begins the legacy of the generation of God’s people that we get the prototype of our identity as Christians.

Joshua 1: 1-9

God is telling the young tribe that they will becoming into land that is inhabited with a battle tested, long standing nation that has been around as long as they have been, since before they went into captivity. And they still must “possess” the land.

ISRAELITES ARE BECOMING AN SOVEREIGN NATION

Joshua is their new leader now that Moses and the wandering years are now ended. And Joshua is commanded THREE times to “Be strong and have courage” as they prepare for this conquest to confiscate a land that will become theirs forever.

In all of human history, every nation has been established by conflict. There will never be a time when a nation is established without conflict because the very birth of one nation means the splitting or ending of another nation. Once established, citizens are born or immigrated there.

So, when you are born, you are already born into a nation that is already in motion and has specific civic and civil creeds by which it is governed. Rome ended the era of free reign in the world when they conquered the Germanic tribes a few years after Christ was sacrificed….so now nations are all governed by creeds or charters of some kind. Ours is The Constitution.

In the Constitution has declarations that everyone born on United States soil is instantly an American citizen and eligible for rights under the constitution that aide you in living as a citizen from birth till death.

The US has programs like social aid programs, Legal defense, education opportunities, disability aids, election participation, municipal utilities, military protection, liberties of movement, and home ownership. All of these programs come from combined systems of election and fiscal support.

Are Christians able to participate and take advantage of these programs?

Short answer: Yes. Christians are allowed to receive benefits of citizenship, also commanded to follow all regulations, laws and ordinances that protect these programs and benefits - as long as none of these are contrary to God’s word, nor causes any to be a stumbling block to our Christianity.

1. Peter’s legal case commands by example (Acts 5:27-29)
2. Jesus recognizes the need alleviate unnecessary legal trouble (Matt 17:24-27)

 

Principles for Nations

God expects Nations to respect all people and treat them justly. Especially, his people.

1. Exodus: 22:21 God commands that his nation will not vex any foreigner/immigrant.
2. 10:19 God tells His nation to respect all people even immigrants to the land.
3. Jeremiah 22:1-4 God commands that his Nation shall conduct itself as He would.
4. 1Peter 2:13-17 Peter commands us to follow the law and respect leaders of our nations.

 

THE CHRISTIAN CITIZEN: CIVIC DUTY

How does the Christian handle our civic duties?

We know that we are commanded to obey laws of the land, as long as compliance is noble and just and communal in nature. If the legislature is contrary to God, then we must have the courage to not participate or support such legislature or executive decree. Our foregoing these orders that are contrary will most likely accrue some sort of legal battle or punitive actions. Yet, as Peter showed us in his ordeal, and as Christ did before Peter, we must stand on God’s word and not be give in.

 

What if the nation goes to war and our country is defending itself or attacking another nation… how shall I respond and what actions can I take?

As a Christian we must lean on our Bible for answers. In the word there are principles laid out for us, as God’s people, which come from both the Old and New Testaments.

1. Exodus 22:21 - God commands the people of His Nation to respect and love any foreigner or citizen. This principle is also commanded to Christians (Heb 12:14).
2. Matt 26:50-54 – A country may have liberties like owning weapons and we by our own conscience can be condemn if we do not handle them properly. Which also highlights the subject of carrying a weapon in civility or the military.

In book of Joshua, God’s people were commanded to go into a land and inhabit it, and it was all done through military operations authorized by God. On the surface, it looks like this land is being confiscated by might…but it is not. The Israelites already own the land. (Gen 12:5-10). So, this Israel was not starting a war but coming to defend its land.  We should never start a war or conflict. In actuality, the Israelites were reclaiming a land that was already proclaimed by God to be theirs, by their forebear Abraham. They had to do this by force. Not begging for it.

 

Does God see military operations as part of this existence with Humans?

Yes. The Chaldeans, a vagabond nation of tribal factions, would frequently raid and attack other nations. The Israelites were allowed to have a military (Number 1:1-3). God’s people had to deal with the Chaldeans before they went to Egypt (Job 1:17) and before they had an army to fight with them in the book of Jeremiah.

What is my role as a Christian when there is conflict or war with my country, both internally and externally?

1. We as Christians must avoid all conflicts that are provoked or instigated. By the principle commanded that we must seek peace by intention and principle along with doing good (1Peter 3:11). We should not have any reason to hate or reciprocate in kind with those who oppose us (Matt 5:43-48). So, this is by Jesus that we must avoid being on the side of the aggressor. No Christian can support or be on the side of the aggressor, or oppressor. What does it mean? It means humans do not have authority to arbitrate a killing without God (Exodus 20:13).
2. If we are attacked – we must first, intend to obey the first principle of ensuing peace at all exhaustive measures. Prov 34:14; 1Peter 3:11; Rom 12:17-20

 

 

 

What if our Nation is attacked ….can we defend our land?

Romans 12:18 says “as much as LIETH IN YOU, live peaceably with all men.” Paul is letting us know that we should always seek to keep from fighting at all costs even fleeing like Jesus’s family had to do in Matthew 3. Yet, this may not always be possible.

We already know that God understands that military conscription or “drafting” is part of being a citizen in a nation. So many may be drafted to join the military ranks to defend our land. And by provocation of an aggressor, this may be necessary to survive and protect life in this nation.

On the contrary, joining the military by choice because one wants to simply “serve country and be a soldier”…. Does work against the principles of being a Christian. Christians are already pledged only to God’s nation (1 Peter 2). Yet, joining a defense during time of invasion and conquest is minimally justifiable.

What if I am drafted for military, but my country is the aggressor?

We have the right to file for “conscientious objector” status. And All Christians are bound by God’s principle of peace to file for this status.

What if I do not succeed in filing for the Conscientious Objector status?

We must then deny entry and prepare ourselves to face the punitive process which mostly like will be given a dishonor ruling which would mean we lose civic benefits like social security, free education, and various benefits that the government provides through taxes and election. At worse we could be jailed for short period of time.

God’s word still stands firm, and we must follow his word.

If an aggressor invades the U.S.…we may have to defend ourselves in military operations. There is nothing in the bible that precludes this action from justifiable actions in the event we are attacked as a country. Individuals are different. Jesus tells us how to handle individual attacks. Jesus says to “turn the other cheek” (Matt 5:39)….we also understand that the premise is to “let things go and let God” handle situations that will not harm you with imminent danger or lifelong damage. Examples of low danger conflicts will be situations like someone has hit you, verbally abused you, slandered, stolen from you, or any other non-fatal, low danger occurrences. By Law you can prosecute for all of these but that is entirely up to you if you would want to and taking these to court is probably not gainful.

 

Lesson Conclusion:

Volunteering for the military to “be a soldier” without probable cause, does work against principles laid out by God. A Christian should not join the military out pure motivation to be a soldier. This is not the mindset of one who seeks peace as commanded by God.

Being drafted during an invasion by another country does not have any scriptures marking this as against the principles of God. We draw conclusions from God, who in Numbers 1, commanded his people to conscript an army for defense, not conquest. Secondly, from the principle that underlines what the foundation of peace is, in Romans 12:18. A Christian would have to use their own discretion and understanding to take an action to join for defense or avoid the conflict in military operations, but this may not help you avoid having to defend your life anyway during a war. It is likely an invasion will put us in a direct conflict we must fight (not seek to kill), to survive, which is justifiable if one takes that route.

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