"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..... a time to kill and a time to heal...a time for war and a time for peace." --- Ecclesiastes 3:1,3,8
If you are a child of the 60's/early 70's, you recognize these words from a song sung by the Yardbirds during the anti-Vietnam era. Yet, they were originally written over 2,000 years ago by Solomon, reputed to be the wisest man who ever lived. So what does he mean by a time to kill and a time for war? It seems like mankind has been embedded in the killing and war parts since time began.
Clashing ideologies, religions, cultures, I-want-what-you-have, you're-mine, you're-worthless, I'm-stronger-than-you-are, My dad is bigger than your dad and can beat him up. Jealousy, envy, greed, power. Not reasons for killing or war.
But if there is a time for killing and war, what is it? Defense? Righteousness? Justice?
The conscientious objectors avoided serving in Vietnam because they said their personal religious beliefs prevented them from taking a life. Does that mean they wouldn't defend their children if they were being attacked? In the Old Testament, God wiped out whole nations. But then His thoughts are not mine and beyond my understanding. This is the stuff that messes with my mind.
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