President Trump’s decision to relocate approximately 50 U.S. troops within Syria set off a firestorm of outrage and disbelief. I am not particularly interested in the responses of the usual suspects. I am interested, however, in the commentary of fairly well-known professing Christians as they attempt to influence the church with their arguments in favor of war and global do-gooding at the point of a gun. Nearly any attempt to militarily withdraw from any region of the world is met with immediate condemnation and tales of doom and danger. Rather than accepting this rhetoric, Christians...
Just War? Christian Leaders Must Avoid Becoming Court Prophets
Disappointingly (but not surprisingly), a prominent evangelical leader has once again provided alleged moral justification for war in the Middle East. Russell Moore is to be commended for the cautious and thoughtful manner in which he approached this crucial question. However, even as he claimed that “[he doesn’t] have a definitive answer to offer,” his conclusions on how Just War principles relate to Syria nevertheless lead one to conclude that war with Syria would be just. Context The topic at hand came on the heels of the U.S.-led missile strike on the Al Shayrat airfield in Syria on...
What You Should Really Know About the Libyan Slave Trade
Christians Serious About Justice Cannot Pretend History Began Yesterday Readers of The Gospel Coalition could hardly be blamed for thinking the present-day Libyan slave trade was spontaneously created from a vacuum. According to TGC’s The FAQ’s: What You Should Know About the Libyan Slave Trade, “Two main factors have contributed to the Libyan slave trade: an abundance of vulnerable migrants and a fractured, failing government.” The only reason cited for Libya’s failed government is the country’s civil war which has left “many areas of the country out of reach of government influence” and...